Rickie Fowler paid tribute to his good friend Phil Mickelson after capturing the Scottish Open title at Gullane, Scotland, on Sunday to lift his morale before The Open at St Andrews on Thursday.
Fowler, 26, birdied three of his closing four holes in a final round of 68 to win by a stroke on 12-under.
This year’s Players Championship winner set up only his second victory outside the US and his fourth as a professional with a wedge shot to within two feet for birdie on the final hole.
Fowler was the second American in two years to capture the Scottish title after Mickelson won at Castle Stuart in 2013, before claiming a first Open at Muirfield.
“I had breakfast with Phil this morning and he made sure I was well aware what he had done two years ago in winning the Scottish Open and then The Open, so I told him I would try and take care of the first leg of it, so I got that done,” Fowler told reporters. “Phil has always been a role model to me and a huge help, and someone I love spending time with on and off the golf course. I have learned a lot from Phil as he is a great professional.”
The victory took Fowler to a career-high world No. 5.
Fellow American Matt Kuchar (68) and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (70) shared second place on 11-under.
Jacquelin, England’s Daniel Brooks and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg earned places at The Open by finishing in the leading three of the top 10 finishers not already qualified for The Open. Brooks, who led on the second day and the third, carded a round of 73 to share seventh place on nine-under to set up his first Open appearance.
Karlberg, who shared 10th at eight-under, secured his spot at The Open and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay also qualified following the withdrawal of South Africa’s Tim Clark due to visa issues.
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