Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Aaron Baddeley leaves the course at Oakmont after posting an 80, 10-over-par yesterday in the final round of the U.S. Open. Click photo for larger image.

He got a good night's sleep.

He had some breakfast, some quiet time with his family and arrived at Oakmont County Club with a steady mind and a clear intention.

Even as the golf world -- and periscope-wielding fans -- peered directly at him, he remained as steady as a barge navigating the nearby Allegheny River.

Aaron Baddeley, 26, a handsome Australian and son of a race-car mechanic, entered the final round of the 107th U.S. Open yesterday as the story, if for no other reason than because he was the leader.

"Normal, everything was the same as it usually is," Baddeley said of the time span from when he walked off the course Saturday evening as the third-round leader at 2-over 212 to when he poked the ground with his tee on the first tee box at 3 p.m. yesterday

But that is when this whole thing changed, big time -- and it took just one hole. One crushing, self-confidence-zapping, overhand-right-to-the-chin of a hole effectively eliminated this blue-and-brown-checkered-pants-wearing, dirty blond from contention.

In golf parlance, it was the dreaded "three jack" on Oakmont's vicious No. 1 green that did in Baddeley. He missed an 8-foot putt for bogey. Knifed a 4-footer coming back for double and then holed the short remnants left for triple-bogey 7, sliding in about 11 minutes from a two-shot tournament lead to a guy on his way to being mired in the pack that couldn't catch champion Angel Cabrera.

That triple bogey on No. 1 was a large contributor to Baddeley's total of 80 yesterday, placing him into a 13th-place tie at 12 over for the tournament and costing him thousands. He earned $124,706 on a day when $1.26 million went to the victor.

So, what happened?

Was it nerves? After all, Baddeley had never been in the final Sunday group of a major before yesterday.

Was it the "Tiger Effect," having to play in a twosome with a certain Mr. Woods, whose presence can overwhelm even the usually unfazed?

"I don't know," Baddeley said. "The first green was fast and I thought I made a good putt on the first one, but it just ended up not being the line. Then, the second one, there, too, I don't know, I thought I had it."

But he didn't. And, truth be told, he didn't have it almost all day.

To his credit, Baddeley clenched the controls after No. 1 -- for a little bit. He made five consecutive pars on Nos. 2-6. But then, what started as a small outbreak on No. 1 turned into a full-blown epidemic on holes 7-11, as he made double bogey, bogey, par, bogey and bogey in succession to slam the door vehemently on any remaining chances.

"I have to be honest, though, I enjoyed today," said this charming guy tour players and fans call "Badds." "Other than I didn't play well, I enjoyed the experience. I didn't do what I wanted to do, that was for sure. But the whole experience was something that will help me in the long run."

That it may, but no matter what he says, deep down Baddeley must realize that he frittered away a huge opportunity yesterday. The kind of opportunity that rarely -- unless your name is Woods -- comes around all that often.

Toward the end of an impromptu gathering with media not busy jockeying for space to talk with Cabrera or Woods, Baddeley was asked, "How does it feel to be the big story coming into the day and then become inconsequential?"

Quickly, he responded, "That's what happens when you shoot 80."