Kaymer moves up in the world

Scottish Open:Germany's Martin Kaymer made it two wins in eight days on Sunday when he added the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond to the French Open he captured last weekend. The 24-year-old, two behind with a round to play, produced a closing 69 to beat France's Raphael Jacquelin and overnight leader Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano by two.

Kaymer, who finished 15-under-par, earned €583,000. Last Sunday's cheque was more than €658,000 and he is now second to Paul Casey on the European Tour's money list and just outside the top 10 in the world heading into The Open.

Damien McGrane shot a 68 to finish best of the Irish on four under, while defending champion Graeme McDowell (70), Paul McGinley (72) and Darren Clarke finished on one under, the latter having shot a six-over-par 77 today.

Shane Lowry went one worse with a 78 leaving him six over after an encouraging three days previously.

Rory McIlroy said he needs to work on his iron play before The Open starts on Thursday after a 73 left him level par.

"I was just struggling a bit," said the 20-year-old. "This week I really wanted to play well to give myself some momentum.

"Now I'll spend more time practising than I will on the course the next three days because I want to get it sorted out."

Kaymer, who began his run of form in Paris last week with a course record 62, needed 'only' a two-under-par 69 after starting the day a stroke behind Fernandez-Castano.

The gap doubled when he bogeyed the 455-yard second, but once he had birdied three of the next six holes he had top spot and never let go.

"To win at the home of golf is always something very special," he said. "I missed the cut the week after my first two wins, but this week was obviously different.

"Now everybody asks me about a third win in a row, but we are playing in a major and the field is going to be the best we have all year.

"The money is nice, but it's not the most important thing. If you are out there playing for the money I think you have chosen the wrong job."

Fernandez-Castano's hopes of a fifth Tour win - this was Kaymer's fourth - nosedived when he did not manage a single birdie until the 13th.

But running up a bogey six following a wild drive on the hole before that had given him a deficit he could not make up.

Jacquelin came through to be joint runner-up with a 66 and Australian Adam Scott matched that best-of-the-day effort to take a share of fourth with Dane Soren Kjeldsen.

Disappointing on the final day were both Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen.

Westwood had oozed confidence after middle rounds of 66 and 64, but closed with a level-par 71 for eighth spot along with fellow Englishman Ross Fisher.

Goosen had been joint second teeing off again, but dropped six shots in five holes around the turn and needed a strong finish for a 73 and a tie for eighth.

Whether Fisher plays in the Open remains to be seen. He flew back to London to be with his wife Jo, who is expecting their first child on Tuesday, and said: "What will be will be.

"The Open is the most important tournament in a calendar year, but the birth of our first child is something I don't want to miss."

If there are no signs of an imminent delivery on Tuesday he will be at Turnberry, but is ready to pull out at any moment - even if he was six ahead with a round to play, he says.

"The ideal would be to two-putt to win next Sunday, make a short winner's speech and then fly home."

Ian Poulter, runner-up at last year's Open, was down in 32nd place after a disappointing 72, but that was still better than Colin Montgomerie managed.

They finished in a tie for 46th following 73s. Montgomerie, fortunate to make the halfway cut, said: "That was a poor round of golf again."