Five things to know as the European Tour heads to Fairmont St Andrews for the inaugural Scottish Championship presented by AXA
A new event
The inaugural Scottish Championship presented by AXA makes its tournament debut on the European Tour this week, just two weeks after Aaron Rai was crowned champion at Renaissance Club.
The tournament rounds off a second UK Swing on the 2020 Race to Dubai, following the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Northern Ireland (September 24-27), the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (October 1-4) and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth (October 8-11).
A Sam Torrance design
This week’s tournament is set to be held over the Torrance Course, originally designed by former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance.
Gene Sarazan was the first mastermind behind both courses at Fairmont St Andrews resort, but after his passing Sam Torrance continued with the design, and opened the course along with the hotel in 2001.
The course, which has since seen several holes redesigned, lies a few miles outside of St Andrews, and iconic views over the town can be seen from the dramatic 16th green, which is situated on a cliff edge.
One of the unique features of the course are the old boundary farm walls, which were incorporated into the design to maintain the history of the land – and also pose a challenge to players.
Inside the field
The field heading to Scotland this week is full of experience, with Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace headlining a field that includes four Rolex Series winners and 16 other players who have claimed European Tour wins in the last two seasons, including recent Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open winner Aaron Rai.
Meanwhile, Eddie Pepperell, Scott Hend and Renato Paratore – who won the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood during the Tour’s restart in July – all head to Scotland following top 10s in last week’s BMW PGA Championship.
A strong Scottish presence
There is also a strong Scottish contingent, including the most recent Scottish winner on the European Tour, Marc Warren, as well as fellow winners David Law, Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay and former Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher.
The 2019 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, Robert MacIntyre, is the highest ranked Scottish player competing this week, and is joined by Connor Syme, who won Final Open Qualifying on this course last year.
Grant Forrest, who has two top 20s in his last three starts, is also in the field, in addition to Euan Walker, who is attached to Fairmont St Andrews.
Legends Tour Roots
Although the Torrance Course will be making its debut on the European Tour, it previously served as a regular venue for the Senior Scottish Open on six different occasions.
More recently, a composite course of both the Torrance and the Kittocks (the second course at Fairmont St Andrews) also served as the 2019 Final Open Qualifying Venue for the 148th Open at Royal Portrush.
