Rai storms to Scottish Open victory

Englishman beats Fleetwood in playoff at The Renaissance Club

Words: GolfPunk Photography: Getty Images

Aaron Rai made up for the disappointment of losing out at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open last week when he defeated Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win his first Rolex Series title at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

The Englishman signed for a wonderful 64 to set the target at 11 under par but countryman Fleetwood holed a 20-foot putt on the last for a closing birdie to take it to extra holes at The Renaissance Club.

It was advantage Fleetwood off the tee as Rai found a bunker but the 25-year-old rescued his par and when Fleetwood three-putted from just off the green, Rai had his second European Tour title.
"It's incredible. I played a lot in Scotland growing up, dreamed of playing in a European Tour event in Scotland. To be able to play in it was incredible a couple of years ago and to be able to go still further is an incredible feeling," said Rai after his playoff win.
"I didn't really see many leaderboards all the way around. I knew we had to play well and knew we had to cope pushing forwards but luckily I had a good couple of breaks and also played very well, so I'm very pleased.
"It's a dream come true. If I'm honest, to win any event on the European Tour is amazing. You have to play some world-class golf, but for it to be a Rolex Series with the class of the field that was this week is deeply satisfying, and yeah, incredibly pleased."

Rai's victory comes after he finished second at last week's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and moves him into the top five on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, and the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
England's Robert Rock missed out on a place in the play-off by one shot after a bogey on the last in a round of 70, with Australian Lucas Herbert and home favourite Marc Warren at nine-under after rounds of 65 and 66.

Warren bogeyed the last to slip to nine under, a shot clear of Swede Marcus Kinhult, England's Ian Poulter and South African Erik van Rooyen, with Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington, English pair Eddie Pepperell and Matthew Southgate, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Finn Kalle Samooja at seven under.