Gotterup grabs Open slot; Kim scores
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland—Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced on Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 in a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf.
Gotterup got a spot in the British Open at Royal Portrush, with Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid also taking the final positions through the International Qualifying Series.
Gotterup’s lead was down to one over McIlroy and England’s Marco Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-to-left putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play.
He didn’t blink the rest of the way on the course after his final birdie, winning by two over McIlroy (68) and Penge (66) for his second PGA Tour title. Gotterup finished at 15-under 265 at The Renaissance Club.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 to tie for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open.
Elsewhere, Grace Kim delivered one stunning shot after another in the Evian Championship in France, starting with an eagle to force a playoff and another eagle to beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second extra hole to make her first LPGA Tour win a major title.
Kim, whose two-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th in regulation gave her a 67, looked to be just as surprised as everyone else when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt to win the playoff. The 24-year-old Australian calmly placed her hand over her mouth and stood still before doubling over and breaking into a smile.
On 18 in regulation, Kim blasted a fairway metal onto the green. The ball rolled back down the slope to 2 feet for eagle to tie for the lead. Thitikul’s birdie putt for the title missed right. She shot 67 and joined Kim at 14-under 270, one ahead of English amateur Lottie Woad (64) and Minjee Lee (68).
Thitikul had to make an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff. Playing the 18th for the third time, Kim again delivered another beauty over the pond and onto the green to about 12 feet.
