Drysdale and Laird invited to play in

Barclays Scottish Open

FROM THE HERALD WEBSITE
By Bernie Mcguire in Munich
Two Scots, David Drysdale and the US PGA Tour-based Martin Laird, have been rewarded for their efforts this year with invitations to compete in the Barclays Scottish Open in a fortnight's time.
Organisers of the Loch Lomond event linked up by telephone with PGA European Tour officials to discuss the varying merits of eight players' invitations to the tournament which starts on July 9.
Drysdale, 34, learned of his invitation a few hours after carding an impressive eight-under-par 64 on the second day of the BMW International Open in Munich.
He had an eagle and six birdies to finish the round tied in third place on 10-under with England's Nick Dougherty (65), a stroke adrift of Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (68) and two behind the South African Retief Goosen (68).
Drysdale's efforts maintained a return to form for the Dunbar man who, after regaining his Tour card at qualifying school last year, finished third in January's Joburg Open and runner-up in the Andalucian Open. Earlier this month, he qualified for his first shot at an Open Championship.
"David is the hottest Scottish golfer on the European Tour at present," said Drysdale's manager, Ian Stoddard. "He's the highest ranked Scot on the Race to Dubai money list and he is among five Scots competing in the following week's Open Championship.
"It's fabulous news for David and it's wonderful that organisers have recognised how hard he has fought to establish himself on the European Tour. Now that he has received an invitation into the Barclays Scottish Open, it means he will have the benefit of tournament play before he makes his Open debut the following week.
"We're thrilled for David and grateful to Loch Lomond organisers that he's been given the opportunity to compete in his own national open."
It will be Drysdale's sixth Scottish Open appearance while Laird will be making his debut as a professional in the country of his birth. The 26-year-old from Glasgow is having a week off from competition on the PGA Tour.
"It will be an honour and a privilege to make my Scottish professional debut at the Barclays Scottish Open," he said. "I have always said it would be a dream come true to make my debut at my national open and then play in my first Open Championship the following week. This will be a wonderful opportunity for me to play in front of many friends and family that have never seen me play professionally."
Andrew Coltart was on the Munich course when the invites were confirmed but after rounds of 67 and 71 he can still play his way into Loch Lomond by finishing top-10 this week in Germany and producing a similar result in next week's French Open.
Gary Orr and Scott Drummond are the next best Scots with 140, one clear of Steve O'Hara and Colin Montgomerie, who is sure to boost his lowly 93rd place in the Race to Dubai after a 71 to add to his opening 69.
He also made it 12 cuts from 15 events this year with a second day that included six birdies but also five bogeys.
"I am making far too many mistakes," said Montgomerie. "They're dropped shots from wedges and sand-wedges, but the birdies are there and it's just a matter of eliminating the mistakes." He added that he had changed every iron in his bag overnight.
+The above article, published in today's Herald, is done so with the permission of the Herald Sports Editor.