Golf Betting
Luke Donald solidified his spot atop the world rankings with a victory at the Barclays Scottish Open. With a final-round 63 and four-shot margin in the rain-shortened event, Donald also marked himself the man to beat at this week’s Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.
After torrential rains drenched the Castle Stuart course and forced officials to cut the tournament to 54 holes, Donald entered Sunday on 10-under par and a shot back of four co-leaders. Donald surged in front with four straight birdies on holes 3-6, added another pair on 9 and 10, and closed with three birdies in his final four holes for 63.
The field simply couldn’t keep pace, including 36-hole leaders Graeme McDowell, Scott Jamieson, Peter Whiteford and Peter Hanson. Jamieson, a Scot, managed a Sunday 69 and third-place tie that got him into the Open Championship. Hanson’s 70 kept him among the top 10, but Whiteford (73) and McDowell (74) finished well back in the pack.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie failed in his bid to earn a berth in the Open for the 22nd consecutive year. Needing a top-5 finish to qualify, Monty tied 31st on 10-under.
Donald continued the stellar play that has now earned him three titles in 2011. He opened with a pair of 67s over the defenseless links, hosting the Scottish Open for the first time. Sunday’s rain-softened, nearly windless conditions did nothing to slow Donald, who holed a number of putts in the 20-25-foot range.
“I felt very comfortable and very in control,” said Donald, “and that’s a good sign for next week.”
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