Strategy Adam Scott moonwalks while Ernie Els takes leap forward to win The Open Championship|Golf for Beginners

Ernie Els showed his true mettle during the final round of The 2012 Open Championship as Adam Scott did the golf "moonwalk", serving up four bogeys in the last four holes of the tournament and ending another major bid. Here are a few pictures that I took while watching The Open hoping to capture the final breathless moments of this third major of 2012.

In his approach to the 18th green, Ernie Els needed a single stroke to induce a playoff with Adam Scott who, although not having a comfortable lead, was still in the lead.

Ernie Els birdied the 18th hole using a joyous fist pump as an exclamation point, probably thinking, at least at this point, that he had a chance at a playoff with Adam Scott.

Ernie Els spreads the good word about his amazing birdie putt on the 18th green while waiting patiently for Adam Scott. I noticed Ernie looking a bit anxious, perhaps wondering if he should practice or nosh on a sandwich; he wound up doing both.

Adam Scott, in the meantime, was walking up the 17th with caddy Steve Williams. Did Steve do everything he needed to as Adam's caddy to help Scott in his time of need?

With not a breath in the air, fans watched as Adam's Scott's possibilities of winning The Open Championship dwindled.

This photo of Adam Scott, in my view, caputred the suffering of defeat. So fascinated with the unhappy ending to this story changed into SportsBettingOnline which sent out a press launch announcing that management become refunding all players who lost cash making a bet on Adam Scott.

"With so many of the favorites including Woods not cashing, it was a good day for sportsbooks. But that wasn’t the case for those who dropped money on Scott,” stated Dave Johnson, head oddsmaker for SportsBettingOnline.ag.  “We feel it’s our duty to refund the players for taking such a bad beat. His collapse was historic and we know the bettors who had him must feel as awful as he does.”

And so the final tally had a reserved Ernie Els taking rightful ownership of the Claret Jug as Adam Scott shook his head in disbelief stating, "I let a great chance slip through my fingers today, and I know it."

PS: The name of this golfing weblog is dedicated to Sally Ride, the primary U.S. Woman to journey into Space. Although Ms. Ride never moon walked, she for all time "modified the face of America's area application."

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Image credit: WABCTV