IT might not have been Daniel Brown's name engraved on the Claret Jug but this was still a fairytale week for the Northallerton golfer.

Ranked 272nd in the world coming in, the Romanby member didn't even know he was going to be making his Open debut until a fortnight ago when he made a 20-foot putt on the last hole of final qualifying.

The 29-year-old now has a full year notice ahead of his next Open appearance, for he knows he'll be back next year.

A hard-fought 74 on the final day at Royal Troon saw Brown fall out of contention to cap one of the most incredible Open stories in the famous tournament's history and actually lift the Claret Jug but it was still enough to secure a top 10 finish - a quite remarkable achievement in his major debut - and a guaranteed return next year.

There was no first English winner since 1992, with Justin Rose coming up two short despite an outstanding final round of 67.

That was two short - on the day and in the final standings - of Xander Schauffele, who fired a flawless 65 to win his second major in three months, finishing nine under-par.

The American also finished two clear of overnight leader Billy Horschel, with South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who held the lead after 11 holes of the final round, a shot further back in fourth following a 68.

Schauffele, who registered a major record of 21 under par to win the US PGA at Valhalla in May, became the first player to win two majors in a year since Brooks Koepka in 2018.

The world number three also became the seventh American winner in the last eight Opens at Royal Troon – Sweden’s Henrik Stenson having denied Phil Mickelson in a thrilling duel in 2016 – and will head to Paris to defend his Olympic title in brilliant form.

The new Open champion, who has now finished no worse than 18th in his last 10 starts, was eighth in the Masters and seventh in the US Open either side of his US PGA triumph, where he birdied the 72nd hole to edge out Bryson DeChambeau by a shot.

He said: "It means a lot. It's something all of us play for and it really is a dream come true to be holding this. It definitely hasn't sunk in yet. I can't wait to sit back and have a moment with the Claret Jug.

"I was calm and felt collected. I was telling my caddy on the 18th I felt pretty calm and he said he was about to puke on the 18th tee!"

As for Brown, he held the outright lead until an unfortune double bogey on the 18th hole of his third round, which finished in brutal conditions.

Playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler on Sunday, Brown bogeyed his first hole before bouncing back with a brilliant birdie. But four dropped shots in the next five holes saw Brown fall out of contention and he made the turn in 39.

Despite that disappointment, Brown got himself back in track with a solid back nine and got back in the red with a birdie on the 15th. He bogeyed the last to finish level par but it was still enough to secure a top 10 finish, a quite stunning result and undoubtedly one of the stories of the week at Troon.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who held a two-shot lead at the halfway stage before struggling to a 77 on Saturday, shot 68 in the final round to finish sixth, with Jon Rahm, Sungjae Im and Scottie Scheffler three strokes further back in seventh.

Masters champion and world number one Scheffler had been within two of the lead until amazingly four-putting the ninth for a double bogey.

Nobody could touch Schauffele, who made six birdies, including four in a stunning back nine.

“It’s been quite a journey and I feel very honoured to hear my named called with ‘Open champion’ after it. It’s something I’ve dreamt of for a long time,” he said.

“I’ve been in Scotland for two weeks and you guys (the fans) have made it feel like a second home. I can’t wait to come back.”