A DRAMATIC final day’s play at the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club saw Australia’s Min Woo Lee emerge as the champion after a three-way play-off in horrendous conditions.

What was already shaping up to be a very tight race saw extra drama when the weather intervened late in the day.

A torrential rainstorm, accompanied by thunder and lightning, saw play halted in the late afternoon and left spectators running for shelter.

At that time, English star Ian Poulter was the clubhouse leader on 17-under-par, finishing his round just before the rain came.

However, it always looked unlikely that would prove enough, with Lee in scintillating form, while overnight leaders Thomas Detry of Belgium and Matt Fitzpatrick of England showed no let-up either.

Detry briefly held the lead outright at -18 but was soon matched by Lee and Fitzpatrick.

Lee – who had been three strokes off the lead overnight – had a chance to birdie the final hole but his putt came up agonisingly short, though he still took the new clubhouse lead at -18 after a sensational round of seven-under.

But Detry and Fitzpatrick matched that, forcing the tournament into a play-off.

That was to last just one hole, with a phenomenal stroke from Lee allowing him to birdie the 18th at the second time of asking and seeing him crowned the 2021 champion.

Behind the top three, Poulter tied with American Ryan Palmer and Australia’s Lucas Herbert for fourth, one stroke behind the leaders.

World number one Jon Rahm, who had been one stroke off the lead overnight, finished a further stroke back in seventh on -16.

Top-placed Scot was Richie Ramsay, who finished on -12, good enough for a share of 15th place.

Defending champion Aaron Rai of England finished on -9 in tied 35th.

Meanwhile, a tough final round of two-over for East Lothian hopeful Grant Forrest saw him finish on -2 and in tied 73rd place.