Congratulations to Min Woo Lee, who claimed the $8 million Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick. The Australian edged out one of my boys Matt Fitzpatrick in the play-off to win the Rolex Series event, and I know big things are just around the corner for the Englishman.
I am already here at The Open on the range in Sandwich, having just had my PCR test with some of my players, but all the news from Royal St George’s is for another day.
- Scottish Open: Spectator ejected for grabbing Rory McIlory’s club
- Scottish Open: Peter Cowen speaks on his players’ form this week
- Scottish Open: Peter Cowen’s Fitzpatrick in pole position for seventh European Tour win with Detry and Rahm lurking
- Golf coach Peter Cowen’s take on the Scottish Open first round
A 90-minute delay in Scotland due to lightning stalled some momentum for the later tee-timers and maybe that affected Matt. Anyway, how did all my players do on Sunday? Here they are in finishing order:
Matt Fitzpatrick (-18/lost first play-off hole): A strong final-round 67 saw Matt get into the three-man play-off with Belgium’s Thomas Detry and Lee, but a birdie from Lee at the first play-off hole — the 18th — took the title for the 22-year-old. Matt is due a win, hopefully next week for his first major.
Ian Poulter (-17/T4th): Well played by the DP World Ambassador. An eight-birdie round and the best of the day. I cannot remember the last time Ian looked so confident and ‘in the mood’, ready for next week’s Open.
Padraig Harrington (-11/T18th): Another very good round from Ryder Cup captain Harrington. A four-birdie round, that saw a disappointing bogey five on the home hole. Overall, an exceptionally strong week from the 49-year-old and he travels to The Open at Sandwich full of positive thoughts.
Thomas Pieters (-9/T35th): A six-birdie round saw Thomas almost at his best. He is surprisingly not in The Open field next week. He should be, but expect him to be back in contention after a week off.
Branden Grace (-7/T54th): A blemish-free three-under final round sets up Branden for next week. If I was a gambler I might put a couple of shillings on Branden next week with his low ball flight, perfect for links golf. You heard it here first on Sunday 10.20pm UAE time. Remember the time and the place.
Victor Perez (-6/T59th): Not what Victor was looking for and but for a last-round back nine of 39 he has had a very good week and should be taking a lot of positives into next week.
Adri Arnaus (Par/T75th): Four bogeys and an ugly triple bogey 8 on hole 10 saw a flat finish from the Spaniard. After a week off I predict big things from Adri in the next few weeks and of course representing Spain in the Olympics with US Open Jon Rahm.
And a couple of special mentions:
Adrian Otaegui (-10/T26th): A two-birdie, two-bogey round from the Dubai resident. Another good week for the Spaniard.
Former Emirates Golf Club junior member Sebastian Heisele of Germany finished on -8 and tied-44th. Sebastian is a very good player and can still get to the top end of world of golf at 32 years of age. Sebastian is 303rd in the rankings, and a projected 159th in the Race to Dubai following this week.
The three Open spots from the Scottish Open went to Lee, Detry and England’s Jack Senior. Rest well and see you on the range tomorrow for one of my favourite weeks of the year — The Open!
