Els Wins Stunning British Open

Adam Scott bogeys final 4 holes in huge collapse
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 22, 2012 1:00 PM CDT
Els Wins Stunning British Open
Zach Johnson of the United States plays a shot out of the rough on the sixth hole at Royal Lytham & St Annes golf club during the final round of the British Open Golf Championship, Lytham St Annes, England Sunday, July 22, 2012.    (Peter Morrison)

Ernie Els kept feeling that something special could happen at the British Open, and it did. But only after a collapse by Adam Scott that no one imagined. Four shots ahead with four holes to play—after eight straight holes with nothing worse than par—Scott bogeyed them all and had to fight back tears on the 18th green today as the magnitude of his meltdown began to sink in.

Els, who started the final round six shots behind, finished off a flawless back nine with a 15-foot birdie putt for a 2-under 68 that looked as if it would do little more than lock up another runner-up finish at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Instead, he wound up with his second British Open—the other one was 10 years ago at Muirfield—and fourth major championship. "I'm a little numb at the moment," said Els. "First of all, I feel for Adam Scott. Obviously, we both wanted to win very badly. But you know, that's the nature of the beast. It was my time for some reason." (More British Open (golf) stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X