The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open returns to Castle Stuart Golf Links this week with seven Major Champions, 21 Ryder Cup players and 18 champions from the 2013 season amongst those vying for the trophy.
Jeev Milkha Singh won the title 12 months ago after a dramatic play-off with Francesco Molinari and he launches his bid to become the first player to successfully defend the title at 8.15am on Thursday morning in the company of in-form South African Richard Sterne, who finished runner-up in last week’s Alstom Open de France, and Belgian Ryder Cup hero Nicolas Colsaerts.
They will be followed onto the stunning Inverness layout, the most northerly British venue to host a European Tour event, at 8.25am by home favourite Paul Lawrie, who lines up alongside two of the game’s most exciting young talents in world golf: BMW PGA Champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, and Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen.
Ten minutes later, the home crowd will have another of their own to cheer as Stephen Gallacher sets off alongside Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington, winners of seven Majors between them.
Indeed, the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has a Major focus taking place the week before The Open Championship at Muirfield with the last two Open Champions, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els, having both sharpened their games at Castle Stuart the week before lifting the Claret Jug.
Els, the reigning Open Champion, is an afternoon starter on the opening day, teeing off at 1.15pm with Scot Marc Warren, who came agonisingly close to victory 12 months ago, and Swede Henrik Stenson.
Another of the 18-strong Scottish contingent sure to be buoyed by the passionate and knowledgeable home fans is Martin Laird, who takes to the course immediately after the Els grouping alongside recent Irish Open Champion Paul Casey and Branden Grace, a four-time winner last season.
Add into the mix the likes of in-form Dane Thomas Björn, 2011 Open Champion Clarke, Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley and many, many more, and it becomes clear that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has once again attracted a world-class field to enjoy a magnificent test of links golf.
- Round One draw
