World No.1 Jason Day mounted an aggressive late charge towards an improbable win before falling short at the US Open.
After being unable to get anything going on the front nine on Sunday, Day charged into the mix with an eagle on the 12th hole followed by a birdie on 13, effectively getting within two of Dustin Johnson's lead.
Although he had momentum on his side, Day was unable to jag birdies on any of the next three holes leaving him with a decision to make on the drivable par four 17th.
He chose to go for the pin and hit a 3-wood out of the screws on what appeared to be a perfect line.
But it was in reality half a metre right of where it needed to be, and instead of having an eagle putt, it took a kick into a cavernous bunker.
The 28-year-old then sent his second shot into another bunker, and his third stayed in the sand, ending his hopes with a double bogey.
"I'm standing there at one under. Dustin Johnson is four under. I know I've got to push. You can't win tournaments just laying up there," Day said.
"I had the opportunity to go out there and give myself the shot at winning the tournament. I tried to hit a good shot there. Hit a great drive. Unfortunately, it didn't work out.
"I hit a great drive. I honestly did. We were aiming just left of the towers and hit it right on my target but it kicked down into the bunker.
"Unfortunately, I just hit it fat and obviously, the rest was history from there. Kind of took the wind out of my sails."
While disappointed with his eventual tie for eighth, it represents the fifth time the Queenslander has finished in the top 10 at the US Open in just six attempts.
This time around it came via an impressive fight back from a six-over opening round.
"I've got to understand that these things happen for a reason," Day said.
Adam Scott started the final round with an outside chance but fell away to be 10 shots back, joined by Marc Leishman in a tie for 18th.
Cameron Smith ballooned to 59th after a final round 79.
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