SANDWICH, England — Dustin Johnson was right in the mix again, playing in the final group at a major championship, just two strokes off the lead as he stood over his ball in the 14th fairway.
He surveyed the green up ahead and reached into his bag for a 2-iron, knowing he needed at least a birdie on the par-5 hole to put some heat on Darren Clarke.
Instead, Johnson sent the ball sailing out of bounds, leading to a double-bogey that turned the final four holes Sunday into nothing more than a victory lap for Clarke. The Northern Irish golfer coasted to his first major title by three strokes.
Johnson's breakthrough will have to wait. He keeps making big mistakes on the biggest stages, this one leaving him three shots behind the winner in a tie for second with Phil Mickelson.