DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Leaderboard
Chris Gotterup showed calmness and quality to hold off Rory McIlroy by two shots and claim the Genesis Scottish Open.
The 25-year-old shared the third-round lead with the World Number Two and the pair went toe-to-toe in their bid for a Rolex Series victory at the Renaissance Club.
McIlroy led by one at the fifth but after a birdie at the eighth, he endured a barren run of ten straight pars to open the door for his American rival.
Gotterup took full advantage with birdies at the eighth, tenth and 12th to open up a two-shot lead, only to bogey the 15th.
However, he bounced back with a birdie at the next to re-establish his lead before parring his way home to secure his maiden DP World Tour title and earn a place at next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
His post game response was understandable..
"I just hung in there tight and tried to keep it together," he said. " Held it together really well and then it was so much fun out there.
"I don't know if I'm going to be able to get it out but everyone at home, I don't know, but I mean, this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.
"It's awesome. I can't wait to see everyone and then I'm playing The Open next week.
"It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week, and I knew today was going to be tough. I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style.
"I was a one-time champion. Two-time champ sounds a lot better. I know what I'm capable of and I know when I feel the way I did today, I can beat the best. It's just awesome."
McIlroy was inches from rejoining the lead with his lengthy birdie effort at the 15th and he missed another chance at the next from eight feet.
Gotterup, though, kept his cool and drained his birdie putt from similar range to regain his two-shot advantage with two to play.
He nervelessly then parred his way home in a 66 to land his first Rolex Series success on only his sixth DP World Tour start.
McIlroy signed for a 68 in a share of second, with Englishman Penge continuing his stellar season with a closing 66 to finish at -13
Nicolai Højgaard earned his place at the 153rd Open Championship with a final-round 64 in a share of fourth at -12 alongside Fitzpatrick.
Justin Rose carded the lowest round of the day - a flawless 63 - to finish one shot further back -11, while Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka, of Austria, was in sole seventh at -10
Scott Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Swede Ludvig Åberg and Norway's Viktor Hovland wrapped up the top ten at -9
German Matti Schmid fired a closing 71 to finish at -6 and claim the third spot available at Royal Portrush next week.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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