Five years after winning the Open at St Andrews, Louis Oosthuizen suffered major play-off heartbreak for the second time in his career.
The South African triumphed over the Old Course the last time the event visited the home of golf but having birdied the final hole to get into a three-way, four-hole, shoot-out, he came up a shot short of eventual champion Zach Johnson, with Australia's Marc Leishman a further two back.
Oosthuizen lost to Bubba Watson in a play-off at the 2012 Masters and a back problem contributed to him tumbling from the world's top 10 to 62nd in the rankings last November.
But he has rediscovered his form this year and two-top six finishes in World Golf Championship events book-ended a joint-19th spot in the Masters with a brilliant back-nine, final-day charge seeing him only just miss out on winning last month's US Open.
"I think I did really well getting in the play-off. I had four three-putts today," said the 32-year-old.
"It's never nice to lose a play-off. I've had the experience in 2012 at Augusta.
"You feel like you've got a really good chance of winning rather doing it during the tournament or in the fourth round.
"But I'll take a lot out of this week. I was really motivated to win this championship this week. I love this place. I've said it a thousand times. I can't wait for it to come back here again."
Oosthuizen missed a 12-foot putt at the fourth extra hole to keep the play-off alive.
"I'll take a lot out of the putts I made to be able to get in the play-off, the shots I pulled off, and the little second on 18 (in regulation play)," he added.
"I left myself a little bit too much to do probably on that pitch in the play-off.
"I didn't think I was going to get the driver that far up there and it was an awkward little spot but I did well, (but) misread the putt.
"That's how it goes. Congratulations to Zach."
Incredibly Leishman made the cut by one stroke and began the third round nine behind then leader Dustin Johnson but shot 64-66 to force his way into the play-off.
He, too, took a reasoned view of how the day panned out having put golf in perspective three months ago when wife Audrey was put into an induced coma after becoming seriously ill with toxic shock syndrome.
She is now recovering but the 31-year-old father of two young children feared the worst and began to consider a life away from the tour.
Incidents like that help put missing out on a play-off in perspective.
"It was a big week and obviously I'm pretty disappointed at the minute having had a chance to win it and not being able to take it but that's golf unfortunately," he said.
"I'm happy with the way I played all week. I'm pretty disappointed with that bogey on 16 (in his final round) but apart from that it was pretty good golf.
"I've just finished second in The Open. Yeah, I could have won it but my perspective is quite good at the moment.
"I can go home tomorrow and hug Audrey and the boys and celebrate a little bit, I guess.
"It would have been nice to have a Claret Jug to drink out of to celebrate but I'll find something else."
Source: PA
