Bruisers heading for showdown at Loch Lomond as Open reaches end

Jul 13 2008 Euan Mclean

THE final-day forecast is for sunshine but make no mistake - a storm is coming to Loch Lomond this afternoon.

This picturesque oasis of exclusivity is usually the last word in refinery - but for five chaotic hours today it will witness an almighty scrap between a rabble of burly men wielding oddly-shaped sticks.

And at the end of this brutal battle the last man standing will be handed the Barclays Scottish Open trophy and a cheque for £500,000.

An incredible 16 players stand within four shots of joint leaders Graeme McDowell and Simon Khan in one of the most open final days in the tournament's 13-year history.

Among that chasing pack are grizzled campaigners Miguel Angel Jimenez, Lee Westwood, world No.3 Adam Scott and home favourite Paul Lawrie.

Throw in others who are no strangers to winning, such as last week's European Open champion Ross Fisher, in-form Jeev Milkha Singh, the Flash One himself Ian Poulter and the stage is set for a free-for-all.

They call this moving day and after a breathless afternoon of jostling for position the two men on pole are McDowell and Khan thanks to rounds of 66 and 68 respectively.

If the form book is to be trusted the smart money will be on the Northern Irishman after pushing Euro Open winner Fisher hard last week, eventually finishing third.

Focus McDowell's rich run of form has propelled him into the Ryder Cup picture and if he closes out victory today he will almost certainly be a shoo-in for Nick Faldo's European line-up.

Not that he's thinking about the Ryder Cup.

No really. Honest... McDowell said: "I'm trying not to look into the future. It's tough in a Ryder Cup year but I've worked hard to focus on this week.

"I'm working with my sports psychologist Karl Morris and we're talking about how to deal with media questions about the Ryder Cup and keep my focus in the present.

"It is in the back ofmy mind, maybe a little bit in the front actually, but I have to play golf tomorrow. It's not going to change things.

"Ryder Cup or not, I have to give it my best shot. If I win then I realise what that would mean but it isn't going to helpmehit any shots."

Rival Khan has the incentive of claiming the last remaining slot in the 156-man field for next week's Open Championship at Birkdale.

Yet by the Englishman's own admission closing the deal has been a problem in the past.

And the prospect of securing the biggest win of his career is sure to test every ounce of his resolve, especially if he looks over his shoulder at some of the guys bearing down on him.

Jimenez, who has already taken a massive title this year at the BMWPGA Championship, sits just two adrift beside Fisher, Singh and Aussie Richard Green.

And with the sporting summer the Spanish have been having, who would bet against him following the football heroes and Wimbledon championRafa Nadal in to the winner's circle today?

Jimenez said: "Everyone is talking about Spain having luck so hopefully that is with me.

"I watched Rafa last week and he did so well to beat Roger Federer. It would be great to keep up the victories for Spain."

Big guns Scott, Westwood and Poulter will be looking to put early pressure on the leaders.

But there is no doubt who the massive Scottish galleries would love to see doing the business.

Lawrie isn't given the respect he deserves in these parts as Scotland's only recent major winner is repeatedly snubbed for the Wednesday Pro-Am.

But yesterday the affable Aberdonian found himself at the heart of a patriotic love-in.

And were it not for an ice-cold putter he would have produced something to get fans really hot under the collar.

His one-over-par round of 72 should have been much better and a five-foot missed putt on the last hole summed up his day.

Still, he remains in the hunt on six under if he can just get it going on the greens. Lawrie said: "I played well enough to shoot two or three under but just struggled with the putter.

"The crowd were fantastic and it's just a pity I couldn't sink some putts and really get them going.

"But if I shoot six or seven under I'm definitely in it."

Lawrie can take comfort from the fact he had a better day than Angel Cabrera. The former US Open champion simply blew up with two triple bogeys on his way to a horror 78 that plunged him from Friday night leader to down and out on two under par.

But there are more than enough big names right in there to make today a fight to remember.