Brad Faxon has confirmed his place in the £2.2 million Barclays Scottish Open, which takes place at Loch Lomond from 11-14 July. He will tee up alongside fellow Americans Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Tom Lehman and Fred Funk. John Daly has also confirmed that he wishes to play in the event, however he must secure a release from the US PGA Tour before he can officially commit.
Faxon, who is currently ranked 13th in the US Money List and 25th in the World Ranking, has six US PGA Tour victories to his name. He has enjoyed two second place finishes so far this season, at the Nissan Open in California and at the Honda Classic in Florida where he was runner-up to Kuchar. This will be Faxon’s first visit to Loch Lomond.
Lehman, currently ranked 37th in the World Ranking, is set to return to the course that he has described as “my number two in the world after Pebble Beach – better than Augusta. It’s not only one of the most beautiful golf courses that I’ve ever played, but it is also tremendously challenging – yet completely fair.” Lehman won the Loch Lomond event in 1997, and has since been a strong contender for the title, finishing second to Ernie Els in 2000 and tied for eighth with a six under par total of 278 alongside Sergio Garcia last year.
Cink last competed at Loch Lomond back in 1998 when he tied for sixth place with a level par total of 284. The 29 year old, who is ranked 43rd in the World Ranking, has won two US PGA Tour events, his second win coming in 2000 when he beat Lehman by two shots to lift the MCI Classic trophy. He came close to his first Major last year, missing out on the 18-hole play-off at the US Open Championship with Mark Brooks and Retief Goosen by one stroke to finish third.
Kuchar, who is currently ranked 27th in the US Money List and 48th in the World Ranking, is looking forward to returning to Loch Lomond this year as a professional, having played as an amateur in the event from 1998 to 2000. Kuchar enjoyed his first professional victory on the US PGA Tour this year when he won the Honda Classic in Florida.
Fred Funk will be making his debut on the bonnie banks this summer. Currently ranked 34th on the US Money List, Funk carded a fourth place finish at the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open in Arizona this year and hopes to maintain his position at the top of the US PGA Tour Driving Accuracy Percentage rating.
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