EDDIE Pepperell was thrilled with his performance as an excellent second place at the Hero Open gave him his best result for three years.

The Abingdon golfer finished 21-under par at Fairmont St Andrews, just one shot behind winner Sean Crocker.

Pepperell carded a sensational seven-under 65 on day four to force the American to close with three pars to claim a maiden DP World Tour title.

But it was still a successful weekend for the Frilford Heath member, who shoots up to 308 in the world after starting the tournament ranked 551.

The 31-year-old last finished a tournament this high when he tied for second at the 2019 Betfred British Masters, so was understandably delighted with his display.

Pepperell told the DP World Tour website: "I am proud. It was pretty flawless until the ninth (a bogey).

"Then it felt far from flawless for a few holes there and I had to really think about it and figure it out. Then there were some tough tee-shots for me, but I just trusted my routines and from the fairway in I felt like I played great.

"I just trusted myself really. I haven't been in this position for a long time but I've always felt when you're in this position it's a case of trusting your body, it's responding well, you just need to allow it to do what it has been doing.

"That was the hardest part, but by and large I think I've done a good job."

The two-time Tour winner barely put a foot wrong in Scotland, starting the event with a five-under par 67.

He went one better on Friday, carding a round of 66 to reach the weekend in contention.

Another good day’s work on Saturday, when he shot three-under, moved him to 14-under par for the tournament going into the final day.

Pepperell began four shots behind leader Crocker, but four birdies in the first seven holes put him right in the mix.

A bogey at the par-four ninth was the only blot on a fantastic final round as he picked up four more birdies to reach the clubhouse 21-under.

And Pepperell admitted it was tough to rediscover the mindset of a tournament-winner on Sunday afternoon.

He said: “Once I birdied 12 and hit two good shots into 13 I just told myself to remember how I used to think when I was in that position, believing that if I played my best I could win the golf tournament.

“I haven’t been the best player out here for a long time so it was hard to believe in myself.”