Robert MacIntyre was proud of his performance as he came within a whisker of claiming a first Rolex Series title on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The 26-year-old entered the final day at The Renaissance Club five shots behind leader Rory McIlroy but carded a brilliant 64 - with the help of an incredible approach to three feet from the rough on the last - to set the clubhouse target and lead by one.
McIlroy, however, showed why he is a four-time Major Champion, birdieing the 17th and 18th to leapfrog MacIntyre and claim his second Rolex Series win of the season.
MacIntyre was visibly emotional as he walked off the last, the roars of a bumper home crowd still ringing in his ears after his closing birdie.
And after a season that has seen coaching changes and near-misses - including three dropped shots in his final six holes as he finished in a tie for fourth at last week's Made in HimmerLand - the Scot was delighted to have put on a show on home soil.
"I'm really proud of myself," he said. "Me and (caddie) Greg (Milne) and the whole team behind me.
"I've put in a hell of a lot of work the last five, six weeks with all the changes going on in my team. The trust of switching back to (coach, Simon) Shanks when I really needed him. I felt great in my golf and I felt great in myself in the last wee while.
"But I'm happy and smiling and Greg has done a great job of keeping me happy and smiling and you know what, we can play good golf from there.
"Last week, I felt like I had two hands on the trophy and I let it go. This week, I was nowhere near it. I wasn't even within touching distance of the trophy and went out there and put in a performance.
"Rory McIlroy's potentially the best in the world and he showed why today. I take my hat off to him.
"I had to take a minute coming off 18. I mean, that's why I play this sport. That's why I'm in the Scottish Open, and if not The Open, the Scottish Open will be up there with the event I want to play for the rest of my life.
"It's one I've dreamed of winning since I watched at home and I thought today coming down once I birdied 18, I thought, this might be the one. But it's not to be just now and plenty of years ahead."
By finishing second and as top Scot, MacIntyre also won the Jock MacVicar Memorial Award, given in honour of hugely respected and popular journalist and Association of Golf Writers (AGW) president MacVicar, who passed away in April 2021 at the age of 83.
As well as a journalist, MacVicar was a huge supporter of Scottish golf, and MacIntyre attended his funeral.
"I spent a lot of time with Jock over the years since my junior days at Scottish Golf," he said.
"I remember when he passed, I went down to his funeral down at Dunaverty and I thought so much of Jock... we'd always sit and chat before any media stuff.
"It's unbelievable to get an award like that. He was one of the best men in golf."
