Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open
North Berwick, Scotland
Winner: Bernd Wiesberger

A late finish to the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open was designed to minimize a clash with two huge sporting events in London. Given the final of the Cricket World Cup went to a “super over” after the match was tied and the Wimbledon men’s final was decided for the first time by a tie-break at 12-12 in the fifth set, it was almost inevitable that extra time would also result at The Renaissance. At close to nine o’clock at night, Bernd Wiesberger defeated Benjamin Hebert at the third extra hole.

This was Wiesberger’s second victory of the season after the 33-year-old Austrian won in Denmark in May following a seven-month layoff in 2018 due to a wrist injury. It was his sixth win overall and his first in a Rolex Series event. He scorched the modern links near North Berwick for a 10-under-par 61 in the second round while taking a two-shot lead to the final day.

But Hebert made nine birdies and nine pars in a 62 on Sunday to put the pressure on. Wiesberger birdied the 16th from 18 feet to go back in front by one, but dropped a shot at the 17th before holing from five feet for a par at the last. A 69 meant he tied Hebert’s 22-under-par total of 262. Both men parred the 18th for the first playoff hole and bogeyed it for the second. At the third time of asking Hebert again three-putted but Wiesberger made a three-footer for the win.

“We just dug in there,” Wiesberger said after going to the top of the Race to Dubai. “I would have loved to seal it off with a couple of pars coming in, but sometimes it just tests you. I’m very grateful for how it turned out.” Hebert had the consolation of qualifying for the Open at Royal Portrush, along with Andrew “Beef ” Johnston, who closed with a 62 after recently articulating his battle with mental health issues over the last year, and Nino
Bertasio.

Rounds of 77 and 71 gave Brendan Lawlor victory in the inaugural EDGA Scottish Open, a 36-hole event featuring 10 players from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability held alongside the main tournament.