NEWS RELEASE
The
Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will return to Castle Stuart
Golf Links for the third successive year in 2013 before moving to a
brand new venue, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, in 2014.
In
making the announcement today, The European Tour and their key partners -
title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management PLC and the Scottish
Government - were also delighted to confirm a significant increase
in the prize fund for 2013 and 2014 from £2.5 million to £3 million
with the champion receiving £500,000.
The new
title sponsorship was launched in the historic setting of Edinburgh
Castle at the end of March by Martin Gilbert, CEO of Aberdeen Asset
Management, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, European Tour
Chief Executive George O’Grady and Aberdeen Asset Management
Ambassador, Paul Lawrie, who will compete in his second Ryder Cup next
week.
Jeev
Milkha Singh of India captured the first tournament under the new title
of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July after a play-off
with Italy’s Francesco Molinari, succeeding Luke Donald
of England who won the 2011 event on his way to finishing the year as
The Race to Dubai champion.
The
title sponsor, the Scottish Government and the Tour were eager to take
this early opportunity to make public full venue details for the next
two years of the sponsorship agreement.
Castle
Stuart will host the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the
third successive year from July 11-14, 2013. In 2014 Royal Aberdeen will
stage an event on The European Tour International Schedule
for the first time from July 10-13 over the classic Balgownie links.
Founded
in 1780, Royal Aberdeen is the world’s sixth oldest golf club. The Balgownie links course was originally designed by the Simpson brothers, Archie and Robert of
Carnoustie, and re-bunkered and lengthened by James Braid.
Hawtree and
Company are now engaged as the club’s architects to ensure the course
keeps pace with the modern game.
It will
be the eighth different venue to host the Scottish Open since 1972,
having previously staged a highly successful 2005 Senior Open
Championship, with Aberdeen Asset Management as Presenting Sponsor,
won by Tom Watson, and the 2011 Walker Cup match won by Great Britain
and Ireland.
The
global reach of the Scottish Open was a significant factor in Aberdeen
Asset Management’s decision to assume the title sponsorship, with the
key objective of building the brand in the USA and across Europe.
Meanwhile
the Scottish Government were delighted to lend their full support with
funding which ensures the tournament continues to bring economic and
sporting benefits to the whole of Scotland and facilitates
the process of cultivating a new generation of young golfers through
its programme of junior initiatives. The funding also helps the
Government meet its obligations to back European Tour tournaments in the
build-up to The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
George
O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted
to announce details of the outstanding venues for the next two editions
of the Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish Open and to confirm a 20 per cent rise in the
prize fund to £3 million for 2013 and 2014.
“It
was a straightforward decision to take up our option to return to
Castle Stuart for the third year of our agreement. The venue has been
popular with the players
and public alike and we are pleased to return there in July before
moving to Royal Aberdeen. I had the privilege of watching the 2005
Senior Open and the Walker Cup in 2011 at Royal Aberdeen, a classic and
challenging links course, which will continue in the
tradition of great Scottish Open venues.”
Martin
Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “We were
immensely impressed with how Castle Stuart staged the 2012 Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish
Open, the first of our three year sponsorship, and we are delighted to
be returning there in 2013 to enjoy a similarly successful tournament. I
am also sure that Royal Aberdeen Golf Club will provide a challenging
and picturesque setting in 2014 as it displays
the best of links golf and is a fitting host for this great
tournament.”
Scotland’s First Minister, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, commented: “I warmly welcome the news that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is to be staged at
Castle Stuart for a further year, before moving to Royal Aberdeen for the staging of the 2014 tournament.
“Scotland offers the very best links
golf in the world, and confirmation the Scottish Open is to remain on a
coastal course will help the tournament build on its prime position in
the golfing calendar by continuing to attract some of the
world’s top players preparing for the rigours of The Open
Championship."
Mark Parsinen, Managing Partner of Castle Stuart Golf Links said: “We are delighted that The European Tour will once again return to Castle Stuart for next years’
Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and look forward to presenting another top class event.
“After four wonderful days of
competition this year it is a pleasure to be able to continue our
successful working relationship with The European Tour, giving the
Highlands community another chance to see these world class golfers
competing
on their own doorstep.”
Ronnie
MacAskill, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club director of golf, said: “We are delighted
to have been invited by The European Tour to host the 2014 Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish
Open. Since its earliest beginnings in 1780, the club has fostered the
game of golf in the area and, over the past century, staged many
national and international events at Balgownie.
“However,
this is the first leading Tour event to be staged on our historic links
and in 2014 we will see some of the world’s greatest players test their
skills on what
is considered by many to be one of the finest stretches of natural
classic links land anywhere in the world. Our members and the
Aberdeenshire public will be treated to a golfing bonanza and I am
certain that everyone in the area will give their 100 per cent
support to this superb event.”
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
