Rory McIlroy shot a second consecutive 66 on Sunday at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but it wasn't enough as Ryan Fox took the title in Scotland.
McIlroy knew he would need another low round to contend and three birdies on the front nine suggested he was up for the challenge.
But it wasn't to be, despite picking up more shots on 10, 12 and 13. A bogey on the second last took the wind out of his sails, although he did manage a final birdie - his seventh of the day - on the last.
It saw him finish on 13 under par, two off Fox, and joint fourth alongside Antoine Rozner.
Fox had started the day four off overnight leader Richard Mansell but three birdies in his first seven holes saw him hit the front before a combination of magnificent approach play and brilliance on the greens helped the 35-year-old extend his advantage to three strokes with three to play.
Fox suffered a late scare at the 17th but managed to limit the damage to just one dropped shot before safely parring the last to claim his second DP World Tour crown of the 2022 campaign, one shot ahead of of Callum Shinkwin and Alex Noren.
After his 68, he paid tribute to his former amateur team-mate Shane Warne.
New Zealand's Fox had finished second in last year’s team event in Scotland alongside former Australia Test spinner Warne, who died earlier this year.
He said: "To be honest the only person I can really think of at the moment is Warne.
"He meant a lot to me and this event and was a great mate. It’s a terrible shame he’s not here.
"I’m going to enjoy celebrating this one with the family."
Fox’s mother and father – former All Blacks star Grant Fox – are in Europe for a month and were at St Andrews to witness a magnificent closing 68, which took Fox to 15 under par, one stroke ahead of Callum Shinkwin and Alex Noren.
Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for fourth on 13 under after making seven birdies and a single bogey.
Shinkwin and Alex Acquavella won the team event by three shots on 37 under par.
