Former world No 1 fades after holding share of lead on final day

Australian earns shot at 100th straight major with 12th-place finish

Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott’s latest crushing collapse.

Scott’s late fade in “near unplayable” conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th behind US Open winner JJ Spaun adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia’s former world No 1.

It was not quite as dramatic as Scott’s meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012, when he had one hand on the famous Claret Jug only to blow a four-shot lead with four holes to play to gift Ernie Els the British Open trophy.