Date: July 14, 2008
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Green gets going on Open eve

Australian Richard Green gave his British Open confidence a boost with top-three finish at the Scottish Open. Green closed the tournament at Loch Lomond at 10-under-par, tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez and three shots off winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland. McDowell held off South African challenger James Kingston to claim his second European Tour title of the season by two strokes. McDowell carded a final round 68 to finish 13-under-par while Kingston stormed home with a 66 but couldn&apost bridge the gap. World No.3 Adam Scott will head to Royal Birkdale on the back of a disappointing final-round 74. The Australian started the day in a tie for seventh but tumbled down the leaderboard with back to back double bogeys at the 9th and 10th. McDowell&aposs victory all but sealed him a place in Nick Faldo&aposs Ryder Cup side to defend the trophy at Valhalla in September. “I put the Ryder Cup up there with winning majors,” McDowell said, winner of the Ballantine&aposs Championship in Korea earlier in the season. “It&aposs something I have really, really desperately wanted.” “I refused to be measured for my Ryder Cup clothes last week but maybe I will accept next time. It&aposs never over till it&aposs over of course but this is a massive step in the right direction. It will be a dream come true.” England&aposs Simon Khan held a two-shot lead after 11 holes of the final round but double-bogeyed the 12th and 17th to finish fifth, but at least had the consolation of securing the final place on offer in the Open at Royal Birkdale. Khan held his nerve to par the last with a superb chip from just off the green when a bogey would have handed the spot to Scotland&aposs Stephen Gallacher, who closed with a superb 64. World No.2 Phil Mickelson could only manage a closing round of 73 to finish well off the pace on two-under-par while Ernie Els, twice a winner here, was joint ninth after a 69. Final Round Scores from the Scottish Open -13: Graeme McDowell 67 70 66 68 -11: James Kingston 70 70 67 66 -10: Richard Green (Australia) 67 68 70 69, Miguel Angel Jimenez 68 69 68 69 -9: Simon Khan 69 66 68 72 -8: Robert Dinwiddie 68 68 71 69, Francesco Molinari 69 68 72 67, Stephen Gallacher 72 68 72 64 -7: Ernie Els 72 66 70 69, Paul Lawrie 68 67 72 70, Alvaro Quiros 69 70 74 64, Jeev Milkha Singh 68 68 69 72, Oliver Wilson 71 66 71 69 -6: Christian Cevaer 70 67 70 71, Oliver Fisher 68 69 70 71, Peter Hedblom 70 68 72 68, Andew McLardy 70 70 69 69, Patrik Sjoland 67 71 71 69 Also: -4: Adam Scott (Australia) 72 66 68 74 -2: Mark Brown (New Zealand) 73 66 71 72 +1: Matthew Millar (Australia) 72 64 77 72 +4: Scott Strange (Australia) 70 68 77 73