Austrian Bernd Wiesberger says he is heading to this week’s Open championship brimming with confidence after his dramatic victory at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
Wiesberger, who finished tied second at last week’s Irish Open, went one better after defeating Frenchman Benjamin Hebert in a nervy play-off at The Renaissance Club.
The Austrian, who had started the day with a two shot advantage, had to hole from five feet at the last to force a play-off after Hebert had stormed up the leaderboard, finishing 22 under thanks to a brilliant 62.
But the Frenchman’s putter went cold in the play-off after he missed two short putts for the win at the first two play-off holes before three-putting at the third as Wiesberger made par to seal his sixth European Tour win.
The 33-year-old had missed the majority of last season with a wrist injury but capped his return to fitness with victory at the Made in Denmark in May and was thrilled to add another title ahead of this week’s major.
He said: “I’m delighted. I was lucky to seal my spot in The Open last week in Ireland with a great finish, just coming shy to Jon Rahm.
“To go one better this week is amazing.
“I can’t be in better spirits after the past two weeks.
“I am really looking forward to teeing up at Portrush.”
Hebert claimed one of three available spots for this week’s Open championship, along with England’s Andrew Johnston and Italian Nino Bertasio, who finished tied fourth.
Meanwhile, former world number one Rory McIlroy feels his week at The Renaissance Club has been beneficial heading into The Open at Royal Portrush.
The former world number one, who will be roared on by the home crowd when golf’s oldest major returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years, finished tied 34th on 13 under after a final round of 69.
He said: “I got what I wanted out of it for the most part. I would have loved to have been in the thick of things going into the final round but I probably just made a few too many mistakes over the week to do that.
“I’ve learnt a lot this week. It was my first time playing links golf in a while.
“It has been a productive week. It was not the finish I wanted but I feel happy going to Portrush.”
