Shane Lowry admitted he would need some time to get over the disappointment as he failed to clinch his second Open title, after America’s Xander Schauffele won his second major in three months at Troon.
Schauffele carded a flawless closing 65 to finish nine under par, two shots clear of overnight leader Billy Horschel and Justin Rose, who had threatened to become the first English winner of the Claret Jug since 1992.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who held the lead after 11 holes of the final round, finished a shot further back in fourth following a 68.
Schauffele, who registered a major record of 21 under par to win the US PGA at Valhalla in May, is the first player to win two majors in a year since Brooks Koepka in 2018.
The world number three is also the seventh American winner in the last eight Opens at Royal Troon – Sweden’s Henrik Stenson having denied Phil Mickelson in a thrilling duel in 2016 – and will head to Paris to defend his Olympic title in brilliant form.
Lowry’s hopes of winning a second Open titles was battered and blown into submission in brutal weather on Saturday and he finished on four under par, five shots behind champion Schauffele.
“I just wanted to go out and give myself a chance today. I promised Neil (Manchip, Lowry’s coach) I’d do one thing and go out and fight for every shot, and that’s what I did today,” said Lowry. “Unfortunately, it’s not good enough, and it’s very disappointing. There’s no two ways about it.
“I had a great chance of winning this Open, and it’s going to hurt for a few days. But onwards and upwards and onto the Olympics and try to win a medal for Ireland.”
On whether it has been a positive experience: “How could you not look back on it positively, a chance to win The Open? Obviously the critics and whatnot will say that I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon, but it’s not easy out there. It’s not easy to win tournaments like this.
“I did everything I could. Unfortunately, I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to 10 years I give myself another few chances in tournaments like this and get one more.”
Lowry also paid tribute to champion Schauffele as he added: “You need to hole everything on a day like today, especially to beat someone like Xander, who’s in the form he’s in.
“It looks like he’s kind of half running away with it again. He did that on me at the PGA, and he’s done it again today.
“He just doesn’t really hit many bad shots, does he? I went there two back at the PGA, and I felt like I shot a decent score, and I wasn’t anywhere near him.
“He’s obviously good when he’s out in front. Now that he’s got one, it looks like he’s going to get another one.”