Deep into the final round of The Open, Bryson DeChambeau found himself almost legless in the last chance saloon.
At minus five, four shots off the clubhouse lead with eight holes to play, he had yet to make a birdie all day.
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A sliver of hope remained: in 2017, Jordan Spieth made up four shots on the back nine here to claim the Claret Jug.
But history would not repeat itself.
As DeChambeau stepped onto the tricky par-four 11th, his loyal band of fans cheered.
He took out a driver, but the Royal Birkdale rough was about to turn viciously against him. His drive flew 301 yards into thick rough on the left.
His second travelled just eight yards.
Then his third flew into deep fescue on the right, and after an extensive search, was declared unplayable.
The penalty was severe: a one-shot penalty and a buggy ride 138 yards back to the original spot.
As he made his way, the crowd serenaded him with a chant: “Rory! Rory McIlroy!”
The barb stung. A triple-bogey seven followed, ending his race.
The R&A could quietly exhale.
It was a far cry from the giddy atmosphere when DeChambeau first stepped onto the 1st tee earlier in the day.
Despite Friday's controversy over a two-shot penalty—and McIlroy accusing him of holding the tournament hostage—the crowd was 10 deep in places.
Young people with tattoos and many kids, not the typical golf crowd, cheered loudly. One fan shouted, “Rory’s going to buy you a pint after!”
