An international galaxy of golfing stars will shine on Loch Lomond Golf Club from July 8-11 when yet another outstanding field in the already illustrious history of The Barclays Scottish Open lines up to contest the 2010 championship.
Many of the top players from the Official World Golf Ranking have signalled their intention to tee up, all keen to claim the winner’s cheque of £500,000 from an overall prize fund of £3,000,000.
Indeed, players from each of the five continents will descend on this special piece of Scottish golfing terrain, once again underlining the truly international appeal of The Barclays Scottish Open.
As well as World Ranking points and money towards The Race to Dubai on offer, for the European players in the field there is also the lure of crucial Ryder Cup points with the contest against the United States at The Celtic Manor Resort beginning a little over two months after the final putt drops at Loch Lomond on Sunday July 11.
Headlining the field for The Barclays Scottish Open from the World Ranking is World Number Two, American Phil Mickelson, who went close on his debut in 2007 – eventually losing out in a play-off to Frenchman Grégory Havret – before finishing tied for 38th place in 2008.
Joining Mickelson from the Americas are former US Open Champion Lucas Glover and Colombian Camilo Villegas, while other American professionals sure to catch the eye are former Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman – who showed he was still a force to be reckoned with inside the ropes with his recent victory in the US Senior PGA Championship – Fred Funk, Steve Marino and the big hitting duo of John Daly and JB Holmes.
The European charge is bolstered by the likes of the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open winner and newly crowned US Open Champion Graeme McDowell alongside the man he beat into second place at Pebble Beach, Grégory Havret. Also headlining for Europe will be defending champion Martin Kaymer, Alvaro Quiros, Ross Fisher, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Rhys Davies and brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
Also making a welcome return is Denmark’s Thomas Björn, who won the first Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 1996 and showed he was still very much a force to be reckoned with when he claimed his tenth European Tour title two weeks ago with a stirring showing to capture the Estoril Open de Portugal at Penha Longa.
From Australasia, Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy will bring their respective talents to bear while representing Asia are Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Korea’s Y E Yang, the 2009 US PGA Championship winner.
Yang will also be joined by two up and coming Korean amateur stars, Byeong-hun An, the 2009 US Amateur Champion and Jin Jeong, who won The British Amateur Championship at Muirfield. It will bring the number amateurs in the field to three alongside the reigning Scottish Amateur champion David Law.
Finally, from South Africa, the emerging talents of European Tour winners such as Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel are sure to entertain the traditionally knowledgeable Scottish galleries alongside double US Open Champion and former winner at Loch Lomond, Retief Goosen.
“We are delighted to be able to announce such a strong international field for The 2010 Barclays Scottish Open,” said Championship Director Peter Adams. “Many of the greatest names from all four corners of the golfing globe will be displaying their talents over one of the world’s most beautiful and respected courses. It promises to be a real treat for the spectators.
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
