EDDIE Pepperell dropped five shots in five holes as his hopes of mounting a challenge at The Open faded in the final round.

A four-over-par 76 saw him drop from a share of 15th position to joint 49th at St Andrews.

The Abingdon golfer began today at eight-under-par for the tournament, four shots off the lead.

He went out in level par for the front nine, with a bogey at the fourth cancelling out a birdie on the second hole.

Pepperell picked up a shot at the tenth, before his round unravelled with three successive dropped shots from the 13th, followed by a double bogey six at the 17th.