Worthing golfer Gary Evans played the round of his life as he threatened to cause one of the biggest upsets in golf history yesterday.

Evans, without a tournament win in 274 events, gave himself a chance to break his duck in the most spectacular fashion imaginable during the final round of the Open at Muirfield.

He eventually finished joint fifth behind Ernie Els who won after a four-way play-off.

Evans, 33, has just one second place to his credit in an 11-year European Tour career and that came at the start of his rookie year in 1992 when he was hailed as the new Nick Faldo.

But yesterday, the former English amateur champion, who started the day six shots behind overnight leader Els, actually led the tournament after 11 holes.

That lead became two when Els drove into a fairway bunker on the first and took five.

Evans' produced a remarkable 50-foot putt to save par at the 17th, sparking scenes of fist-pumping jubilation around the green but he bogeyed the last to finish on five under.

Evans then had to wait while the rest of the field finished behind him.

A four-way play-off was needed to decide the winner between Thomas Levet, Ernie Els, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington, who all finished on six under after their final rounds.

Elkington and Appleby were then elimnated, leaving Els to beat Levet in a sudden death showdown.

Evans said: "I can't get my head around it at the moment. Now I know how Jean Van de Velde felt and why Retief Goosen, a good friend of mine, three-putted the last at the US Open last year.

"I don't know how Faldo and these guys hit these shots under pressure. That's a different world to me, it's very difficult to hold it together.

Evans added: "You get an almighty buzz. I was wondering during warm-up what it might be like coming up the last with a chance. Now I know, it just gives you a feeling of worth that people want you to do well."

Evans nearly quit tour golf a few years ago after breaking his wrist and then found it hard to keep his tour card.

He said: "It's every kid's dream to walk up the last. I can't imagine what it must be like actually to put your hands on the trophy."