Denmark's JB Hansen was battling Henrik Stenson for one of the most remarkable victories ever seen in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Hansen began the final round just two shots off the lead held by Stenson, but his chances of a maiden European Tour title looked to have disappeared with a quadruple-bogey nine on the par five second at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
However, the 22 year old bounced back with five birdies in succession, picked up another shot on the ninth to be out in 34 and when he birdied the tenth as well was suddenly in the outright lead.
At 17 under, the Challenge Tour graduate led by one from Stenson, who had carded two birdies and two bogeys in his first eight holes, with Phil Mickelson another shot back.
Mickelson had made an excellent recovery of his own after topping his second shot to the first and then three-putting for a double-bogey, the World Number Eight then carding four birdies and one bogey in his next five holes.
Hansen's nine had come after he hit two shots into bushes and was forced to take a penalty drop each time, eventually finding the green with his seventh shot.
At that point he was seven off the lead, but immediately began to show the kind of form that brought him individual honours in the Eisenhower Trophy - the world amateur team championships - in 2010.
Stenson, back to 32nd in the Official World Golf Ranking after some disappointing form left him 230th at the start of 2012, birdied the tenth and 11th from close range to get back into the lead on 18 under.
Hansen had finally had more than one par in a row to remain 17 under with five to play, while Scotland's Martin Laird had set the clubhouse target on 14 under after a 68.
Hansen holed from 25 feet for yet another birdie, his eighth of the day, on the 14th to get back into a share of the lead, but promptly bogeyed the next.
And with Stenson also dropping a shot on the 14th, Mickelson's third birdie in four holes on the 14th had given the American the lead for the first time with four holes to play.
