Scottish Open tests the best
Joost Luiten brought home the winner in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and at the same time earned himself a cheque for 193,789 euros. It was an ideal pairing in more ways than one. The 29-year old Dutchman dressed in orange polo-shirt. The 26-year old American Rickie Fowler wearing bright orange trousers. Both on 10-under par going into the final blustery day at Gullane. Both in a tie for third place, along with Tommy Fleetwood, trailing just a tantalising two-strokes behind Englishman Daniel Brooks.
It was a tough day on the East Lothian links course with gusty winds providing the strong-field with a great test of Scottish golf. Traditionally many ‘big guns’ fly over from America for the Scottish Open looking to secure a start for The Open Championship the following week, if they have not automatically qualified, or simply to use it as a warming-up. Much valuable links golf experience can be gained here on Scotlands’s Golf Coast.
Indeed, records reveal that the last four winners of The Open Championship played in the Scottish Open the week prior – Darren Clarke (2011); Ernie Els (2012); Phil Mickelson (2013) and Rory McIlroy (2014). Which great player will follow in their footsteps and seize the Claret Jug at St Andrews this week? Perhaps the future is looking orange!
Back to Gullane. Joost Luiten was just one stroke off the lead after 5 holes, but bogeys at the 7th and 8th took him back to 8-under for the tournament and set the scene for what was to be a frustrating round. Yet all credit to the player from Rotterdam, he stuck to his guns and squeezed two more birdies out of Gullane. After 14 holes he was again just two off the pace set by Raphael Jacquelin and Matt Kuchar. His birdie at the 16th looked promising but a par, par finish saw him eventually sign for a level par 70 final round, and so remain at 10-under.
Playing partner Rickie Fowler finished in a blaze of glory with three birdies in the last four holes repeating his birdie blitz of day one. The winner of the unofficial 5th Major, The Players Championship earlier this season, fired his approach shot at the 18th in true champion style so close that a mere tap-in for birdie sealed his round of 68 and secured his victory by one shot with a score of 268, 12-under par.
Fellow American, Matt Kuchar, leader in the clubhouse on 11- under, had to be content with a tie for second place with Frenchman, Raphaël Jacquelin. While Daniel Brooks, winner of the 2014 Madeira Open, slipped back to a tie for 7th position with fellow Englishmen Ross Fisher and Luke Donald (-9). He will no doubt be pleased with his first winner’s cheque in the UK.
There will be a few long faces in Holland today. OK, so it’s not a win for “Our Joost”, but it was another really valuable learning experience for him. At very close hand, he saw how Fowler managed to turn up the heat those last few holes on a windy links course and seize the trophy. Two more birdies in the last three holes was the difference between walking off as Scottish Open Champion or finishing just out of the limelight as one of a trio in 4th place. Joost’s great result (tied 4th with England’s Eddie Pepperell and Scotsman Marc Warren) sets him up very nicely for The Open at St Andrews this week. Och, you can’t beat a timely confidence boost.
“Proost Joost”!
Wendy Hoad