Kaymer seals back-to-back victories in Scotland

GERMAN Martin Kaymer won the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond yesterday to complete a brilliant eight-day double worth more than €1.16million.

After beating Lee Westwood in a play-off for the French Open, the 24-year-old came from behind on the final day again to defeat France’s Raphael Jacquelin and overnight leader Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain by two.

Last week’s cheque was just over £565,000. This week’s was £500,000 – and he now is not only second to Paul Casey on the European money list, but also just outside the world’s top 10 heading into the Open.

Kaymer, who began his run of form in Paris last week with a course record 62, needed ‘only’ a two-under-par 69 after starting the day a stroke behind Fernandez-Castano. The gap doubled when he bogeyed the 455-yard second, but once he had birdied three of the next six holes he had top spot and never let go.

“To win at the home of golf is always something very special,” he said.

“I missed the cut the week after my first two wins, but this week was obviously different. Now everybody asks me about a third win in a row, but we are playing in a major and the field is going to be the best we have all year.”

Fernandez-Castano’s hopes of a fifth Tour win – this was Kaymer’s fourth – nose-dived when he did not manage a single birdie until the 13th. But running up a bogey six following a wild drive on the hole before that had given him a deficit he could not make up.

Jacquelin came through to be joint runner-up with a 66 and Adam Scott matched that best-of-the-day effort to take a share of fourth with Dane Soren Kjeldsen. Disappointing on the final day were both Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen.

Westwood had oozed confidence after middle rounds of 66 and 64, but closed with a level-par 71 for eighth spot along with fellow Ross Fisher.

Goosen had been joint second teeing off again, but dropped six shots in five holes around the turn and needed a strong finish for a 73 and a tie for eighth.

Ian Poulter, runner-up at last year’s Open, was down in 32nd place after a disappointing 72, but that was still better than Colin Montgomerie and Rory McIlroy managed.

They finished in a tie for 46th following 73s. Montgomerie, fortunate to make the halfway cut, said: “That was a poor round of golf again,” while McIlroy said he needs to work on his iron play before Thursday.

“I was just struggling a bit,” said the 20-year-old.

“This week I really wanted to play well to give myself some momentum.

“Now I’ll spend more time practising than I will on the course the next three days because I want to get it sorted out.”