Ernie Els won the 2012 Open Championship after Adam Scott bogeyed each of the final four holes. Els captured the title by one stroke at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Scott began the final round with a four-shot advantage over the nearest challengers and led Els by six strokes after 54 holes. Els was six shots behind early in the day, but birdies at the 12th, 14th and 18th helped him post a final-round 68 and reach 7 under par overall.
Scott was still four strokes ahead with four holes remaining. He bogeyed the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th, falling from 10 under to 6 under. His final-hole par putt would have forced a playoff, but he missed from about eight feet. Els therefore won his second Open title and fourth major championship.
Brandt Snedeker and Tiger Woods finished tied for third, while Graeme McDowell tied for fifth. The key detail is that Scott’s collapse created the opening; Els still had to complete a strong, bogey-free back nine.