Adam Scott has vowed to move on quickly after his calamitous last four holes at the Open Championship handed the title to Ernie Els.

Scott bogeyed his last four holes at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Sunday to finish second behind South African Els, rustling up painful memories of some of compatriot Greg Norman's more infamous collapses.

After rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 14th, Scott's final round completely unravelled as the bogeys started rolling in.

Els shot a final-round 68 to win at seven under with Scott a shot back at six under.

"Well, it was a very sloppy finish by me, just talking about the golf. And disappointing to finish that way. I played so well all week," the 32-year-old said.

"I wasn't even really out of position, and I managed to get myself in some trouble and couldn't make the putts to get out of it the last four holes.

"But that's what was to be expected coming in here. It's a championship golf course, it's very difficult.

"And you've got to play some good shots to win those golf tournaments, and I wasn't able to do that the last few holes.

"Sure, I am very disappointed. But I felt like I played well this week, and it was probably a great chance."

On easily the toughest day for conditions at the Open, the Australian's five-over 75 was his worst final round of the year.

Scott missed an attempt at par from four metres on the 15th before three-putting for the first time in the championship on the 16th, including a putt that lipped out from a metre that would have given him par.

After bogeying the 17th, Scott's lead had dissipated and he was left with a two-and-a-half metre putt to force a four-hole play-off, but missed to groans from the gallery.

Despite the drop off, Scott said it had little to do with nerves.

"I was surprisingly calm the whole round," he said.

"It's funny, I definitely worked myself up a little bit at times, but once I was out there I felt completely in control.

"And even the last few holes I didn't really feel like it was a case of nerves or anything like that. It came down to hitting, not making a couple of putts on the last four holes.

"If I make either on 15 or 16, it's a very different position and a lot more comfortable. And I put myself in a position where I had to hit a great tee shot off the last and I didn't hit a great one."

In an otherwise superb tournament, Scott opened with a course-record equalling 64 before rounds of 67 and 68 to fall just one shot short of the lowest 54-hole total in Open history.

"I played so beautifully for most of the week. I certainly shouldn't let this bring me down," he said.