Sensational Stone springs surprise Scottish Open win

What happened at the Scottish Open?

Brandon Stone secured the biggest victory of his career at the Scottish Open after he caught fire in the final round at Gullane, as he missed out on the first 59 in European Tour history with an eight-foot birdie miss at the final green.

It was an incredibly packed leaderboard in the early stages of Sunday, but the South African backed up a front-nine 31 by making a further four birdies and an eagle on the final nine to set an unassailable 20-under-par total.

Eddie Pepperell appeared to be the most likely to challenge Stone, but the Englishman three-putted the 17^th green to hand the advantage to Stone.

When Stone made a huge left-to-right breaking putt for eagle on the 16^th, the 25-year-old could play the final two holes in relative comfort – needing just one birdie to shoot the coveted sub-60 round.

His approach to the final green landed safely on the front and ran up to no more than eight-feet for a birdie and a bid at making history – the resulting putt missed, agonisingly, on the left edge.

With the clubhouse target set, there were still another six groups out on the course, but nobody could even come close.

Pepperell secured solo second, while Luke List, Trevor Immelman and Jens Dantorp rounded off the top-five.

Defending Gullane champion Rickie Fowler finished tied for sixth.

Full Scottish Open leaderboard

Talking point

Links golf always tends to throw up some weird and wonderful story-lines, and this week was no different as Trevor Immelman rolled back the years to flirt with the top of the leaderboard.

The 2008 Masters champion has been in horrendous form over the past few years, and as a result, plays part-time now with commitments as a commentator for the Golf Channel in the U.S.

Having slipped to 1,380 in the world rankings, the South African got into contention on Friday when firing a round of 64.

“It’s kind of confusing, to be honest,” he said, talking to the Golf Channel on Friday. “One thing I do know is that I love the game of golf, and I know all the courses on both the tours, and I know the players and caddies, and so I feel like I have a nice perspective because I’m still kind of part of it.

“But I’m also a little concerned that my best golf is nowhere near what it would need to be to compete at the highest level. To be quite honest with you, that is a very difficult time, mentally, for an athlete, and everybody faces it at some point. When that time comes, and you start to question, `Well, am I good enough to be out there?’”

Immelman went on to post rounds of 68-65 over the weekend to finish tied for third alongside List and Dantorp, with the latter bagging a spot in the Open Championship next week after holding a better world ranking than Immelman.

Best quote

? "It's been a long 18 months…"#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/FHmLTKxi7w

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Best moments

For the first ever @EuropeanTour 59….#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/cT6dETlehk

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

? #59WATCH ?

Brandon Stone needs to play the last two holes in one under to record the first ever @EuropeanTour 59.#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/1vKzmygKBF

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

One ahead.

Three to play.#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/6jVkAYpdfX

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Perfection ?

Co-leader. pic.twitter.com/d0md4ZmShP

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Meanwhile, @alexlevygolf in the Players Lounge ?????#WorldCup #ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/9swjueeldI

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

✍? 8th: Birdie
✍? 9th: Birdie
✍? 10th: Birdie

Pepperell is on fire. And two clear!#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/c0xvdGXmHO

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

✍? 1st hole: Chip-in birdie
✍? 2nd hole: 50ft eagle putt

And now the solo leader! pic.twitter.com/raiGLCYe5V

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Five holes. Three birdies.

Pepperell the first player to tie the lead in the #ASIScottishOpen final round. pic.twitter.com/KHbYnKASpW

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Wow….

Matt Southgate just came within inches of an albatross hole-in-one.#ASIScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/fJ3rZUAYvB

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018