Graeme McDowell took the Scottish Open by 2 shots last weekend, beating such luminaries as Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson. This was the forth victory of his career but, more importantly from a Ryder Cup perspective, the second of 2008 after he won the Ballantine’s Championship earlier this year.

This makes the Northern Irishman effectively a certain member of September’s Ryder Cup as the 3 ahead of him in the Ryder Cup points standings: Westwood, Karlsson and Jimemez, have already guaranteed their places via the Ryder Cup World Points List.

It wasn’t until the third round that McDowell found him self in the lead as the event started off in fairly difficult conditions with heavy rain and swirling winds affecting all players. Thongchai Jaidee and Alexander Noren made lightest work of the conditions, both shooting 64s but it was Angel Cabrerra who looked to by making the moves as he took the lead after the second day. The charge from Mickelson never really appeared despite a hole-in-one for the world number two.

Cabrerra followed two excellent rounds with a horrendous one, his third round 78 containing 2 triple bogeys, both on the back nine. This left McDowell and England’s Simon Khan in the lead. Of the two, it was Khan who looked to have his hands on the trophy as he moved into the lead but a bogey and 2 double bogeys in the last 7 holes meant the McDowell only had to fend off the herd charging James Kingston for the victory.