Special invitation for Wallace Booth to play at Loch Lomond

Eleven major winners among

big names confirmed for


Barclays Scottish Open

From the Herald website
www.theheraldco.uk/sport
By DOUGLAS LOWE
The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, with a total of 11 major winners confirmed, boasts the best field for the event since it was first held at Downfield in 1972.
The latest to be announced is the Australian Geoff Ogilvy while the others include Sir Nick Faldo, who has accepted one of 10 invitations available for the event on July 9-12, it was announced at a news conference at Loch Lomond.
Other major winners in the field are Angel Cabrera, the Masters champion from Argentina; the American John Daly, another invitee; the South Africans Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman; the Scots Paul Lawrie and Sandy Lyle; Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal; and the New Zealander Michael Campbell.
A total of 27 players in the world's top 60 are so far confirmed for the field for the £3m event, and there are also 10 past champions.
Martin Laird, the first Scot since Lyle two decades ago to be playing the US Tour, is still awaiting an invitation, but three have still to be extended and that will happen after close of entries on Friday. Laird is still under consideration for what would be his professional debut in Scotland.
A place will also be offered to Lucas Glover, who won rain-delayed US Open yesterday.
Callum Macaulay, who would have been invited as Scottish amateur champion had he still been in the unpaid ranks, has accepted an invitation, it was confirmed yesterday.
A special invitation to the Scottish Golf Union to nominate a player has resulted in Wallace Booth (pictured above), a member of Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team, joining the field.
Macaulay, who has made a bright start in his rookie year as a professional, said: "My experience of the tournament in 2008 as an amateur was unbelievable. It was one of the most special weeks of my life and I can't wait to play my first national open as a professional in front of my home support."
The sartorially ambitious Ian Poulter has promised he will surpass himself in front of the Scottish crowds.
"I am launching four new tartans in my own clothing line this summer so there is definitely a Scottish theme in there," said the 33-year-old Englishman. "They are all authentic tartans approved by the Scottish Tartans Authority and, hopefully, I will get a good reaction from the crowd. I have in the past to be honest."
Another Scottish Open debutant is the charismatic Colombian Camilo Villegas, who has taken up membership of the European Tour this year.
+This article from the Herald newspaper is published by permission of the Herald Sports Editor and golf writer Douglas Lowe.