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Scott clawed into a tie for the lead with five
holes left but could not match Koepka's consecutive birdies at
the 15th and 16th holes at Bellerive.
"Unfortunately, just didn't have it the last couple of holes,"
the former world number one said. "If I was critical of myself
today, I just didn't drive it up to what I would expect in this
kind of situation to win."
He bogeyed the last to shoot three-under-par 67 and finish three
strokes behind Koepka's 16-under 264.
Peter Thomson (five British Opens), Greg Norman (two British
Opens) and David Graham (U.S. Open and PGA Championship) are the
only Australians to win two or more majors.
Eight others, including 2013 Masters champion Scott, have
claimed a single major title and the 38-year-old was doubly
inspired by fellow Australian pro Jarrod Lyle, who died aged 36
of cancer the day before the tournament started.
Scott, who made a bogey at the opening hole that left him four
behind Koepka, took a while to get up a full head of steam,
before he made five birdies in seven holes around the turn upon
finding his range with his irons and holing some putts.
He tied Koepka for the lead after flagging his tee shot at the
par-three 13th and sinking the seven-footer.
But he could not respond to Koepka's birdies at the 15th and
16th holes, and a squandered birdie chance from seven feet at
the par-five 17th signaled the end of his chances.
"I think I read it correctly," said Scott of the seven-foot putt
that broke sharply across the hole and missed on the low side.
"I just don't think I hit it hard enough, and that's a shame.
"I had high hopes today, especially with four or five go being
tied with Brooks."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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