Rickie Fowler made a two-foot birdie putt on the final hole to close with a bogey-free 4-under-par 66 and win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open by one stroke over Matt Kuchar and Rafael Jacquelin of France at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland.
The 26-year-old Fowler, who claimed his fourth pro victory and second outside the United States, birdied three of the last four holes, hitting his approach shot on No. 18 close for the winner.
“I wanted to birdie the last four holes, but this was good enough,” said Fowler, who won the 2006 California Interscholastic Federation Championship when he was at Murrieta Valley High. “I had to dig deep and I made some great swings down the stretch.
“I saved the best for last, hit a good drive and wedge into 18. I’m looking forward to taking his form over to the Open (at St. Andrews this week).”
Fowler, who captured the Players Championship in May, also won overseas in the 2011 Kolon Korea Open.
Jacquelin had a chance to force a playoff by holing his second shot for an eagle on the 18th hole, and came close like Fowler, but his approach stopped a foot away and he had to settle for a closing birdie and a 70.
The Frenchman birdied the last three holes.
Kuchar made eagles on the second and 16th holes, but carded only two birdies all day and finished off his 68 with two pars.
Marc Warren of Scotland shot 65 and wound up two shots back in a tie for fourth with Eddie Pepperell of England, who totaled 69, and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, who came in at 70.
Luke Donald finished with a 66 and was another stroke behind a tie for seventh with two other Englishmen, Ross Fisher, who had a 68, and Daniel Brooks, who struggled to a 73.
