He came up short himself but Adam Scott was chuffed about helping "old mate" Camilo Villegas snap a nine-year PGA Tour winning drought at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Villegas carded a final-round six-under-par round 66 at Port Royal Golf Course to finish 24 under, two shots ahead of Sweden's Alex Noren (68).
Scott's Sunday charge never quite materialised but a fast-finishing 67 propelled Australia's former world No.1 to a tie for fifth, five shots adrift of the winner.
Villegas, at 41, looked up to the sky after he tapped in for par on the 18th to secure his fifth PGA Tour title, but only his first since 2014 and also the first since the death of his 22-month-old daughter Mia from cancer in July 2020.
"It's tough to put it into words right now but, wow, what a ride man," Villegas told NBC.
"I love this game, this game has given me so many great things, but in the process it kicks your butt. Life has given me so many great things and, in the process, it kicks my butt too.
"I just want to thank everyone that's supported me over this journey. The support has been unbelievable. I must have gotten 500 text messages last week and I didn't even win the golf tournament.
"I felt the energy, it kept building up. Everybody here on the island was great and just rooting me on.
"I believe in energy and I've got my little one up there watching it, smiling - she's where she needs to be after a long fight."
Following his runner-up at 2023 World Wide Technology Championship, Villegas is the first player since J.T. Poston last year to finish second and win the following week.
Villegas is using the same long putter as Scott, who revealed post-round how he tipped the Internationals' Presidents Cup co-captain off last year.
"We kind of did a little scouting trip to Quail Hollow after the Tour Championship last year. Camilo and I were talking about his golf and putting and I introduced him to the LAB putter at that point," Scott said.
"I at least gave him the contact of Sam at LAB. He's been putting great with it.
"He's obviously very comfortable. The last couple weeks has been incredible, so I'm stoked for Camilo. He's such a positive guy. To see him playing well again is nice for an old mate."
The classy Scott, who stuck around to offer Villegas a warm congratulatory embrace, enjoyed his own fourth-straight sub-70 round, Sunday's iced with three straight birdies at 15, 16 and 17.
The 43-year-old said the tournament was great preparation for the looming Australian PGA Championship, starting on November 23 at Royal Queensland and the Australian Open in Sydney the following week.
"It was really one of the reasons for coming to play, to make sure I'm not rusty when I play at home," he said.
"I want to play well down there. I want to play well every week, but I really like where things are at.
"There's a lot of good stuff to take out of my game this week and if I play in similar style down there, hopefully I can end up on top."
With PA.
