Golf: Brown in top 50 finish at Open

Wellington golfer Mark Brown has climbed almost 20 places in round three of the 142nd Open Championship in Scotland overnight. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand golfer Mark Brown has completed a fine week at the 142nd Open Championship in Scotland, finishing in a share of 44th place.

The 38-year-old shot a final round one-over-par 72 for the second straight day.

He finished on 10-over-par, 13 shots back from the champion American Phil Mickelson who claimed his first Claret Jug and was also the first golfer to win the Scottish Open and British Open in successive weeks.

Mickelson was also the first left hander to win The Open Championship in 50 years since Sir Bob Charles won in a playoff at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1963.

Brown, who made his first cut in the Open Championship after missing the weekend in 2009 at Turnberry, took home $31,000 (NZD) in his second appearance at golf's oldest major.

It could have been so much better for the former European Tour pro. He made the turn at three-under-par 33 and at that stage he was inside the top 20 on the leaderboard and in line for a grandstand finish.

He was looking to better his best finish in a major - a tie for 24th at the U.S. PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

But he faltered coming home. He doubled the 10th and then added two birdies and four bogeys on the inward nine to sign for a one-over-par 72 in a flat finish.

When he has time to reflect Brown should be happy with his effort in Scotland. He had not played a tournament since the SK Telecom Open on the OneAsia Tour in May and he showed great character and fight to match it with the world's best.