STRONGEST FIELD FOR SCOTTISH OPEN SHAPING UP FOR BALGOWNIE LINKS
Darren Clarke (left) and Lee Westwood: Bound for Balgownie. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)
EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE
CLARKE and WESTWOOD LATEST
STARS TO ENTER SCOTTISH OPEN
Darren
Clarke and Lee Westwood, who between them have amassed 36 European Tour
wins, have confirmed they will join one of the strongest fields in the
history of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen
Golf Club from
July 10-13.
Two
of the most decorated players in European golf, Clarke and Westwood are
also close friends and have formed one of most formidable Ryder Cup
partnerships of recent times, winning six points out of a possible eight
when paired together
in golf’s greatest team event.
Clarke, in particular, will be hoping
his return to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will conjure
memories of one of the greatest moments of his career, when he claimed
his first Major at The 2011 Open Championship a week after
playing in Scotland’s national open.
Clarke, who finished runner up to
Edoardo Molinari in 2010, is hoping that he can add a 15th title to his
European Tour trophy haul on Scotland’s stunning North East coastline.
“It is no secret that I love links
golf,” said the Northern Irishman. “So to have a new links course on The
European Tour’s International Schedule is very exciting for me, and
especially at an event with which I feel I have a real affinity.
“The Scottish golf fans are some of
the most knowledgeable in the world so it is always a pleasure to return
to this event and I hope that I can give them something to shout
about.”
Last year, American Phil Mickelson
became the latest player to benefit from the experience of the Scottish
links in his quest for Open glory, defeating Branden Grace in a play-off
to claim his first Scottish Open title before going on
to earn his fifth Major title and first Claret Jug at Muirfield a week
later.
Westwood, the former World Number One
and the first winner of The Race to Dubai back in 2009, returns to this
event - which he won in 1998 - for the first time in three years.
The
Englishman also has a proven track record in Scotland, having
also captured the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Home of Golf
in 2003.
“I
am really looking forward to returning to the Scottish Open,” said
Westwood. “It is a course I have never played in competition so it is
going to be a new challenge, and I have heard great things about it.
“I think it will also be the perfect
place to prepare for The Open Championship and that is one of the
reasons why I have made the decision to return this year.
“Of
course, being a former winner of this event makes it extra special for
me and hopefully I can feed off the positivity that brings and challenge
for the title.”
Defending
champion Mickelson, two-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and Jimmy
Walker, three-time winner this year on the US PGA Tour, have all
confirmed their attendance at what is one of the Tour’s most prestigious
events, in which Aberdeen
Asset Management and the Scottish Government are key partners.
Special
early bird discounts have been extended until Easter Sunday, April 20
to see Clarke, Westwood, Mickelson, McIlroy and a host of other
world-class players in action at the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management
Scottish Open over the Balgownie links.
A season ticket
can be purchased for £60 in advance of the tournament, a saving of £20
on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are currently priced at £25,
rising to £35 on the gate.
Concessions
(60 and over) start at £40 for a season ticket and £15 for any one day
tickets if purchased in advance. Under-16s accompanied by an adult are
admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free. Entrance to
the Pro-Am on
Wednesday is £8 in advance and £15 on the day.
Full
ticket information can be found at: www.aamscottishopen.com and
www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +44 (0) 800
023 2557. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets,
Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew
Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
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