Brooks Remains Ahead at Scottish Open


After beginning the third round with a three-stroke lead in the Scottish Open, England's Daniel Brooks struggled but still managed to stay atop the European Tour event at Guillane Golf Club in East Lothian by a shot.

The 28-year-old carded a 1-under 69 to reach 12-under 198, a stroke clear of Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin, who fired a 64, and two in front of American Rickie Fowler (66), the Netherlands' Juoost Luiten (66) and England's Tommy Fleetwood (67).

Brooks, whose only win on the European Tour came last year at the weather-shortened Madeira Islands Open in Portugal, started out ominously with a double-bogey on the par-4 first hole. But he rebounded with three birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 1-under 34 before posting a bogey and a birdie coming home.

"It's good to get off to a bad start and hold it together," Brooks told the European Tour's website. "It was playing tough and cold in the wind so it was nice to carry on the way I have been playing. I hit a lot of poor shots today but scrambled and putted well."

He's now looking to be in the final group and the chance to bring home his second title. "It would be amazing to win, that's what we play for. It's the biggest day of my career but I am trying not to think about it. The main priority is to keep my card because I have been struggling all year."

The 41-year-old Jacquelin, a three-time winner in Europe, is seeking to return to the victory circle since the 2013 Spanish Open. "The game of golf, it's getting really difficult. The level of the players is getting high. So as soon as you're not 100 per cent, you're not going to play the weekend. That's part of it. That's why we keep working hard and practicing like I did, to be in that position I will be in tomorrow."

For Fowler, the Scottish Open is a tune-up for next week's Open Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews. "The big key is preparation for next week," the 26-year-old Californian said. "Not just playing the week before but also playing on a links golf course and having the opportunity to be in contention, it's only going to help me for next week.

"Last year I finished eighth here and then went on to have a good week at The Open. So I am looking forward to tomorrow and having a chance at winning this thing down the stretch and putting myself in a position to go play well next week as well."

Lurking three strokes behind Brooks are England's Eddie Pepperell, Scotland's Russell Knox and American Matt Kuchar. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and American Ryan Palmer are tied for ninth at 202.

U.S. Open champions Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose dropped down the leaderboard into a share of 18th at 6-under 204 following 72s.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html#Q175SoC4rmA2KwIJ.97.