The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will welcome one of the strongest fields in its history when many of the biggest names in the game descend upon Gullane this week.
World Number Seven Justin Rose will be firmly in the spotlight as he attempts to make it back-to-back victories in the £3.25 million event following his swashbuckling win at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club last year.
The tournament has a distinct Ryder Cup flavour with no fewer than ten players from the 2014 contest at Gleneagles present in East Lothian – seven members of the European team (Thomas Bjørn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Stephen Gallacher, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Rose) and four Americans (Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson and Jimmy Walker).
World Number One Rory McIlroy would have been the eighth member of the European team at Gullane but was forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a ruptured ankle ligament playing football with his friends.
Long-time Scotland supporter Mickelson returns for his 13th appearance in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, while Fowler, who made his debut in the event last year and went on to finish runner-up at The Open the following week, returns for more links preparation.
The Championship will be played over a composite of the spectacular No.1 and No.2 courses at the East Lothian venue, a test defending champion Rose is relishing.
He said: "Aberdeen Asset Management have come in and they're a great sponsor and securing the tournament for the future and putting it on links golf courses, ones perfect for Open Championship preparation, for me is key. It's place in the calendar is key as a lot of guys want to use it as a tune-up for a Major but when you actually win it, you really realise what a great tournament it is in its own right.
"I think the fact we were on a great links course last year in Aberdeen and another world-renowned one this week at Gullane is great. I think the model of the tournament now is brilliant. I have played Gullane back in the day in the Amateur Championship and you drive through there and see the hills and some of the sweeping par fours down the hill and if the winds with you you can really get some drives going.
"Any year that The Open is at St Andrews is special so to be in Scotland for two weeks, not far from the Home of Golf, will be nice. You finish the tournament on Sunday, drive over and get settled into your new digs and get ready for the Major.
"Winning in Scotland is special, they're knowledgable and hopefully we'll be able to make some more memories this week."
A strong Scottish contingent will be hoping to provide the first home winner since Colin Montgomerie in 1999, including Gallacher and Marc Warren, who was tied for the lead heading into the final round 12 months ago, ultimately finishing third.
The field is further strengthened by the presence of former World Number One and 2011 champion Luke Donald, plus Indian Jeev Milkha Singh from India, who followed Donald into the winner’s enclosure in 2012, veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez and Irishman Padraig Harrington.
