Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell joined a long line of illustrious champions when he closed with a three under par round of 68 to win the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

The 28 year-old from Portrush started the day level with England's Simon Khan and they were still tied after 12 holes before McDowell grabbed the initiative with three consecutive birdies from the 13^th.

That run gave the Northern Irelander a three shot advantage and he could even afford the luxury of a dropped shot on the 215 yard par-3 17^th before securing a regulation par at the last to finish two shots ahead of James Kingston and three in front of Richard Green and Miguel Angel Jiménez on 13 under par 71.

Meanwhile Kahn dropped a shot on the 415 yard par-4 15^th and another two on the 17^th to card a  72 and finish alone in fifth place on nine under par 275 but he did have the ample consolation of winning a place in next week's Open Championship as the highest finisher not otherwise exempt.

"This is just incredible," said MacDowell who won a cheque for £500,000 and all but sealed his place in the European team for this year's Ryder Cup match at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

"I don't think I have ever shaken as much as I did coming down the stretch."

"It's a fantastic feeling to win and it's even more special because Mum and Dad are here to see it."

The Barclays Scottish Open has a history of producing fine champions and also for golfers shooting through the field with low final rounds and this year was no different.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher carded a flawless seven under par 64 to climb from 44^th place into a tie for sixth alongside Robert Dinwiddie and Francesco Molinari on eight under par 276 while Spain's Alvaro Quiros replicated that score to haul himself into a share of ninth place alongside Ernie Els, Paul Lawrie, Oliver Wilson and Jeev Milkha Singh one shot further behind.

However it was a different story for the World No. 2 Phil Mickelson who had matched par twice and bettered it once with opening rounds of 71, 67 and 71 but who carded no less than six bogeys in an untidy closing round of 73 to fall back into a tie for 37^th place.

The final round also proved an unhappy experience for England's Ross Fisher who won last week's European Open at the London Club.

Fisher started the day in sixth place after rounds of 68, 69 and 68 but ran out of gas with a closing 75 to drop down to a share of 25^th place on four under par 280.

Both Australia's Adam Scott and England's Ian Poulter also finished on that mark after rounds of 74 they will want to forget.