Min Woo Lee Wins abrdn Scottish Open in a Playoff

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Min Woo Lee Wins Scottish Open
Min Woo Lee poses with the trophy after winning the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland (Photo by Jane Barlow PA Images via Getty Images)

Min Woo Lee fired a final-round 64 and then edged Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff to claim victory at the 2021 abrdn Scottish Open.

The 22-year old Aussie, who began the day at The Renaissance Club three shots back of his playoff competitors, soared up the leaderboard with birdie blitz starting on the third, where he reeled off six straight gains. He added a seventh birdie on the par-5 16th to settle on 18 under.

Detry and Fitzpatrick carded matching 67s to make it a three-way tie at -18 and force overtime – which lasted just one hole as Lee dropped in a birdie 3 on the first sudden death hole to claim his second European Tour title.

“It’s an awesome day, I was pretty proud of how I played. Six birdies in a row, that was sweet. It kind of happened really quick,” said an emotional Lee.

“I could have holed a few more putts, in regulation I missed it by a roll, that was painful but we regrouped and the tournament starts in the play-off, pretty much.

“It’s just crazy, I’ve kind of dreamt of it last night and people back home staying up late to watch me, sending messages. This one is for you too.

“I hit a lot of good shots today, that was just one of them. In that situation, it’s a huge moment but I hit so many great shots.

“I’ve been playing really good in recent weeks and just trending, a few mistakes over the whole tournament and wasn’t able to capitalise so it’s awesome to do it here. I’ll enjoy this one.”

With victory, Lee also secured one of the three spots into this week’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club.

Runner-up Detry and Englishman Jack Senior (66) were the other qualifiers.

Ian Poulter (63) and Ryan Palmer (64) finished one shot back in a tie for fourth alongside another Aussie in Lucas Herbert (66), who won last week’s Irish Open.

Spaniard Jon Rahm finished alone in the seventh spot on 16 under, with American pair Justin Thomas (65) and Johannes Veerman (65) one adrift. Senior, the leader in the opening rounds, and American Xander Schauffele (67) rounded out the top 10.


2021 Scottish Open


Final Round Leaderboard: Top-10

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 4)
1. Min Woo Lee -18 (-7)
2. Matt Fitzpatrick -18 (-4)
2. Thomas Detry -18 (-4)
4. Ian Poulter -17 (-8)
4. Ryan Palmer -17 (-7)
4. Lucas Herbert -17 (-5)
7. Jon Rahm -16 (-3)
8. Justin Thomas -15 (-6)
8. Johannes Veerman -15 (-6)
10. Jack Senior -14 (-5)
10. Xander Schauffele -14 (-4)

Notables

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 4)
12. Scottie Scheffler -13 (-2)
15. Richard Bland -12 (-6)
18. Tyrrell Hatton -11 (-6)
18. Padraig Harrington -11 (-1)
18. Sam Burns -11 (-5)
18. Robert MacIntyre -11 (-2)
26. Matt Wallace -10 (-5)
26. Bernd Wiesberger -10 (-5)
26. Will Zalatoris -10 (-2)
17. Tommy Fleetwood -10 (-1)
35. Guido Migliozzi -9 (-3)
35. Aaron Rai -9 (-3)
35. Thomas Pieters -9 (-3)
35. Lee Westwood -9 (+1)
54. Billy Horschel -7 (-4)
54. Thorbjorn Olesen -7 (-3)
54. Branden Grace -7 (-3)
71. Collin Morikawa -3 (+2)


Material from the European Tour Communications was used to compile this report.


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