Fowler Rallies to Win Scottish Open


Rickie Fowler birdied three of the final four holes to win the European Tour's Scottish Open at Guillane Golf Club in East Lothian.

The 26-year-old Californian closed with a 2-under 68 to finish at 12-under 268, a stroke ahead of fellow American Matt Kuchar, who also shot 68, and France's Raphaël Jacquelin (70).

Fowler's final birdie came on the par-4 18th, which allowed him to edge Kuchar and Jacquelin, who also birdied the 18th but needed an eagle to force a playoff.

Fowler, who slipped two strokes out of the lead with a bogey on the 14th before his birdie binge, is now hoping to duplicate Phil Mickelson's 2013 feat of following up his Scottish Open victory with a win a week later at the Open Championship.

"Phil mentioned to me win this and there's a good chance you win next week so I had to take care of business," said Fowler. "I don't know what's so special about links golf but it's my favorite. The golf course can play so different day after day and it presents a new challenge. It was a good test this week at Gullane.

"I will have a bit of time tonight to let it sink in and get right back at it next week. This is a big win," added Fowler, who notched the biggest title of his career at the Players Championship in May. "I had a couple of missed cuts after winning the Players, which was disappointing, so it feels good to get back on form.

"I had to dig deep. I was a little bummed to drop a shot on 14 but knew I had some birdie holes coming in. I had played the last four holes well this week and luckily 14 didn't cost me."

Ending up tied for fourthat 10-under 270 were Scotland's Eddie Pepperell, Scotland's Marc Warren and the Netherlands' Joost Luiten. Warren fired a 64 to rise up the leaderboard.

Tied for seventh another stroke back were Englishmen Luke Donald, Ross Fisher and Daniel Brooks. Brooks enjoyed a one-shot lead entering Sunday but could only manage a 3-over 73. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old's high finish earned him a spot in the Open Championship at St. Andrews.

"Overall it's been a great week, I've played some lovely golf," Brooks told the European Tour's website. "Not so much at the weekend but I've scrambled like you would not believe over the last two days. To get the final spot for the Open, I'm over the moon.

"It's been tough the last few months playing so bad. But the last few weeks have been great."

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#SIWLKSHJ1e3CdMrX.97.