Grant Forrest bogeyed the 16th hole but rallied with birdies on 17 and 18 to edge James Morrison by a shot at the European Tour’s Hero Open.
Morrison made a run with five straight birdies on Nos. 11 through 15. He tacked on one final birdie at the last for a 63 but fell a shot short of forcing a playoff.
Forrest closed in 6-under 66 after shooting 62 on Saturday, a 10-under round that included 11 birdies, and he finished the event at 24 under. Morrison was 23 under, and Santiago Tarrio was third at 21 under.
Played at the Fairmont St. Andrews in Scotland, Forrest claimed his first European Tour title on home soil. He’s also the first Scotsman to win a home game since Paul Lawrie in 2012 at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
“There are so many emotions,” Forrest said after his round. “To do it in front of everyone who has come up to support me. … the last year and a half has been a real challenge on and off the course, so I’m just delighted.
“We’ve been through quite a lot as a family and to do it here, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of to win on the European Tour. I think there’s a big party at the in-laws tonight.”
The European Tour shifts to Kent, England, next week for the Cazoo Classic at London Golf Club.
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