Bernd Wiesberger captured his first Rolex Series title as he edged Benjamin Hebert in a playoff at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
The Austrian entered the final day at The Renaissance Club with a two shot lead but found himself trailing after Hebert carded a final-round 62 to set the target at 22-under par.
Wiesberger had pulled ahead with two to play but a costly bogey No. 17 saw him sign for a 69, and tied with Hebert. After each finalist matched par-bogey on the first two sudden death holes, a par-4 on the 18th handed Wiesberger a sixth European Tour title, and second of the season.
“We just dug in there,” said Wiesberger. “I would have loved to seal it off with a couple of pars coming in but sometimes it just tests you. I’m very grateful for how it turned out.
“I’ve always enjoyed coming to the links, Scottish links, and I’ve had nice success here in Scotland and it’s just really, really nice to be able to stand here with the trophy at the end of the day.
“It was a long day but somehow I managed.”
For Frenchman Hebert, the runner-up was his second of the season (Volvo China Open), and it secured an invite into next week’s Open Championship, alongside England’s Andrew Johnston, who also carded a Sunday 62, and Italian Nino Bertasio.
France’s Romain Langasque finished solo third on 20 under, with Bertasio, Johnson, Andrea Pavan, Andrew Putnam and Henrik Stenson one further back at 19 under.
Final Top 5 Leaders
1. Bernd Wiesberger -22 (-2)
2. Benjamin Hebert -22 (-9)
3. Romain Langasque -20 (-4)
4. Andrew Johnston -19 (-9)
4. Andrew Putnam -19 (-7)
4. Henrik Stenson -19 (-5)
4. Andrea Pavan -19 (-5)
4. Nino Bertasio -19 (-3)
Quotable
“Being in places where you have no control over what is going to happen next all of last year makes it just a lot sweeter and you appreciate it a lot more.”
– Bernd Wiesberger