The Senior Open title hung in the balance as a play-off between Bernhard Langer and Mark Wiebe was left unfinished in the darkness at Royal Birkdale.
The German, a former winner of the title in 2010, and the 55-year-old American will return this at 8am to continue sudden death after halving the two play-off holes that could be played in the gathering gloom.
Officials eventually called a halt to play at 9.44pm with the pair’s putts for par illuminated only by the lights from the famous Royal Birkdale clubhouse.
Wiebe, searching for his first major in the seniors and his first title for three years, made a tricky 6ft putt and Langer followed him in from 3ft.
Darkness had been expected to end play at 9.15pm at the latest but the pair had pressed on in the hope of forcing a finish.
It was the completion of a dramatic, protracted day in which there were two delays for thunderstorm activity in the area and Langer, needing only a bogey on the 72nd hole to clinch his second Senior Open title three years after his first at Carnoustie, left a ball in a bunker and took a double-bogey six.
The normally implacable former Masters champion let slip a lead in last year’s Senior Open to lose to Fred Couples at Turnberry and almost handed the title this time to Wiebe, who shot a final round 66 which was absolutely the worst score he could have returned.
The man from Oregon had putts for birdies on each of his last five holes in regulation but missed them all, including a great chance on his 72nd hole when he did not get a 7ft chance that would have won the title in the end.
Langer appeared to be coasting to victory with a three-shot advantage at the start he held most of the way through his first 13 holes, moving to 12-under with birdies at the fifth, ninth and 12th.
Wiebe had made a brave charge a hole ahead but it seemed the 2010 champion had all he needed in reserve. Even after he bogeyed the short 14th he still seemed to have everything in hand.
Then came the first thunder delay, lasting an hour and a half.
A second followed after the field returned to the course and were barely able to complete two further holes, with former US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin being stopped just as he was about to hit a 4ft birdie putt on the final hole.
An hour later, the players returned to the course, Wiebe to miss birdie chances on the 17th and 18th, and then to watch as Langer uncharacteristically let slip what seemed to be a sure thing.
After cautious parts on 16 and 17, the former European captain’s drive at the last seemed in perfect position, but he leaked the approach into the right-side bunker at the green.
There still seemed to be no reason for panic for Langer, but he jabbed nervously at the bunker shot and left it in the trap and, having come out to 5ft, saw his putt to rescue the situation stay on the lip of the cup.
That took the pair back to the 18th in the gathering gloom, and after a regulation half in fours they agreed to play once more, when matters were approaching farce as both made two more pars and agreed to come back this morning.