Aussie Lucas Herbert brilliantly regrouped in posting a final round 65 and a round that was 14 shots fewer a day earlier at the ASI Scottish Open at the Renaissance course to the east of Edinburgh.
Herbert. 24 had charged his way into an early last day clubhouse lead at nine-under par before eventually settling for a share of fourth place at nine-under and two shy of the England duo of Aaron Rai (64) and Tommy Fleetwood (67) who headed into a play-off at 11-under par.
Rai then captured a maiden Rolex Series event and the second European Tour success of his career in winning with a par at the first extra hole but only after Fleetwood virtually gifted the Scottish title to the 25-year old in missing a three-footer to match the par putt of Rai’s.
A third English golfer in Robert Rock (70) was third and with Herbert and Scot Marc Warren (66) fourth place and the effort worth Euro 264,794 to both Herbert and Warren.
The Bendigo-born Herbert went into the traditional moving day on Saturday leading the $US 7m event and looking to capture a second European Tour success after celebrating Australia Day (26th January) earlier this year in capturing the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
However the Scottish Open third round was nothing short of brutal with driving rain and with Herbert revealed he snapped his umbrella in a horror eight-over par 79 that him trailing six shots from the lead.
Lucas Herbert superbly regroups with a 65 on day four of the ASI Scottish Open.
“The scorecard didn’t look great yesterday but it was just so tough out there,” said Herbert.
“We had three towels and we went through them and then the umbrella snapped half way around. It was just one of those days when it was always going to be tough and unfortunately we came in with a few more shots than a lot of other players.
“So, and aside from the weather, I didn’t feel like I did too much wrong yesterday and it wasn’t a real reflection overall how I played this week.”
In stark contrast to day three when Herbert was five over after nine holes, was five-under after a similar number of holes having grabbed a birdie hat-trick from third hole and then grabbed back-to-back birdies at seven and eight.
He dropped a shot at 12 but rebouned with birdies at 15 and 16 only to bogey 17 and par the last.
“You have to think it’s probably one or two shy,” he said. “The conditions are a little easy out there, so you have to think the guys back at eight and seven under are going to give it a run and at least get past it, and obviously Aaron is playing pretty nicely and at 10-under.
“It’s probably not going to win or get into a playoff, but it was a great week nonetheless. I’ve struggled in the Rolex Series Events through my career so far, and to really post a result this week that I think I was capable of, gives me a lot of confidence going forward.
“I felt like my swing left me a little towards the end and I was fighting a little bit, but to get in the house at 9-under, I’m really happy.”
Fellow Aussie Wade Ormsby struggled with a last day 73 to finish at five-under par and just inside the top-20.
