Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher has welcomed the news that Aberdeen Asset Management will continue to be title sponsors of the Scottish Open until 2020.
It was announced last week that the current contract, which runs to 2017, has been extended by three years, and the Scottish government has also committed to being a partner until 2020, pledging £1million per year.
“It’s brilliant news,” said Gallacher, a three-time winner on The European Tour. “It’s a big commitment from the Scottish government and Aberdeen Asset Management. It’s a great tournament and it’s been showcased around Scotland, and I’m just delighted that the same people will be looking after it in the coming years
“You only need to look at the field to see how big a tournament it is. And we’re playing venues that are proper links courses. The prize fund is increasing all the time as well, and it’s just a really great event.
“Aberdeen Asset Management and the government are massive for helping golf in Scotland, and it’s befitting of the tournament.
“For us Scots it’s like a Major. Next year, playing Gullane and then St Andrews the next week for The Open, it’s going to be a fantastic two weeks. I think the field will be even better next year. With the two weeks in Scotland on proper links courses, I think we’ll see a lot of guys coming from overseas to warm up.”
The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will make its debut at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian in 2015 and returns to Castle Stuart – the venue from 2011 to 2013 – in 2016, and it is anticipated that the rotation of the championship will continue around many of Scotland’s other classic links courses from 2017 to 2020.
