Justin Rose admitted he had mixed feelings after his bid to become the first Englishman to win the Open since 1992.
Sir Nick Faldo was last but all week, Rose's name was near the top of the leaderboard and he started the day just one day out of the lead.
He reached a par of 33 on the final day, holding the lead twice, but lost to Xander Schauffele on the back 9 with his American teammate posting 31 of his 34.
THE STARS
By the time the pair reached the final, Rose knew Schauffele's lead was unassailable but a 15-foot birdie putt left the 43-year-old reeling as he claimed the second leg.
“I was angry when I came off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong today,” he said after posting a 67 to finish seven under, two behind the winner.
“I won second place, I won points, I won awards, FedExCup points, and all that stuff. At that point, you are working.
“Then I walk 10 steps later and I wipe away the tears.
“But in terms of the way I played and the accomplishment of my emotions today, my mentality, I left everything there. I am proud of the way I entered.
“The deal I made with myself today was that I have no regrets.
“Obviously I'm going to have a few chances but you know this was a great opportunity and you want to walk off the golf course going, 'Yeah, I didn't waste that'.
“But I felt very comfortable there, the fact that I haven't been in contention this year, that gives me a lot of heart.”
Rose had to go through to the final to be able to play at Royal Troon but his second place finish will ensure he doesn't have to do that next year at Royal Portrush.
He has three top 10s and four missed cuts in his last seven majors, including a joint sixth place at May's US PGA – also won by Schauffele.
RYDER CUP
That gave the Ryder Cup winner the belief that he could compete at a high level against the smaller guns for a long time.
“The PGA Championship at Valhalla on a golf course that probably shouldn't have suited me so well – a bombshell's paradise – I found myself meeting there until a couple of late but I was hunting right there, back. on Sunday nine,” he added.
“Two big tournaments this year – the toughest fields in golf. It's been my best two weeks.
“That's what I called the gun. That's what I work hard for, to have these big moments in my career.
“I felt like Rome (for the Ryder Cup) was one of them a few months ago. I put this out there in terms of what it means to me, in terms of what I want at the end of my career.”
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