Scott Jamieson had been there before:
facing a 10-foot putt on the last green with the not so small matter of a place in the Open at stake. Once again he held his nerve to hole it.
Jamieson will be in the field at Royal Liverpool this week as a result of a heroic final round at Royal Aberdeen yesterday. The Glasgow golfer carded an seven-under-par 64 to finish on 275, nine under, and in a share of eighth position alongside Rickie Fowler and Robert Karlsson.
In so doing, the 30-year-old claimed the last of the three tickets to the Open that were up for grabs to players finishing in the top 10 who had not already qualified.
Jamieson performed an identical feat in the same event when it was staged at Castle Stuart three years ago. Not, though, that his past experience made the unenviable task on the 18th green any easier.
"I was pretty nervous playing the last hole, knowing that a birdie would probably secure my place in the Open," he said. "When I got up to the green and I saw where my ball was [he was on the back edge and facing a treacherous 50-foot putt] I thought: 'If I can get down in two I will take my chances from there'.
"I left my first putt well short and so I knew I had to hole the next one. I didn't think I would have a chance of finishing in the top 10 if I missed it."
Jamieson was partnered by his countryman and friend Stephen Gallacher - who equalled the course record with a 63 - in the last round and he felt that helped to spur him on.
"I think we sparked off each other," he said. "We probably didn't birdie many of the same holes, but we seemed to take turns doing it for some reason.
"Stephen knew that I was playing for a spot in the Open and I knew he had a few bigger things [qualifying for the European Ryder Cup team] on his mind. Going up the 16th fairway I said to him: 'C'mon, let's see if we can get a few more here'. He managed one more and I didn't. Fortunately, it didn't matter."
Jamieson added: "I hadn't been playing particularly well this year. But last week in France was much better and I felt that I played well in my first round here. Thankfully, I have done enough. It is great prep for Hoylake."
Craig Lee, who had started the fourth round in the third last group out, could only muster a level-par 71 and finished down the field on six under. Elsewhere, Paul Lawrie and Russell Knox finished on three under, David Drysdale and Alastair Forsyth on two under, Martin Laird on one under, Greig Hutcheon on three over and Scott Henry on seven over.
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