Gregory Havret was doused in champagne by compatriots Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin and an assortment of French caddies after recording the biggest victory of his career at Loch Lomond today.

"I thought these guys might be around but I totally forgot and when I heard them running towards the 18th green, I was just running," Havret told reporters after beating Phil Mickelson at the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Scottish Open.
   
"It is a little tradition. Thomas is a great friend and I had a little kiss here," said the 30-year-old Frenchman as he pointed to his cheek.
   
Havret, who won the playoff with a par-four at the 18th after he and Mickelson had tied on 14-under-par 270. Havret  shot 68 to Mickelson's final round 69 which left them one ahead of twice former champion Ernie Els.

Richard Sterne and Louis Oosthuizen, also of South Africa, England's Luke Donald and Swede Pelle Edberg shared fourth place on 273.

Havret later said he was thrilled to hear the bagpipes which signalled only the second victory of his career after he won the Italian Open in 2001.
   
"I just love hearing this sound," said the world number 320. "We wake up on Sundays and hear it from the village.
 
"I love tradition, for me it is very important. Scotland is probably, with two or three other countries, home of tradition.
   
"Loch Lomond is awesome. I don't have the words in English to say what it means to me," added added Havret after picking up the first prize of £500,000 which took him up to ninth on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Havret missed nine cuts this season before turning his form around in the last two weeks, finishing joint 15th at the French Open and tied for third at the European Open at the K-Club.
   
He attributed his revival to a belly putter and a new alliance with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout.
   
"I searched around my flat before the French and saw the belly putter and said, 'oh, why not?', and my putting has been a lot better since," he said.
   
"Jos came to me after my first round at the PGA Championship in May. I had been playing very badly since the beginning of the year but he definitely changed something in my mind."
 
There were strong finishes for Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke too. McDowell signed for a closing 67 to tie 11th on nine-under 275. Clarke went one better with a 66 to race into a tie for 19th on six-under.

The news wasn't so good for Peter Lawrie (71) who finished on one-under or Paul McGinley (72) one shot further back.