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Els Takes Open Shocker as Scott Collapses
Scott Vows to Bounce back after Open Collapse
Open Rivals Ache for Scott, Rejoice for Els
Once-Discouraged Els Finds More Open Glory
Donald, Westwood Still in Search of Major Secret
One Yard Makes All The Difference for Tiger
Thailand's Thongchai Ready for A Rest
Dream Week for India's Lahiri at Open
Filipino Stumbles in Open But Happy at Major Debut
Singh Can Finally Celebrate Victory
Els Takes Open Shocker as Scott Collapses
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Ernie Els won the British Open and ended a 10-year major victory drought in shocking fashion on Sunday at Royal Lytham as Adam Scott squandered a four-stroke lead with four holes to play.
Els sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the 18th, his third birdie in four days at the finishing hole, while Scott made bogeys on the final four holes in a total collapse, evoking memories of his idol Greg Norman's epic Masters frustrations.
"I'm pretty disappointed," Scott said. "I had it in my hands with four to go. That's what happens on a course like this. I am disappointed. I played so good most of the week. I shouldn't let this get me down."
Els captured his fourth major title after the 1994 and 1997 US Opens and the 2002 British Open by navigating brisk winds and avoiding pesky pot bunkers down the stretch, going four-under par on the back nine to capture the Claret Jug.
"It was my time for some reason," Els said. "A lot of people never thought I would win another one. I started believing this year."
The 42-year-old South African, who had gone winless in 36 major starts since his 2002 Open playoff triumph at Muirfield, fired a two-under par 68 to finish 72 holes at seven-under 273 and edge Scott, who fired a 75, by one stroke.
Tiger Woods, a 14-time major champion in the hunt with six holes remaining, settled for a share of third on 277 with US countryman Brandt Snedeker.
England's Luke Donald and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell shared fifth, another stroke adrift.
Scott appeared to have sealed his first major triumph with a birdie at the 14th hole putting him four in front of Els.
But Scott stumbled with a bogey at the 15th and missed a spirit-crushing two-footer for par at 16 just before Els made his birdie at the last.
"The 16th hole hurt me, missing that short putt," Scott said.
Scott found greenside rough on his way to a bogey at 17 and put his tee shot at the 18th into a fairway bunker.
He pitched out and put himself eight feet from the cup with his third shot, but missed the putt left of the cup and Els had an unlikely triumph.
"I feel for Adam Scott. He's a great friend of mind," Els said. "We both wanted to win very badly. But that's the nature of the beast."
Not since Frenchman Jean Van de Velde threw away the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie with a last-hole disaster had there been such blunders with so much at stake at the event.
It rivaled the worst of Norman's infamous Masters failures, surrendering a six-shot lead on the last day in 1996 for a five-shot loss to Nick Faldo.
Six days after his 32nd birthday, Scott found only heartache instead of victory in his 46th major start.
"I had it in my hands with four to go," Scott said. "I managed to hit a poor shot on each of the closing four holes."
It was his third loss in nine events when leading after 54 holes. He became the fourth Aussie in a row to lose a major when ahead entering the last round.
"Very sloppy finish," Scott said. "I wasn't even really out of position and I managed to get myself in some trouble and couldn't make the putts to get out of it the last four holes. I'm very disappointed. It was a great chance."
Els, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, had a share of second in 1996 and a share of third in 2001 on Lytham's links before making the greatest last-day victory comeback in a major, six shots, since Irishman Padraig Harrington won the 2007 British Open.
Els had several major near-misses since his 2002 Open title, notably a 2004 Masters runner-up finish and a 2004 British Open playoff loss to Todd Hamilton and thirds in the 2006 British Open and 2007 PGA Championship.
Just four months ago, Els cost himself a spot in the Masters and a victory at the PGA Transitions Championship with a bogey-bogey finish. He lost to Jason Dufner in a playoff last April in New Orleans.
Els, the 16th different winner in the past 16 majors, made bogeys at the second and ninth holes but charged on the back side with birdies at 10, 12 and 14 to keep the pressure upon Scott.
Woods, seeking his first major title since the 2008 US Open, shared second with Els with six holes remaining, each of them four adrift.
But Woods, who endured a triple-bogey nightmare at six, took bogeys at the 13th and 14th holes to stumble back.
Scott, who began the day with a four-stroke lead, had a bogey-birdie-bogey start to the final round, took another bogey at the sixth but followed with seven pars and a birdie at 14 only to bogey the last four holes.
Woods opened with five pars but fell apart at the par-4 sixth, a hole he had birdied in each of the first three rounds, suffering his first triple bogey in a major since the first hole of the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George's.
Woods battled back to five-under but ran off three bogeys in a row starting at the 14th and not even a birdie at the last could repair the damage.
Scott Vows to Bounce back after Open Collapse
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - As a teenager back home in Australia, Adam Scott was shocked to watch Greg Norman's infamous 1996 Masters meltdown to Nick Faldo on television -- now he knows how it feels. 
The 32-year-old had a four-stroke lead with four holes to play in the British Open and looked to be coasting towards what would have been his first major title only for disaster to strike.
He failed to get up and down out of a pot bunker at the 15th and missed a three-footer for par at the next. At the same time, a charging Ernie Els was sinking a 15-footer for a birdie at Royal Lytham's arena-like 18th hole.
The huge cheer that went up to acclaim that effort rolled over the course to Scott on the 17th, who promtly mis-hit a straightforward approach shot into thick rough left of the green and took three to get down from there.
That left him needing a par at the last to force a playoff, but his tee shot ended up tight against the vertical face of a fairway bunker, leaving him the lone option of hitting out sideways.
He hit his approach to eight feet, but let his par putt slip agonisingly left of the hole to complete a shocking collapse that left Norman as the last Australian winner of the Open 19 years ago at Royal St George's.
Scott, one of the most popular players on the tour who has been touted as a major winner since he turned pro in 2000, insisted it had not been a bout of nerves that had been his downfall, just poor shot-making at the wrong moment.
"I know I've let a really great chance slip through my fingers today," he said. "But somehow I'll look back and take the positives from it.
"I don't think I've ever played this well in a major championship, so that's a good thing for me moving forward. All the stuff I'm doing is going in the right direction. Today is one of those days and that's why they call it golf."
Scott is also aware that what happened on the Lancashire links course in the summer of 2012 will inevitably be compared to what transpired at Augusta National in the spring of 1996, when Norman let slip a six-stroke lead to Nick Faldo on the final day of the Masters.
Norman, he said, had always been an inspiration for him and that would remain true in triumph and defeat.
"Look, Greg was my hero when I was a kid, and I thought he was a great role model, how he handled himself in victory and defeat," he said.
"He set a good example for us. It's tough; I can't justify anything that I've done out there. I didn't finish the tournament well today. But next time I'm sure there will be a next time, and I can do a better job of it."
Scott had looked near to tears as he stood by the side of the 18th green and Els took the time out to have a few words with him before the awards ceremony.
Asked what the now four-time major winner had said to him, Scott replied: "He said he felt for me and not to beat myself up.
"He said he beat himself up a little bit when he'd lost or had a chance not lost them, but had a chance to win.
"And he felt I'm a great player and I can go on to win majors, which is nice.
"We have a close friendship We've had some good battles in the past, and it's nice to hear that from him. I respect Ernie a lot, and he's a player who is a worthy champion here for sure again."
Scott appeared composed and at ease at his closing press conference although he agreed that the reality of what had hit him might take some time to sink in.
"But I'm a positive guy. I'm optimistic and I want to take all the good stuff that I did this week and use that for the next time I'm out on the course."
Open Rivals Ache for Scott, Rejoice for Els
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - After watching Adam Scott throw away a golden opportunity for his first major title, playing partner Graeme McDowell could hardly feel too dejected about losing to Ernie Els at the British Open.
"I'm not beat up at all. I'm disappointed yes, but I'm fine," McDowell said. "I guess my disappointment kind of seems relatively stupid in relation to the guy I've just seen lose the Open championship.
"I felt Adam's name was on the trophy, I really did."
The Australian made bogeys on the last four holes to squander a four-shot lead and deliver South Africa's Els, who birdied at the last from 15 feet, his fourth major title and second British Open victory on Sunday at Royal Lytham.
"It was no surprise that he won the golf tournament," 14-time major winner Tiger Woods said. "The surprise was how it all unfolded. But he did what he needed to do. He went out there and posted the number he needed and he won."
The collapse was epic, on the scale of Jean Van de Velde's 1999 last-hole disaster at the British Open at Carnoustie or Scott's Aussie boyhood hero Greg Norman's 1996 Masters meltdown loss to Nick Faldo.
"Greg was my hero when I was a kid. I thought he was a great role model, how he handled himself in victory and defeat," Scott said. "He set a good example.
"I can't justify anything that I've done out there. I didn't finish the tournament well. But I'm sure there will be a next time, and I can do a better job of it."
Els, whose last major and Open triumph came 10 years ago at Muirfield, fired a two-under 68 to finish on seven-under 273 while Scott shot 75 to lose by a stroke with Woods, who shot 73, and Brandt Snedeker third on 277 and McDowell, who shot 75, level with World No. 1 Luke Donald in fifth on 278.
As pain of losing goes, McDowell saw worse than he suffered and was speechless after witnessing Scott's shattered title bid.
"It was hard to watch," McDowell said. "It's hard to watch a guy do that.
"What can you say? It was tough to say anything to him that was going to be of any relevance. I said he's a great champion and there are many majors ahead for him. It's just a tough beat.
"It felt like a futile exercise trying to say anything to him. I'm sure he's going to be unbelievably disappointed. But he is a great, great, great player and that's what I tried to convey to him on the last green."
Els fired four birdies on the back nine, solving the winds off the Irish Sea and avoiding the punishing pot bunkers that doomed Woods, McDowell and a not-so-great Scott.
"It has happened to all of us at one point or another," Woods said. "We've all been in positions to win and sometimes people go ahead and win them and take them away. Other times we make mistakes. That's just the way it goes."
But Els only put himself in position to scoop up the Claret Jug after Scott found misery instead of magic down the stretch, most painfully a botched two-footer for par at 16.
"He was unconvincing on the greens," McDowell said. "They were tough. A little bit of wind coming across them. That putt on 16 which horseshoed on him was the start of a kind of series of events that he will think about a lot."
Once-Discouraged Els Finds More Open Glory
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Just a year ago, Ernie Els figured his days of winning major golf titles were over. He had not won a major since 2002 and his results even in lesser events were sending discouraging signals.
All of that only made his shocking victory on Sunday at the British Open ever sweeter, four birdies on the back nine pushing him to a one-stroke victory over Adam Scott, who cost himself a major with bogeys on the last four holes.
"Last year, no, I thought I had no chance," Els said. "Last year was really a pretty big hole. But since the start of the year and especially the last month or two, I started seeing some better signs and started believing in that.
"I was in a good frame of mind. So for once it all came together.
"To come through all of that and sit here with the Claret Jug is crazy. It comes from a good attitude, being a bit more relaxed and believing in yourself."
The 42-year-old South African won his fourth major title on Sunday at Royal Lytham, firing a last-day two-under par 68 to finish on seven-under 273.
Els won his fourth major title after the 1994 and 1997 US Opens and the 2002 British Open, doing so on the same links layout where he had near misses sharing second in 1996 and third in 2001, delighting a crowd of 37,500.
"They were really rooting for me and really inspired me," Els said. "I think they were behind me just as a past champion, maybe just happy to see me around. I felt a little bit different. I felt I had a chance this week. As I progressed over the back nine they got louder and louder and the crowd grew.
"On that back nine, I don't think I missed a shot, to be honest. I really hit the shots that I needed to hit."
Els was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, typically an honour for those at the end of their careers. And Els failed to qualify for the Masters by throwing away a US PGA win last March with a bogey-bogey finish.
"Obviously in March I looked like an absolute fool," Els said. "People were laughing at me and making jokes about me and really hitting me low, saying I'm done and I should hang it up."
That only enhanced the 15-foot birdie putt Els made at the 18th hole that proved his margin of victory.
"To come through and make a putt like that and make pressure putts on the back nine, that was the whole goal. That was the whole thing," Els said. "So to sit here with (the Claret Jug) now is quite satisfying."
Els now has a place booked at the Masters next year by virtue of his Open triumph. And he will defend the crown next year at Murifield, the site of his 2002 British Open victory.
"Can't wait to get there. Muirfield has always been my favourite," Els said. "So everything is groovy at the moment again."
It was a bogey at the par-3 ninth that helped prod Els into going for broke even in tricky winds off the Irish Sea.
"I was really angry with myself. That almost set me in a different mindset. It really got me aggressive," Els said. "I hit a lot of drivers on the back nine and I was just trying to make birdies.
"I wasn't ahead. I wasn't behind. I was right in the moment for once."
"I just felt that the golf course is such if you just doubt it a little bit, it was going to bite you. So I still felt I had a chance."
The well-bunkered links layout bit Scott and gave Els a six-shot comeback victory, the biggest in a major in five years, but at the expense of a collapse by a dear friend in Scott.
"I really feel for my buddy, Scottie," Els said. "I've blown majors before and I just hope he doesn't take it as hard as I did.
"I said to him, 'I'm sorry how things turned out.' I told him, 'I've been there many times and you've just got to bounce back quickly. Don't let this thing linger.'
"But thankfully he's young enough. He's 32 years old. He has got the next 10 years that he can win more than I've won.
"I've won four. I think he can win more than that."
More Open Misery for McIlroy
LYTHAM, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - For the second year in a row, Rory McIlroy limped away from the British Open with his head bent low after he failed to make any impression in Sunday's final round at Royal Lytham.
The 23-year-old Ulsterman could get nothing going in gentle early conditions as he came in with a 73 for the second straight day.
That left him stranded well down the field at eight-over par 288 and heading home before the leaders had even started their final rounds.
It was all too reminiscent of last year at Royal St George's, when McIlroy played poorly just a month after his dominating triumph in the US Open.
On that occasion, he bemoaned the fickle British weather and said how happy he would be to get back to playing in the sunshine of the United States.
But at Lytham he was more measured in his comments.
"Obviously very disappointed because I felt like I was coming in here playing pretty well," he said.
"I had a really nice first round, set myself up well for the week and then just started to struggle after that. So it's just disappointing.
"It's hard when you're trying to just get that little bit of momentum and you try to force it and you're maybe trying too hard and things don't go your way, and that sort of happened this week."
McIlroy has now played in five British Opens and, with the exception of St Andrews in 2010, he has struggled each time to handle the demands of links golf and the unpredictable weather that goes with it.
But he said that he had time on his side, with experience being widely seen as being one of the main ingredients in producing an Open winner.
"I think the thing for me is to stay patient," he said.
"It's a 20-year career, so I'm not going to get too wound up just over a few weeks. I've got to keep working away, plugging away, working hard and working on the right things and eventually it will come around."
There was also the compensation of being finished in time to sit back and watch fellow Ulsterman and close friend Graeme McDowell bid for Open glory later in the afternoon.
McDowell was in second place, four strokes behind leader and playing partner Adam Scott in the final group.
"I'm going to be sitting in front of the TV and pulling for him," McIlroy said of McDowell.
Donald, Westwood Still in Search of Major Secret
LYTHAM, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - England's finest, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, were both left scratching their heads yet again over just how to win a major title at the end of the British Open on Sunday.
World No. 1 Donald had a 69 for a two-under total of 278 while World No. 3 Westwood had a 72 to stand at six over.
They have now gone a combined 95 majors without a single title to their credit -- 58 of the starts to 39-year-old Westwood and the 37 others to 34-year-old Donald.
It was all the more disappointing for home fans who had flocked to the Lancashire links course in the hope of seeing an Englishman win the Open on English soil for the first time since Tony Jacklin did so here 43 years ago.
No Englishman has won the British Open at all since Nick Faldo at Muirfield in Scotland in 1992 and it was Faldo who last won a major for England at the 1996 Masters.
Donald could rightly be proud of his final day's performance, which saw him move up the leaderboard into a tie for fifth, matching his best peformance to date in the British Open. But he is fully aware that more is expected of him.
"It was one of those rounds where I did a lot of good things," he said.
"Unfortunately I couldn't quite hole the putts, but I'll take a lot of positives away from this week.
"Certainly I'll leave this week knowing that my game is definitely good enough to win majors.
"It's a big step forward for me from a few weeks back, from the US Open (where he missed the cut).
"I'll come away from here with a lot of confidence knowing that my game tee to green was easily good enough to win this week."
This time around, Donald cannot point the finger of blame at getting off to a slow start -- a habit that has hampered him in some other recent majors.
He kicked off with a solid-enough 70, but failed to make much of an impression in his middle two rounds before closing strongly on Sunday.
He will have the consolation of staying as World No. 1 for a 54th week, but the pressure on him to win a major will crank up another notch, he knows.
"It's nice being No. 1. I'll continue to work hard on my game and try and produce good results," he said.
"I mean, world rankings is a little bit more about consistency. I've probably been the most consistent player over the year."
For Westwood, the new strategy has already been drawn up as he has opted to move himself and his family to the United States where he intends to play more regularly on the US PGA Tour.
Asked what thought process had gone into making that decision, he replied: "The English winters and the English summers.
"And the fact I like playing on the PGA Tour now. It was well reported that I struggled over there, but over the last few years I've seemed to enjoy it a lot more and now have a good time over there."
"It's a big decision, anytime you move your family from one place to another is a big decision, but we're obviously moving a long way. But everybody is excited about it."
Next chance up for major glory for the English pair will be the PGA Championship, which will be played at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in August.
All in all it was a miserable Open for English golfers.
Both Justin Rose and Paul Casey missed the cut and Donald and Ian Poulter were the only home players to crack the top 20.
One Yard Makes All The Difference for Tiger
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Another major, another miss by Tiger Woods, who insisted after finishing tied for third at the British Open on Sunday that his lengthening win drought does not unduly concern him. 
"It's part of golf. We all go through these phases. Some people it lasts entire careers. Others are a little bit shorter," he said.
"Even the greatest players to ever play have all gone through little stretches like this.
"When your playing careers last 40 and 50 years, you're going to have stretches like this."
The 36-year-old American's last win in a major came at the 2008 US Open, after which his marriage was wrecked by a sex scandal and he was crippled by knee and ankle injuries.
Woods had the consolation of posting his best finish at the British Open since he won the Claret Jug for the third time at Hoylake in 2006.
And he managed to stay well in contention throughout the tournament until he fell victim to Royal Lytham's notorious pot bunkers, taking a devastating triple-bogey seven at the sixth hole.
That left him seven shots behind Adam Scott and although he managed to claw his way back to five under with a birdie at the par-three 12th, bogeys at the next three holes ended his hopes.
Ernie Els motored past him and then mowed down Scott for a stunning victory.
Woods, who played ultra-conservative golf for most of the week, said that he had a clear game plan in mind for Sunday's finale only for his five-iron approach to the sixth to land just one yard away from where he wanted.
"I was right there, the game plan was to shoot under par going out. And with the wind the way it was blowing, I was right there in position," he said.
"I was even par through five. And seven was reachable today. And nine was playing easy. So I was in position to do what I wanted to do and then turn home and shoot maybe two under par on the back nine and I would have posted an eight or nine under par.
"And I thought that was going to be the number to win the golf tournament. I thought eight was a playoff, nine was to win outright. Unfortunately I just didn't do it."
With Scott bogeying the last four holes after being 10-under at the 14th, Els eventually won the tournament at seven under.
There was one anxious moment when Woods winced and clutched at his leg after playing from a kneeling position in executing his second attempt to get out of the fateful bunker at the sixth.
But he insisted afterwards that there had been no problem.
"I finally feel like I'm really healthy. And I've got my pop back in my swing. So I'm hitting the ball distances I know I can," he said.
"Unfortunately when I get out here with a little bit of adrenaline, it goes a little bit further, too.
"It's a combination of having my strength and my speed back, at the same time playing tournament golf. It's not that far off."
Thailand's Thongchai Ready for A Rest
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Ailing Thongchai Jaidee struggled to an eight-over par 78 in the final round of the British Open on Sunday but was relieved to learn his nagging neck injury was merely a muscle strain.
The Thai standout was looking forward to a break after finishing 72 holes on 12-over 292 to complete a hectic five-week streak of events.
"I played so badly," Thongchai said. "I'm a bit tired as this is my fifth tournament in a row. I would not normally play five tournaments in a row. The Open wasn't on my schedule but I got in.
"Also, my neck is still not good. It feels very tight. Maybe it's because I'm tired. I've seen the physiotherapist. It's a muscle problem. It's nothing serious. I cannot turn the neck fully now.
"I'll take a week's rest. I think the rest will help me to recover."
Thongchai, who won last month's Wales Open for his first European title, will stay in England for several days before meeting his coach in Munich, then going to America for the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.
The triple Asian Tour number one's victory in Wales has given him confidence that he can win anywhere in the world now.
"After Wales, I know I have a chance to win anywhere," he said.
"My confidence is back but this wasn’t my week. I lost a bit of my golf game. I couldn’t control the ball, a lot of bogeys. A bit unlucky too as a few drives bounced into the rough."
Dream Week for India's Lahiri at Open
Lytham, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Indian prospect Anirban Lahiri ended a dream week at the British Open on Sunday with a new self-belief that he can stand his ground against the world’s best players.
The 25-year-old signed off his major debut with a battling three-over-par 73 on a tough day at Royal Lytham and St Annes, finishing on three-over-par 283.
That placed him well ahead of the likes of former Open champions Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie and Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, ranked second and third in the world respectively.
"I won’t be intimidated anymore. If I can come here and hold my ground, I can hold it in any event and any field looking into the future," said Lahiri, who is a two-time Asian Tour winner.
"I am so much richer from the experience and confidence that I have gained this week. I think I’ve gained a lot of respect from the players. I think I can rate my game a bit higher now than when I came here initially.
"I feel I can come out here and play well, whether in Europe or America. I played with three different PGA Tour players this week and the same thing that Arjun (Atwal, who plays in the US) tells us, if you can shoot five or six under in India, you can do it in America as well. That’s the attitude that I should bring," he said.
The talented Indian dropped four bogeys against one lone birdie, which he recorded at the par three ninth - the hole where he recorded a magical hole-in-one during the third round.
Lahiri came close to a grandstand finish on 18 when he lipped out a birdie attempt from 10 feet.
"It was special. Yesterday, I hit a bad drive on 18. Today, I hit a driver and blasted it as far as I can blast it and fly all those traps," he said.
"That reflects how I was feeling on the course. I was telling my caddie that I’m not scared any more.
"I used to be four years back but not anymore. I think that’s a major point in my career.
Filipino Stumbles in Open But Happy at Major Debut
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Filipino Juvic Pagunsan slumped to a five-over par 75 in the final round of the British Open on Sunday, but vowed after his worst round of the week that his first major would not be his last. 
The reigning Asian Tour number one dropped six bogeys against a lone birdie at Royal Lytham and St Annes for a 72-hole total of 11-over 291.
"Missed a couple of shots on the back nine. It's not the way that I wanted to finish the week," Pagunsan said. "Overall it has been really nice. It was a wonderful experience. I'll take away some good memories."
Pagunsan, who has expressed a dislike for long-distance travel, said he will be the first to register for the Open's International Final Qualifying in Asia next year.
"I will try again," he said. "If there is an opportunity, I will come. I wouldn’t mind the travel to come."
But he realizes the need to sharpen his all-round game if he is to feature more prominently in majors.
"I need to focus more on my game if I am to be a part of them, the top players in the world," Pagunsan said. "I need more practice, better focus and better course management."
Singh Can Finally Celebrate Victory
LYTHAM, England, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - India's Jeev Milkha Singh can finally relax and celebrate winning last week's Scottish Open after finishing off an unexpected but much beloved week at the British Open on Sunday.
Singh fired a three-over par 73 in the final round to finish on 10-over 290 for 72 holes at Royal Lytham after only qualifying for the third major of the year last Sunday by winning the Scottish Open.
"I was really glad to be here. I enjoyed every bit of it," Singh said. "I expected better results than the way it has ended up. I fought hard. My goal was to finish under par but I fell short."
Singh, twice the Asian Tour number one, joined Anirban Lahiri was the first Indian duo to reach the weekend at a major, capping a fifth week on the road as he postponed his trip home for a week to practice and play at Royal Lytham.
After a break, he will return at next month's World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.
"Mentally I’m tired and I’ll rest next week and start again," he said. "Time to celebrate. We’ll have a few parties at home."
Singh, 40, has jumped to 87th in the world rankings and hopes to jump into the year-end top 50 and qualify for the Masters next year.
"I've got a very good chance," said Singh, who wore his well-worn Masters belt all week at Royal Lytham.
"Next year, I need a new belt," Singh said. "I've loved every bit of the Masters. It’s my favourite major and I’m hoping to get back there."
Having finally made the cut at a major, Singh hopes to improve upon his British Open showing next year at Muirfield.
"You have to hit the ball well and stay patient. I was patient all the time," Singh said. "You’ve got to be on top of the game to be under par and stay away from the bunkers."
Collated scores on Sunday during the final round of the 141st British Open golf championship at par-70 Royal Lytham:
273 - Ernie Els (RSA) 67-70-68-68
274 - Adam Scott (AUS) 64-67-68-75
277 - Tiger Woods (USA) 67-67-70-73, Brandt Snedeker (USA) 66-64-73-74
278 - Luke Donald (ENG) 70-68-71-69, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 67-69-67-75
279 - Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 65-77-72-65, Thomas Aiken (RSA) 68-68-71-72
280 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 72-68-73-67, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), 71-69-73-67 Ian Poulter (ENG) 71-69-73-67, Alexander Noren (SWE) 71-71-70-70, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 70-72-68-70, Dustin Johnson (USA) 73-68-68-71, Matt Kuchar (USA) 69-67-72-72, Mark Calcavecchia (USA) 71-68-69-72, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 69-66-71-74, Zach Johnson (USA) 65-74-66-75
281 - Hunter Mahan (USA) 70-71-70-70, Steven Alker (NZL) 69-69-72-71, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 72-68-68-73, Bill Haas (USA) 71-68-68-74
282 - Carl Pettersson (SWE) 71-68-73-70, Simon Dyson (ENG) 72-67-73-70, Steve Stricker (USA) 67-71-73-71, Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-72-72-71, Matthew Baldwin (ENG) 69-73-69-71, James Morrison (ENG) 68-70-72-72, Nick Watney (USA) 71-70-69-72, Bubba Watson (USA) 67-73-68-74
283 - Rickie Fowler (USA) 71-72-70-70, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 68-72-70-73, Jason Dufner (USA) 70-66-73-74
284 - John Senden (AUS) 70-71-75-68, Jim Furyk (USA) 72-70-71-71, Gary Woodland (USA) 73-70-70-71, Paul Lawrie (SCO) 65-71-76-72, Keegan Bradley (USA) 71-72-68-73
285 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 69-73-73-70, KJ Choi (KOR) 70-73-71-71, Rafael Echenique (ARG) 73-69-71-72, Troy Matteson (USA) 70-72-71-72, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69-72-71-73, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 70-72-70-73, Kyle Stanley (USA) 70-69-70-76
286 - Ross Fisher (ENG) 72-71-74-69, Bob Estes (USA) 69-72-74-71, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 73-70-71-72, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-70-71-72, Joost Luiten (NED) 73-70-69-74, Justin Hicks (USA) 68-74-69-75, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 71-68-71-76, Simon Khan (ENG) 70-69-71-76
287 - Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 69-73-73-72, Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN) 71-70-73-73, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 71-71-72-73, Greg Owen (ENG) 71-71-71-74, Harris English (USA) 71-71-7-75, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 70-69-72-76
288 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 67-75-73-73, Ted Potter (USA) 69-71-74-74, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 68-72-72-76, Dale Whitnell (ENG) 71-69-72-76
289 - Charles Howell (USA) 72-71-74-72, Lee Slattery (ENG) 69-72-75-73, Retief Goosen (RSA) 70-70-75-74, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 72-71-71-75, Garth Mulroy (RSA) 71-69-72-77
290 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 70-71-76-73, Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 71-71-74-74, Adilson Da Silva (BRA) 69-74-71-76
291 - Martin Laird (SCO) 70-69-82-70, Chad Campbell (USA) 73-70-74-74, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 71-72-73-75, Brendan Jones (AUS) 69-74-72-76, Toshinori Muto (JPN) 67-72-74-78
292 - Tom Watson (USA) 71-72-76-73, Warren Bennett (ENG) 71-70-75-76, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-71-74-78, Branden Grace (RSA) 73-69-71-79
294 - John Daly (USA) 72-71-77-74, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 70-71-76-77
298 - Andres Romero (ARG) 70-69-77-82