Eddie Pepperell dropped five shots in five holes as his hopes of mounting a challenge at The Open faded in the final round – with American Zach Johnson triumphing in a play-off.

A four-over-par 76 saw Pepperell, from Abingdon, drop from a share of 15th position to joint 49th at St Andrews.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, finished a shot ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen and three ahead of Australian Marc Leishman over four extra holes after the trio were tied on 15-under-par.

Pepperell began yesterday at eight-under-par for the tournament, four shots off the lead.


The Frilford Heath golfer went out in level par for the front nine, with a bogey at the fourth cancelling out a birdie on the second hole.

Pepperell picked up a shot at the tenth, before his round unravelled with three successive dropped shots from the 13th, followed by a double-bogey six at the 17th.

Meanwhile, Pepperell will host an invitational tournament for 40 aspiring junior players at Frilford Heath next Tuesday.

The Abingdon ace will hold a clinic for the 15 to 18-year-olds between 10-11am, before they take part in a fourball pairs competition on the Blue Course.

Pepperell will play a hole with each group, before presenting the prizes and holding a question and answer session.

Frilford sponsored Pepperell last year, and executive director Alistair Booth explained that this was the player's idea to give something back to the club.