Scott Jamieson was desperately unlucky not to force a play-off in bravely settling for second place in the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.
Jamieson’s effort did secure him a place in Thursday’s start to the season-finale in Dubai and also a likely place in next year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie.
The Glaswegian also earned easily the biggest pay cheque of his career, a timely £630,440 ahead of his move next month to Florida.
Jamieson went into the last day leading by one shot at eight-under par and looking for just a second Tour victory since his 2012 Nelson Mandela Championship triumph in Durban.
Scott Jamieson bites his wedge after going so close to holing his chip shot for birdie at 16 ahead of finishing second at 2017 Nedbank. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
The Scot got the start he wanted with birdies at the second and sixth hole but had his progress checked in finding a bunker at eight and taking a double bogey ‘6’ that handed Frenchman Victor Dubuisson the lead.
Dubuisson, however, then found himself in a three-way tie for the lead on nine-under par when Jamieson and also South African Branden Grace birdied the par five, 14th hole which the Frenchman could only manage par
Jamieson played a wild tee shot at the par three 16th that cannoned off the spectator enclosure leaving him a delicate chip shot over a bunker that brilliantly found the hole but only to bounce out for the easiest of pars.
Moments later, Grace brought an overwhelming Springbok crowd to its feet gathered around 16 in brilliantly breaking the deadlock holing his 40-foot birdie putt and the fifth of his round.
Unlike Jamieson, Grace then drew on the wealth of his experience in winning seven prior European Tour titles to claim also a fourth home soil success to win by a shot from Jamieson with a round of 66 for an 11-under par total.
Jamieson also pared the final two but then momentarily pulled his visor down over his face after a closing 70 for a 10-under tally that has seen him stake a place in this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship moving from 75th to 23rd on the Race to Dubai.
“I’m disappointed as I got off to a nice start and things were looking good but just had a little blip on No. 8,” he said.
“Branden got off to a fast start and all three of us were going along nicely there but then on 16, perhaps if my chip had gone in, it might have been a different store.
“I came here this week to qualify for DP World and knowing I needed top eight or something to do that so second’s pretty good.
“It has been a tough four days and I’m sure I’ll look back and take great pride with that.
“I played with some of the best players in the world this week and proved that I can compete with them.
“So, hopefully I can take something out of it.”
Joining Jamieson on the special charter flight bound for Dubai was Richie Ramsay who signed for a 72 and a one-under par for a share of 19th but dropping three places to 29th on the Race to Dubai.
Like Jamieson, Ramsay will now be looking to be inside the top-30 in a week’s time to wrap-up a 2018 Carnoustie tee time.
Also headed to Dubai was Borders David Drysdale despite a horror Sun City last day 78 to end at four-over par and also drop three places to 54th on the money list.
Missing out in qualifying for this week’s last event of the year was Marc Warren officially ending his 12th full season at 63rd and matching Drysdale’s shock last day for an eventual 12-over tally.
And Stephen Gallacher, who signed for 75 to finish at 10-over, has ended his year ranked 76th on the Race to Dubai and up 44 places from a year ago.
