Bernd Wiesberger Wins Scottish Open On Third Playoff Hole

After a three-hole playoff at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Bernd Wiesberger took home the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open title.

The Austrian Bernd Wiesberger went head-to-head with France’s Benjamin Hebert in a playoff for the Rolex Series event, after the Frenchman shot a 62 on Sunday to move himself up the standings.

Wiesberger could only manage a 69 on the final day, but had to hole a putt on the 18th to see himself through to the playoff with Hebert.

The pair both finished on -22, a record score to par for the event. They then went down 18 three times, after both shooting par and bogey the first two trips down the last.

However, after a par putt from Hebert slid past the left edge, Wiesberger stepped up to knock his par putt home, winning the title on the third extra hole, with the sunlight fading in East Lothian.

The Austrian wrapped up his second title of the season, and followed up his second place at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open last week, putting himself in a great place ahead of the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush next week.

Away from the playoff, Romain Langasque made it two Frenchmen in the top three, as he finished two shots back at -20.

One of the feel good stories of the week was Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston’s return to form after injury and time out of the game. The Englishman shot 62 on Sunday to book his spot in the Open Championship next week, and he was clearly emotional about it.

‘Beef’ finished in a tie for 4th at -19, alongside Italian duo Andrea Pavan and Nino Bertasio, American Andrew Putnam, and former Open Champion Henrik Stenson.

Former World No.1 Justin Thomas finished his tournament preparation for the Open Championship by finishing in a tie for 9th in Scotland this week.

The American shot 65 on the final day to finish the week at -18, alongside Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello, South Africa’s George Coetzee and the British pair of Lee Slattery and Jamie Donaldson.

An English quartet of Ian Poulter, Terrell Hatton, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Matt Wallace ended the tournament five shots back from the eventual winner, alongside Lorenzo Gagli.

The man who partnered Wiesberger on the final day, Erik van Rooyen, was the only man in the top 50 to shoot an over-par round on Sunday, as he slipped down into a tie with that English group at -17.

Martin Kaymer and Matt Kuchar finished a further shot back, with the leading Scottish pair finishing the event seven shots behind the leader.

Both Calum Hill and Scott Jamieson hit 66 on Sunday to finish the tournament at -15, and in a tie for 26th at their home event.

Rory McIlroy finished with a round of 69 to make it four rounds in the 60s at Renaissance this week, as he finished in a tie for 34th at -13, while Eddie Pepperell came in a further shot back.

Lee Westwood and Stuart Manley, one of the hole-in-one heroes from the week, came in at -10, while Pablo Larrazabal had a Sunday to forget, as his 75 saw him finish the event as the last of those to play all four days, 19 shots back at -3.

Thursday sees the start of the 148th Open Championship, the final major of the year. The world’s best will descend on Royal Portrush to try and claim one of the biggest prizes in the sport.

Final Standings:

• -22, Playoff Win: Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
• -22, Playoff Loss: Benjamin Hebert (FRA)
• -20: Romain Langasque (FRA)
• -19: Andrew Johnston (ENG), Andrew Putnam (USA), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Andrea Pavan (ITA), Nino Bertasio (ITA)
• -18: Justin Thomas (USA), Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP), George Coetzee (RSA), Lee Slattery (ENG), Jamie Donaldson (WAL)
• -17: Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace (all ENG), Lorenzo Gagli (ITA), Erik van Rooyen (RSA)

Selected Others:

• -16: Martin Kaymer (GER), Matt Kuchar (USA)
• -15: Calum Hill (SCO), Scott Jamieson (SCO)
• -13: Rory McIlroy (NIR), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Edoardo Molinari (ITA)
• -10: Lee Westwood (ENG)
• -7: Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL)
• -3: Pablo Larrazabal (ESP)