Too close to call at the Loch

Seven players were separated by one stroke as the Barclays Scottish Open entered its last nine holes at Loch Lomond today.

Five of them – France’s Gregory Havret and Thomas Levet, Australian Marcus Fraser, England’s David Howell and South African Martin Maritz – were 14 under, but on their tails came defending champion Ernie Els and New Zealander Michael Campbell.

There was a possibility, however, that Havret had incurred a two-stroke penalty for hitting himself on the long sixth.

The ball came back at him as he thrashed at it in a bush and tournament officials were looking at a video of the incident to decide whether it hit his trousers or not.