Reigning US Open Champion Lucas Glover and the talented Colombian Camilo Villegas will join Masters Champion Phil Mickelson in spearheading a transatlantic charge to The 2010 Barclays Scottish Open.
With Mickelson having already confirmed his intention to return to Loch Lomond Golf Club from July 8-11, Glover – the man who pipped him to the 2009 US Open title and who will defend his crown at Pebble Beach this week – will now take his place alongside the World Number Two when the 28th edition of the £3million event unfolds.
Glover, the World Number 21, is excited at the prospect of making his first visit to Loch Lomond, where he will be hoping to sharpen his competitive instincts ahead of The 150th Anniversary Open Championship, which takes place at St Andrews one week later.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in The Barclays Scottish Open for the first time,” he said. “I’ve heard great things about the tournament and the golf course, so I’m excited about experiencing them first hand.”
World Number 15 Villegas has won three times on the US PGA Tour, his most recent success coming in The Honda Classic in March when four superb rounds in the 60s at the PGA National Resort in Florida gave him a five shot winning margin over American Anthony Kim.
Villegas will be making his second visit to Loch Lomond Golf Club, having finished in a tie for 20th place behind winner Martin Kaymer of Germany on his maiden appearance last year.
Like Glover, the Colombian – who is currently 14th on The 2010 Race to Dubai – will also be bidding to give his confidence a timely lift as he prepares for his third appearance at The Open Championship, with tied 13th in 2009 his best performance to date.
He said: “I really enjoyed my first visit to The Barclays Scottish Open last year – it was a great week on a fantastic golf course. So I’m delighted to be returning this year, and I would love to add my name to the impressive list of past champions.”
That roll call includes Tom Lehman, who was the last American to take the title in 1997. Lehman, who will be one of American Captain Corey Pavin’s assistants at The 2010 Ryder Cup, heads to Scotland in fine form, having recently captured his maiden senior Major at the US Senior PGA Championship.
“Loch Lomond is one of my favourite golf courses in the world, and the Scottish Open one of my favourite tournaments,” he said. “There is nowhere I’d rather be each year in early July.”
Lehman will be joined in the field by his fellow US Champions Tour winner Fred Funk and rising US PGA Tour star Nick Watney, who will be bidding to build on his tied sixth finish on his debut appearance at The Barclays Scottish Open last year.
Watney said: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Loch Lomond, having played the tournament for the first time last year. It was a great week on a fantastic golf course so I can’t wait to get back, and I’m delighted to see so many of my fellow US Tour pros will be joining me.”
Other Americans who will be making the trip to Glasgow include JB Holmes and Heath Slocum, both of whom will be making their debuts at Loch Lomond Golf Club, which is hosting the event for the 15th year in succession.
“I’m really excited at having the opportunity to play in The Barclays Scottish Open this year,” said Holmes. “I’ve heard great things about the event from my fellow pros, and I’m delighted to be joining the world-class field on the banks of Loch Lomond in July. It will be my first time on this fantastic golf course, and I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere which is always present in front of the wonderful Scottish fans.”
Golf fans keen eager to catch a glimpse of the action in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond can purchase discounted tickets at:www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk
