You’re the first amateur to lead the Open going into the last round for 88 years but you don’t even end up winning the Silver Medal.
It was a tough day for young Paul Dunne.
Last man to tee off, Dunne got the biggest roar of all 80 golfers from the first hole galleries to send him on his way.
It didn’t seem to do him much good, though.
A duffed second shot that stopped short of the Swilcan Burn, a feat only achieved by Tom Weiskopf in the Champions’ Challenge, resulted in a nervy bogey.
Then a drive off the second that found the putting green next to the St Andrews Links clubhouse did nothing to settle the 22-year-old down. That was bogey number two.
Already it had become painfully obvious that a final day that promised all manner of potential romantic stories, wasn’t going to produce its most incredible one an amateur winner of the Open.
To the Dubliner’s credit he steadied things with birdies at three and five but there was to be no improbable recovery.
Four more bogeys and a double followed to complete his 78, and Dunne wasn’t even allowed a stress-free walk on to the 18th green after he thinned his approach into the thick rough in front of the fence.
There have been Opens when not a single amateur makes the cut and the Silver Medal isn’t claimed.
This year Dunne was beaten by three of his peers Jordan Niebrugge (the medal winner), Oliver Schniederjans and Ashley Chesters.
Dunne, who will now mull over whether to turn pro or wait for the Walker Cup, said: “I just never settled into the round. I’ve always struggled in the rain a bit. The conditions didn’t suit me, but that’s not an excuse. I should just get used to the conditions more.
“It was just a day that my golf wasn’t there, so hopefully it’ll be there more in the future.”
American Niebrugge said: “I would rank this for sure the top accomplishment I’ve had so far – the Silver Medal in a major championship, especially at St. Andrews. It’s definitely a dream come true.”
Graeme McDowell was rooting for his fellow Irishman, who is currently a student at his old college in Alabama.
And he has seen enough in Dunne to not read too much into his last round slump.
“It seems like he’s a pretty wise old owl for a young lad,” McDowell said.
“He kind of has that Jordan (Spieth) type maturity to him.
“I played with him earlier in the week and he hit the ball really well. He’s got a strong, technical golf swing, and he’s very cool and unflappable.
“What can you say, it’s been an amazing performance whatever happens in his last round.
“It’s so good for him to put himself on the map and my old school UAB. He’s got the men’s head coach, Alan Murray, on the bag who I played amateur golf with.”
McDowell believes that there is hardly a stitch to be seen in the transition from amateur to professional these days.
He noted: “There’s a belief that they can compete as a youngster, and a readiness to do it that wasn’t there when I turned pro.
“I played with Ollie Schniederjans and he’s already been in half a dozen events with the professionals and cut his teeth. They come out ready to win big tournaments.”