American Ryder Cup players JB Holmes, Patrick Reed and Steve Stricker have joined the star-studded field for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, which returns to the spectacular setting of Castle Stuart Golf Links next week.
One of the European Tour’s most prestigious events, Scotland’s national open has in the past proven the perfect warm-up for many of the world’s biggest stars ahead of the Open Championship and regularly attracts players from the other side of the Atlantic.
This year’s 34th edition will be no different as Phil Mickelson once again attempts to repeat his remarkable feat in 2013 of winning back to back titles on Scottish soil, his triumph at Castle Stuart followed immediately by his fifth Major Championship victory at Muirfield.
He is joined by European Tour Member Reed, whose interaction with the Scottish crowds when playfully putting his finger to his mouth to silence the home cheers was one of the most memorable moments of The 2014 Ryder Cup. He finished the week as America’s leading points scorer, winning three matches – including his final day duel with Henrik Stenson – and halving one to remain unbeaten.
The 25 year old has since become a firm favourite among the fans on this side of the Atlantic, securing four consecutive top tens at the end of the 2015 season en route to finishing 16th in the Race to Dubai.
I got a really nice reception from the Scottish fans at St Andrews last year, and I feel like I have a special relationship with them now after the fun of the Ryder Cup.
Patrick Reed
“They’re very respectful and knowledgeable, so I’m looking forward to a great week in the Home of Golf."
Also joining the field late in the day is three-time Ryder Cup player and Assistant Captain to David Love III for this year’s edition, Stricker, making just his second appearance at the Scottish Open and his first since 1995, when he finished in a share of 19th place at Carnoustie.
A 12-time winner on the US PGA Tour, Stricker’s best European Tour result on Scottish soil also came at Carnoustie – a share of eighth - when the Open was held there in 2007, while his sole win on the European Tour schedule came at the 2001 WGC-Match Play Championship in Australia.
Meanwhile Holmes, the World Number 21, is making his first Scottish Open appearance in six years and his first at Castle Stuart Golf Links. The 34 year old has won four times on the US PGA Tour and was part of the USA’s last winning Ryder Cup team, at Valhalla in 2008.
Together with Jamie Lovemark – who played alongside Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel when the USA were beaten to the 2008 Eisenhower Trophy by Scotland – those American stars will join many of the European Tour’s biggest names, including the World Number Five and winner of the recent BMW International Open Henrik Stenson.
The Swede is returning to this event for the first time since finishing in a share of third place the last time Castle Stuart played hosts in 2013, the year in which Stenson was crowned European Tour Number One and also won the rankings on the US PGA Tour.
South Africa’s Branden Grace, meanwhile, is making his first regular European Tour appearance since becoming the first player to successfully defend the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters back in January.
The 28 year old has since won on the US PGA Tour and claimed a third top five finish at a Major in the space of 12 months, courtesy of a tied fifth place result at the U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont.
Irishman Shane Lowry makes his first European Tour appearance since sharing runner-up spot at Oakmont, where he led the field heading into the final round, while Englishman Chris Wood will be hoping to make it a double on British soil after his BMW PGA Championship triumph in May.
Russell Knox will the home favourite in the field when the 31 year old returns to his home town of Inverness in search of his second European Tour title, following last November’s glorious victory at the WGC–HSBC Champions in China.
Tickets for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open are available through the tournament websitehere
