Rose Rolls to Victory in Scottish Open


Justin Rose shot rounds of 66 and 65 over the weekend to win the European Tour's Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen. The 33-year-old, South African-born Brit fired six birdies Sunday to end up at 16-under 268, two strokes ahead of Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg, who closed with a 66.

Rose began the final round tied for the lead with Marc Warren, but the Scot couldn't keep pace with the 2013 U.S. Open champion. The 33-year-old Warren, who has two prior European victories, finished with a 70 to end up in solo third at 11-under 273.

Rose was especially pleased that the victory was his first in Scotland, the birthplace of golf. "This is my first professional win in Scotland so it means lot," he told the European Tour's website. "This a great tournament - there's definitely something special about playing golf up here and the golfing crowd are so knowledgeable and I've really gotten to love this golf course."

Rose started out hot, carding five birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 5-under 31. After a birdie on the 12th, he parred out the rest of the way. "It was exactly the start I was looking for, and 16 was the key. I looked at the leaderboard and I was only two ahead and felt I was bound to make bogey there. Getting it up-and-down was the key to the win."

Rose won the previous tournament he entered, the PGA Tour's Quicken Loans National at Congressional in Bethesda, Md., and now has two titles in consecutive starts for the first time in his career. "I couldn't have scripted it better - I've never won two in a row and I've certainly never won three in a row so I'm in unchartered territory."

Rose became the first English winner of the Scottish Open since Luke Donald in 2011. He's now won tournaments in six different countries, taking titles in South Africa, England, Australia, Spain, USA and now Scotland.

Tied for fourth at 274 were Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, who recorded an 8-under 63, Italy's Matteo Manassero (65), Ireland's Shane Lowry (66) and England's Tyrrell Hatton (68).

Broberg, Hatton and Scotland's Scott Jamieson secured the European Tour's three remaining Open Championship spots for those not already exempt. The third major of the year tees off next Thursday at Royal Liverpool.

Jamieson (64), American Rickie Fowler (65) and Sweden's Robert Karlsson (66) tied for eighth at 275, while another stroke back were American Phil Mickelson (65), England's Danny Willett (67) and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal (68).

Mickelson heads to England as the defending British Open champion.

Finishing one stroke further down the leaderboard were England's Paul Casey (65) and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (67).

The win for Rose, his seventh on the European Tour, may move him up to third in the upcoming World Golf Rankings, which will be released Monday. He's came into the Scottish Open positioned in sixth.

For all the scores visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014054/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.