Daniel Brooks leads Raphael Jacquelin by one shot in Scottish Open

Veteran Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, who had the day’s best score of 64 was alone in second, while level with Fowler were England’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Dutchman Joost Luiten.

A first prize of almost $850,000 – easily the biggest payday of his career – and a spot at next week’s British Open at St. Andrews is at stake for Brooks in what would be a life-changing win for the 28-year-old Londoner.

After playing the weekend in Dubai at the end of January, Brooks missed 13 cuts in a row this term, but finished tied for 20th in France last week to stop the rot.

“I have struggled all year and I need some money to keep my card”, Brooks said. Perhaps the biggest surprise on day three was the collective failure of the well-fancied trio of Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell.

England’s Daniel Brooks tees off at the 4th during day three of the Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club, Gullane, Scotland Saturday July 11, 2015.

A nervy start saw him slice his opening drive into the thick rough and he could only hack at the ball for his second shot, which moved a foot.

Fowler, who won the Players Championship this year, but missed the cut at last month’s US Open, said that he felt his game was coming together nicely. 2-4 before settling down.

However, he recovered to shoot four birdies on the front nine to re-take the lead from Jacquelin, who shot a bogey-free round of 64. 12-13.

The last four Open champions have played in the Scottish Open the week before lifting the Claret Jug, a streak Fowler would love to keep going after finishing in the top five in all four majors past year.

Jacquelin, who won a record nine-hole play-off to claim his last European Tour title in the 2013 Spanish Open, celebrated the wins of compatriots Thomas Levet and Gregory Havret in this event by spraying the victors with champagne on the 18th green.

Russell Knox is in the same group as Pepperell, an eagle at the 16th helping him to a 66 that means the Florida-based Scot leads the home challenge after Paul Lawrie could only shoot a 69 to lie two shots further back.

“One of the goals coming in was to get ready for next week, but to put myself in contention, so the juices are ready for next week as well”, he said.