Kang Sung-hoon birdied the last hole to win the Korea Open on Sunday and ensure Rory McIlroy's final-round surge was in vain.
South Korean Kang carded a two-under 69 to finish four-under par at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course near Cheonan, taking the title by one shot from McIlroy and overnight leader Kim Hyung-tae, who endured a nightmare final round.
Kang, 26, made four birdies and came home in 32 to secure the title, but he must have taken some anxious glances at the leaderboard as former world number one McIlroy rediscovered his form to put himself in contention for a first title of the year.
McIlroy has been out of sorts this year and was 10 shots off the lead heading into the final round, but as Kim was capitulating, the Northern Irishman reeled off four birdies in a four-under round of 67.
But a bogey at 16 proved to be costly for the two-time major winner and he was left to reflect on what might have been.
"I could have shot anything, absolutely anything," said McIlroy.
"I only missed two greens and had so many chances, but it was like the story of yesterday (Saturday) — I just didn't hole enough putts,
"I created so many more chances that it could have been 61, 62. It just wasn't to be.
"I didn't birdie any of the par fives, which was disappointing.
"I felt like it could have been so much lower the last couple of days."
Kim took a four-shot advantage into the final round but it all went wrong on Sunday as he shot a six-over 77 to finish three under with McIlroy.
The 27-year-old was given a two-stroke penalty on the 13th after grounding his club in a hazard.