Goosen encouraged by Scottish Open finish

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland, July 16 (Reuters) World number four Retief Goosen gave his confidence a timely boost for next week's British Open with a four-under-par 67 in the final round of the Scottish Open today.

Goosen, the highest-ranked player in the field at Loch Lomond, mixed six birdies with two bogeys to finish with a seven-under-par aggregate of 277 on another perfect day for low scoring.

''The course is playing as easy as can be, there's no wind really,'' the 2001 champion told Reuters. ''I won't say I'm happy because I love this course and I would have liked to have been up there giving myself a chance to win.

''It was a bit of a struggle this week for me but it was nice to get a good round in today. It gives me a bit of confidence to take into next week.'' Although he has been below his best, the 37-year-old South African took heart from an improved display on the greens.

''I am still not quite hitting it the way I would like but I am hitting some better shots and I made a few putts today which was nice,'' he said.

''Two of my birdies on the front nine came from two-putts on par-fives and I also made a two-putt birdie at the par-four ninth.

''On the back nine I holed a good putt for par at 11, made a good birdie putt at the next and another good putt for par at the 13th.'' Goosen, without a tournament victory since the South African Open in December, is relishing Thursday's opening round at Hoylake, which stages the British Open for the first time since 1967.

''Hardly anyone has played there, just a few players,'' he said. ''I will get a practice round in tomorrow and see what it is like.

''I hear it is good. Hopefully it will all come together for me next week.'' REUTERS DH VC1934