French joy for Lowry and Maybin

Irish Open champion Shane Lowry headed to Scotland with a spring in his step after earning his first cheque as a professional in the French Open.

But there was also smiles from Ulsterman Gareth Maybin who tied for 10th to grab a last gasp place in this week's Barclays Scottish Open.

Show me the money. First cheque for Lowry.Germany's Martin Kaymer beat Lee Westwood with a hard fought par at the first extra hole to take the title and move into the world's top 20.

But it was also a good week for Lowry, who finally opened his European Tour account with a cheque for €16,800.

Lowry said: “I had an eagle and 14 birdies over the four days so that is good but there was also a lot of mistakes so that is something I have to work on when I get to Loch Lomond.

“I'm going to have to try and eliminate putting pressure on myself early as I was a few over today and yesterday and also on the first day but I did manage to get it back.

“Getting off to a bad start has been hurting me and if I can get off to a good start, hopefully it will all be down hill for the round."

Challenge Tour graduate Maybin closed with a four under par 67 to tie for 10th on six under and earn €74,133 and a ticket to Loch Lomond that had looked unlikely midway through the afternoon.

He was 11th and two shots behind Rafa Echenique when he finished but the overnight leader triple bogeyed the last to slip to 13th and promote him to 10th.

Maybin said: “You never want to see your fellow competitors mess up and I do feel sorry for Rafa and we saw last week in Munich what a great player he is."

Damien McGrane tied for 13th on five under after a 68 with Peter Lawrie a shot further back in tied 21st after a 67. But Darren Clarke crashed to 31st on two under after a triple bogey eight at the 18th forced him to sign for a 72.

Westwood blasted a six under par 65 to set the target at 13 under but was matched by Kaymer's three under 68. But it was Kaymer who took the €666,660 top prize with a winning par at the treacherous 18th in sudden death.

The young German, 24 carried the water by a foot with his approach from the rough but Westwood, nearer the green but also in the long stuff, failed to make the carry by inches.

A fuming Ian Poulter finished three shots outside the play-off in third place after a 67 and vowed never to return to Paris after a row with a photographer.

Poulter was still challenging for the title when he pushed his approach to the 15th into the water.

He blamed that on a camera clicking three times 25 yards away as he was swinging and was still furious when he also bogeyed the last.

He rapped: "It's frustrating when you get a novice cameraman out here this week. It spoils the day, spoils the tournament.

"It's one I want to win and some stupid cameraman makes it difficult for you. It's a good tournament, but I won't be back next year."