5 of The Best Scottish Opens

The Scottish Open is one of Europe’s most iconic tournaments. It takes on special significance because it is held the week before The Open Championship and provides a good form guide. Here are five of the best…

1999 - Colin Montgomerie

Montgomerie's 1999 Scottish Open win was a major highlight in his career as a professional golfer. The Scotsman, who had long established himself as the best player on the European Tour, won the tournament in spectacular fashion, finishing with a score of 16-under-par. Winning it on home soil was particularly special for Monty. His victory in 1999 marked his first and only victory at the event - and the last time it was won by a home player. 

2012 - Jeev Milkha Singh

Jeev Milkha Singh was a highly unlikely winner but he beat Francesco Molinari in a playoff to win at Castle Stuart. However, the big story was Scotland’s Marc Warren blowing a three-shot lead. Singh, 40, carded a final round of 67 to force a playoff with overnight leader Molinari and birdied the first extra hole to take the £470,000 cheque. Singh also took the last qualifying place for The Open at Lytham. Warren held a three-shot lead with four holes to go but faded away after a disastrous double bogey at the 15th. Warren started the day two shots behind Molinari but looked set for victory and a place at The Open when he held a three-shot cushion teeing off at the 15th. But a double bogey at 15 followed by a bogey at 16 dropped him back into a four-way tie for the lead with Alexander Noren, Singh and Molinari. He then hit a wayward chip onto the green at 17 to drop another shot and ended up in a tie for third with Noren.

2013 - Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson won a playoff against South Africa's Branden Grace to win at Castle Stuart in Inverness. The American left-hander survived an early wobble and then three-putted the 18th to finish level with Grace on 17 under par. Mickelson birdied the first playoff hole, a sublime chip leaving him a tap-in for victory. Swede Henrik Stenson's title attempt was derailed by three late bogeys. Stenson, with a final round of 73, tied with Denmark's JB Hansen for third place on 15 under par. Hansen had an astonishing round, with a quadruple-bogey nine at the second hole followed by eight birdies and three bogeys. Mickelson would go on to add The Open at Muirfield seven days later. Three years later, Stenson would get his own back on Mickelson in a thrilling duel to win The Open at Troon.

2015 - Rickie Fowler

The previous year, Fowler had finished in the top five in all four majors and his late surge here edged out fellow American Matt Kuchar and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin as he won at Gullane. A wedge to within 2ft on the 18th hole set him up for a third birdie in the last four holes to finish on 12 under par, one clear of Kuchar, who shot 68, and Jacquelin. Scotland's Marc Warren carded a 64 and had led in the clubhouse on 10 under. But he was overtaken by the Americans and Jacquelin. England's Eddie Pepperell and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands also finished two shots off the pace. "I had to really dig deep," said Fowler, who carded rounds of 66, 68, 66 and 68. "I made some great swings coming in. I saved the best swings for the last; I hit a good drive and a great wedge to get to 12 (under). I had heard good things (about Gullane). The Scottish crowd appreciate good shots. I really enjoyed playing in front of them.”

2018 - Brandon Stone

South African Brandon Stone broke the Gullane course record with a final round of 60 to win the Scottish Open by four shots. Stone, 25, almost became the first to score a round of 59 on a European Tour, missing a birdie putt on the 18th. "The first time I knew I had the opportunity [to score 59] was when I was walking on to the 18th green," he said. To stand here as the Scottish Open champion is really incredible," Stone added. "The attitude was spectacular all week - my caddie obviously kept me very calm and level headed, not only today but the entire week." Englishman Eddie Pepperell had led for much of the final day, but had to settle for second spot on 16-under-par. Stone's eagle on the 16th was the highlight of his round as the course record was broken for the third time in a week.

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