At the last hole costs him first ever European Tour 59
Justin Walters and Darren Fichardt – were feeling particularly low when we came on the course.
“Hopefully he’s looking down on us. I took a little look up on 18th fairway there, saying this one was for all the boys back home who are going to be missing you for the next few months.
“I didn’t actually realise I had a chance at making history until I was walking on the 18th green.
“I didn’t even know what the scores were because my caddie had banned me from looking at any scoreboards.
“Every time my eyes would wander that way he would quickly grab my attention. But walking on to the 18th green I took a look and saw it and thought, ‘Oh, here we go’.
“I looked at him, he looked at me and he’s like, ‘You don’t get putts like this too often’. So I said, ‘I’m not reading this one, this is completely up to you’.
“I rolled it over his mark but he did criticise my pace so he probably is right. It didn’t hold its line but we’ll take it.”
And he’ll take his place at The Open gladly too – even though he’ll now have to go without a dram.
But that’s fine too – there will be plenty of time for celebrating after.
The 25-year-old said: “I’m extremely excited but Carnoustie is a course that can humble you very quickly so I’m under no illusions.
“I’m going to have to do my preparation correctly. Hopefully I can find accommodation because I wasn’t exactly planning on going through.
“I was supposed to be hiring a car and going to Islay with friends to do a whisky tour. But I’m excited to be going to The Open instead and it’s a nice extra reward for a fantastic week.” Fowler fell six shots short of clinching a second victory at Gullane having won the 2015 event. But the American insists he’s in great shape to make a challenge for his elusive first Major at Carnoustie. Fowler, tied for sixth on 14 under, said: “With so many guys in the mix someone was going to have to go out and earn it. All you can do is tip your cap and congratulate Brandon for getting it done. That’s the round it took to get in and beat all these guys who were close to the top. “But I feel great. I’m looking forward to Carnoustie. I really like where the game’s at and I’m ready to go.”