Bryson DeChambeau hopes next year's venue of St Andrews will be his "golden ticket" to Open Championship glory.
DeChambeau ended a difficult week at Royal St George's on a high, carding his first sub-70 score in four Open starts with a bogey-free 65.
The former US Open champion sparked a war of words with his own club manufacturer after complaining on day one that his driver "sucks", with a Cobra representative describing the comment as "stupid" and likening DeChambeau to "an eight-year-old that gets mad at you".
DeChambeau subsequently apologised but was reminded of the incident on Sunday, with a spectator shouting: "If you don't like your driver can I have it?" as the 27-year-old went to sign his card.
"It's great to get something under my belt for next year," DeChambeau said. "I felt like I understand a little bit more how to play Open Championship-style golf and if I can get a little better on the greens, today I shoot eight, nine under.
"It could have been a deep one today. But proud of the fact I shot five under, very, very happy with that and I'll learn a lot from this round for next year."
The Old Course at St Andrews will host the 150th Open in 2022 and with DeChambeau's length off the tee, former US Open champion Graeme McDowell told the PA news agency that he thinks the American could drive "10, maybe 12 greens."
"I've never played it so I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can do out there," DeChambeau said.
"If I can drive it really well I think there's a lot of opportunities, I've heard that. So maybe next year is the golden ticket for me."
DeChambeau also said he would consider contesting the Scottish Open the week before the Open next year, adding: "This year was a little interesting, I didn't really know what to do, but hopefully I can come next year and get acclimated earlier and play and have a better chance coming into the Open.
"That would be awesome."
