Change of plan fires Ferguson to victory and Open

Ewen Ferguson won in Munich with an 18-under-par score

New BMW International Open champion Ewen Ferguson had considered missing the tournament in Munich to focus on Open qualifying.

But a late change of heart worked out well for the 28-year-old Scot, who secured his third DP World Tour victory and landed a place in the Open field into the bargain.

"You don't get to win much as a golfer and when you do it's so special," a delighted Ferguson told BBC Scotland.

"I wasn't going to play Germany. I was going to play Open qualifying. But it turns out I pulled out of Open qualifying, played Germany, and got into the Open anyway!"

Having made his Open debut last year, Ferguson gets in this time as one of the top five players in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai not already assured of a place.

With that weight off his shoulders and a big jump up the world rankings - from 168 to 104 - he comes into this week's Scottish Open in an upbeat mood.

"I'm just buzzing to get out there and give it a go," he said.

"Last week, I was thinking, 'I can't wait to play at my home Open to go for top 10 to get an Open spot.' Now I can relax, freewheel it and see what I can do."

Ferguson's good friend Robert MacIntyre was runner-up at the Scottish Open last year, finishing one shot behind Rory McIlroy after a thrilling final day in East Lothian.

Ferguson and MacIntyre came through the ranks together and the latter's success has been a source of joy and inspiration for his friend.

"Watching him win the Canadian Open was just amazing," he said. "I could see when he was under stress and how he was dealing with it. It made me think, 'I can get better, I just need to get better.'

"I was so proud of him but you are envious too. You wish it was you.

"One of the first people to text when I won at the weekend was Bob, saying he was so happy for me and let's keep it going."

Ferguson would like to follow MacIntyre to the PGA Tour, as playing in America is his "ultimate goal".

Issues with his vision and balance had threatened to derail Ferguson but are now under control with the help of medication.

"I was really upset, thinking next year I'd be on the Challenger Tour again," he said of his recent health struggles.

"It's really tough, taking weeks off when you're not getting any points, watching your ranking slip, while your friends and peers take over.

"It also made me realise that I really do like playing golf a lot more than I thought.

"You can take it for granted or the life of it all can be too much sometimes, but when you're sitting on the couch bored you're thinking 'actually, I do like being out there' even when it is tough."