7/14/2013

Maybin Shares Fifth at Scottish Open


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Gareth Maybin kick started his season at Castle Stuart this weekend with a share of fifth place after a final round of one under par at the Scottish Open. 

Three birdies were the reward for the day but with shots dropped at the e9th and fourteen Maybin ended the day on -14 and a valuable cheque for 124,860 Euro.

Paul McGinley finished in 24th with Shane Lowry unable to build on his opening round of 66 to end the weekend sharing 31st place.

Damien McGrane signed for a 75 on Sunday and dropped seven places to end the final day five under par and 42nd on the leader board.

Simon Thornton, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Padraig  Harrington and David Higgins all failed to make the cut.

Phil Mickelson went from agony to ecstasy to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after a play-off with Branden Grace.

Needing just a par five at the last to secure victory in regulation play, the American uncharacteristically took three from the edge of the green.

That meant extra holes with South African Grace, who was already in the clubhouse on 17 under at that stage.

But on the first trip back down the 18th, Mickelson produced a stunning wedge to within a few inches of the cup and Grace could not match his birdie.

"This is really cool," said Mickelson, who claimed his first individual victory in Britain just four days before the start of The Open Championship at Muirfield.

"I have been coming here for some time and had some opportunities and I almost let it slip away today. To come out on top was terrific.

"I was so mad at myself for mentally losing my focus that I came out on that 18th pretty focused to make a four."

Mickelson began his round with a double bogey six on the first after topping his second shot and three-putting, but birdied four of his next five holes and also picked up three more shots at the start of the back nine.

A birdie on the 14th gave him the lead for the first time and three straight pars, including an excellent save on the 17th, had seemingly secured the €579,080 first prize.

However, the four-time Major winner's closing bogey meant a round of 69 to match that of Grace in the group ahead and a second Scottish Open play-off, the left-hander having lost out to France's Gregory Havret at Loch Lomond in 2007.

Overnight leader Henrik Stenson and Denmark's JB Hansen shared third place on 15 under, Hansen having threatened to pull off one of the most remarkable victories ever seen.

The 22 year old began the final round just two shots off the lead but his chances of a maiden European Tour title looked to have disappeared with a quadruple-bogey nine on the par five second.

However, Hansen bounced back with five birdies in succession, picked up another shot on the ninth to be out in 34 and when he birdied the tenth as well was suddenly in the outright lead.

The Challenge Tour graduate also got back into a share of the lead after Stenson had overhauled him with birdies on the tenth and 11th, only to drop three shots in his last four holes.

A place in The Open was on offer to the winner of the tournament if not already exempt, but with Mickelson taking the title first reserve Scott Stallings gets the Muirfield berth.



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