EUROPEAN TOUR
abrdn Scottish Open
Aussie Lee Scores Dramatic Win In Scotland…Earns Start at The Open
Australian Min Woo Lee holed a clutch 15-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole to win the abrdn Scottish Open. The impressive win is a massive breakthrough for the talented 22-year-old from Western Australia, who is touted to achieve big things in golf over the coming years. Lee is the fifth Aussie to win the coveted event (Graham Marsh 1973, Craig Parry 1991, Peter O’Malley 1992 and Wayne Riley 1995).
Lee, who is the brother of LPGA Tour star Minjee Lee, fired a stunning bogey-free final round 7-under 64 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. His impressive card included a string of six consecutive birdies on the front nine to make the turn in just 30 shots. Lee, who began the final round three shots behind Belgium’s Thomas Detry and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, produced his seventh birdie for the round at the par 5, 16th hole to claim a one-shot lead.
Detry and Fiitzpatrick made a pair of birdies at the same hole to join Lee at 18-under and force a three-man playoff. Both players signed for a 4-under 67 on Sunday.
Detry, aged 28, was searching for his maiden European Tour title. He owns four runner-ups and five third places. Fitzpatrick, aged 26, was looking for his seventh European Tour title and first win since 2020 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The fate of the tournament was sealed at the first extra hole, which took place at the par-4, 18th hole. Detry and Fitzpatrick managed pars, while Lee took his opportunity for victory after pouring in his clutch birdie putt.
The win was Lee’s second European Tour title after he won the ISPS Handa Vic Open—an event co-sanctioned with by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. With his victory in Scotland, Lee gained one of the three places on offer for next week’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s in England.
After his dramatic win, as emotional Lee said, "It's an awesome day, I was pretty proud of how I played. Six birdies in a row, that was sweet. It kind of happened really quick. It's just crazy, I've kind of dreamt of it last night and people back home staying up late to watch me, sending messages. This one is for you too.”
England’s Ian Poulter, America’s Ryan Palmer and Australia’s Lucas Herbert finished one shot back from the playoff at 17-under and in a share of fourth place. Poulter produced the round of the day with a flawless 8-under 64. The 45-year-old closed his day with four birdies at the closing five holes. Palmer, aged 44, moved into contention after firing a final round 7-under 64. He remains winless since 2019. Herbert was hoping for back-to-back wins after securing The Irish Open last week by three shots. The 25-year-old Victorian carded a final round 5-under 65. With his T4 in Scotland, Herbert is projected to enter into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career.
Reigning US Open champion Jon Rahm finished one shot further back in outright seventh place at 16-under. The 26-year-old, who started the final round one shot back from the 54-hole leaders, could only manage a 3-under 69 on Sunday. Rahm opened his day with a bogey at the first hole and then peeled off four birdies up to the tenth hole. However, the world No. 1 was unable to produce any further red numbers over his closing eight holes.
World No. 11 Rory McIlroy missed the halfway cut by one shot after reaching 1-under through 36 holes with rounds of 70 and 71.
The world golf stage moves to England for the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s. Ireland’s Shane Lowry will defend the title he won by six shots in 2019 at Royal Portrush.
Final Scores
abrdn Scottish Open
1. Min Woo Lee -18
T2. Thomas Detry -18
T2. Matt Fitzpatrick -18
T4. Ian Poulter -17
T4. Ryan Palmer -17
T4. Lucas Herbert -17
7. Jon Rahm -16
T8. Justin Thomas -15
T8. Johannes Veerman -15
Other Australians
T12. Wade Ormsby -13
T44. Scott Hend -8
T81. Jason Scrivener E
MC. Maverick Antcliff
Photo credit: Andrew Redington/ Getty Images
