There is rarely a dull day in the life of Bryson DeChambeau but even by his standards, he went on a rollercoaster ride at Royal Portrush.
On Thursday, as the winds howled and the rain poured, DeChambeau cut a frustrated figure and shot a seven-over-par 78, his worst ever round in a major.
The American has stated a desire to explore Giant’s Causeway during his time in this part of the world and at that stage, it looked as though he may have a couple of extra days to do so.
But then the fightback began. He surged inside the cutline with a six-under-par 65 on Friday, climbed again with a Saturday 68 and saved his best until last.
Seven birdies on a bogey-free card meant he signed for a 64, the joint-best round of the week.
The only man to match it? Scottie Scheffler – and DeChambeau could not help wondering what might have been had his first round gone even slightly better.
“It was a fun three days,” he said. “I was really proud of the way I turned it around and gave myself actually some hope on the third round, after I was three-under.
“That first nine I thought, okay, if I go shoot four or five-under on the back and give myself a chance on Sunday, throw myself up there and go out and play just as good as I did, like I did today, I could be right up there and giving Scottie a run.
“I like it when it’s fair conditions. I can play well. I still have to crack the code when it’s raining and windy.
“But I feel like we’re getting close to some opportunities and solutions for that. It just takes a long time to develop stuff, I’m starting to learn.”
DeChambeau set the tone with birdies at 3 and 4, coming close to an eagle at the latter, and enjoyed a moment to treasure with a successful birdie putt from 11 feet on the 18th.
It earned him a rapturous ovation illustrative of DeChambeau’s ever-growing popularity in the galleries, boosted by an online presence which has captivated a younger audience worldwide.