Talk of the Troon: Team GB stars remain focused on the task at hand, Dan Brown is watched on by famous namesake and the Postage Stamp claims yet another victim

The thrilling action at Royal Troon came to a climax on the as some of the sport's top stars vied to lift the Claret Jug.

An incredible final day performance from Xander Schauffele saw the American finish two shots ahead of Justin Rose and Billy Horschel on an enthralling final day.

The 30-year-old shot a sensational 65 to deny Rose the honour of becoming the first Englishman in more than three decades to win The Open.

Meanwhile despite having withstood challenging weather conditions to take an improbable early lead, Shane Lowry's bid to replicate his 2019 heroics ultimately proved unsuccessful as he finished five shots behind in sixth.

Mail Sport's JAMES SHARPE covers the things you may have missed at The Open in Talk of the Troon.

15th highlights the changing weather

To appreciate the brutality of Royal Troon’s swirling winds, you only need look at how the 502-yard par-four 15th played over the final two days. Jon Rahm’s tee shot into the gales on that grotesque Saturday afternoon only went 262 yards. On Sunday, he smashed it 346 yards down the fairway. 

Shane Lowry hit two shots with the driver at the same hole on Saturday and still finished 50 yards short of the green, following a tee shot of just 235 yards. On Sunday, he managed 319.

Olympic hopefuls save small talk for later 

Matt Fitzpatrick is not one for buying into the Olympic spirit of friendship and solidarity. He and Tommy Fleetwood will be going for gold at Le Golf National next month. 

Asked if he had chatted to his Team GB partner about it this week, Fitzpatrick grinned: ‘No, it’s an individual tournament. We’re playing against each other at the end of the day.’

Keepsakes don't come cheap at the Troon 

Forget the queue for the first tee, the longest line of people was the one that snaked into the giant course shop as patrons scrambled to scoop up as many keepsakes as they could — £20 for a bag towel, £15 for a pack of three ball markers, £10 for a yardage book of a course you’ll never play. A lovely little three-quarter zip caught the eye of Mail Sport — until a glance at the price tag showed £290! Just the towel, please.

Da Vinci Code author hails namesake

An American journalist wrote to the author Dan Brown, whose bestselling novels include The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, to ask if he was watching his namesake contend the Open. 

Brown wrote back with a picture attached of him holding just the head of an iron. ‘This was the result of my last shot,’ he replied. ‘I’m pleased to see my alter ego is playing better than I am.’

Eckroat latest victim of the Postage Stamp 

Austin Eckroat was the final man driven to insanity on the Postage Stamp as the eighth hole claimed its last victim of the week. The American needed four shots to get out of one of the right-hand bunkers on his way to a quadruple-bogey seven. 

‘It’s fun,’ said Eckroat. ‘You have anxiety when you’re going up to that tee box.’ Sucker for punishment or what!

Thomas' shot swims with the fishes 

Justin Thomas was hoping to make waves at the start of his final round but not in the way he intended with his opening tee shot. 

The former world No 1 shanked his driver so far out of bounds to the right it almost landed in the Firth of Clyde. One fan remarked: ‘Even the fish were ducking!’