Aussie legend Adam Scott suffers brutal final-round capitulation as dream of second major vanishes in Oakmont rough
Updated . First published at
Australian golfing great Adam Scott dropped an astonishing nine shots in the final round to watch his dream of a second major go up in smoke.
Unheralded JJ Spaun won the US Open with an incredible late charge on Monday morning as overnight leaders Scott and Sam Burns tumbled down the leaderboard.
Scott, 44, won his only major at the 2013 Masters.
READ MORE: 'Stupid': Rivalry explodes as teammate crashes into Piastri
READ MORE: 'Sad to see': Legends reveal fear for 'busted' Turbo
READ MORE: 'Ageing' Manly in desperate need of 'makeover'
He was one shot behind overnight leader Burns when they started the fourth round, and the Aussie fan favourite remained in contention until the last few holes.
He was level with Burns at the top of the leaderboard on several occasions throughout their round, which was halted for about an hour due to heavy rain.
Adam Scott of Australia reacts after missing a putt on the 13th hole at Oakmont. AP
Scott began the day at 3-under but the brutal Oakmont conditions caught up to him as he tumbled backwards to finish 6-over for the tournament - seven shots back from Spaun who sunk a long birdie putt on the 18th to cement his breakthrough victory.
Burns shot 8-over for the day to finish the tournament at 4-over in a tie for seventh.
Pundits on social media were full of praise for Scott after he was seen embracing Spaun in celebration immediately following the round.
"It was tough. It was bad conditions," Scott told media afterwards.
"No one really had a good score. I missed the fairway. I hadn't done that all week really.
"Then I did, and I paid the price and lost a lot of shots out there. Couldn't recover.
"Conditions were just tough. They were tough at the start. It was very windy. Hadn't been that windy all week. Front nine played tough.
"Then once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball.
"All things being equal, it's Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest set-ups, and the conditions were the hardest of the week. Thank God it wasn't like this all week."
Scott finished in a tie for 12th place.