Graeme McDowell has revealed that he struggled to console Adam Scott after the Australian threw away the Open Championship on Sunday.

Scott, who started the final day with a four-shot lead, carded four consecutive bogeys on the final four holes to allow Ernie Els a one-shot victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

"It was tough to say anything to him that was going to be of any relevance," said Northern Irishman McDowell. "I said he's a great champion and there are many majors ahead for him. It's just a tough beat.

"He's going to be extremely heart-broken and disappointed, but he's a great, great, great player and that's what I tried to convey to him on the last green.

"Like I say, it felt like a futile exercise trying to say anything to him, but I'm sure he's going to be unbelievably disappointed."

McDowell finished tied for fourth with world number one Luke Donald.