S AFRICAN CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR TWO WEEKS' LINKS GOLF

The 18th green at Balgownie with the Royal Aberdeen clubhouse in the background and the pro's shop on the right. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency  

ROYAL ABERDEEN LINKS A TREAT FOR 

FOR SCOTTISH OPEN FIELD, says ELS

           Ernie Els looking forward enthusiastically. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
"I definitely wouldn’t want to miss what’s coming 

up the next couple of weeks, with back-to-back 

helpings of fantastic links golf,” said Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) in his weekly blog. 
That’s what the coming fortnight offers in terms of golf, starting at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and then moving to The Open Championship a week later.
It’s the true test of golf, no tree-lined fairways here. And the Big Easy loves it.
“The whole package of strategic challenges that links golf presents, hopefully with a bit of a breeze thrown into the mix, to me is totally intoxicating. It’s a lot of fun using your imagination and playing the variety of different shots that are necessary in order to score well. 
"Then there are the sights, the sounds, the smell of the sea air, the support from the galleries. All together they represent everything I love about the game of golf. There is nothing else like it,” he said.
The European Tour has set up camp at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club this week for the first time for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Els is excited to get back into some links golf and experience the atmosphere at one of the oldest clubs in the world.
“I’ve played here before and seriously everyone is in for a real treat. This is links golf at its finest, with many of the holes running through spectacular dunes. It’s a pure and truly great test and I can’t wait to tee it up and feel that links turf under my feet again,” he said.
And Els stands a chance of becoming the first player to win the Scottish Open three times, so he’s full of excitement and anticipation heading into the coming tournaments.
“We’ll be giving it maximum effort and trying to win the Scottish Open for the third time. And aside from the fact this is a great golf course and a great tournament in its own right, it’s also the ideal way to get those links juices flowing in readiness for next week’s Open Championship at Hoylake. 
"You can tell this is my favourite two-week stretch on the schedule! Always has been, to be honest,” he said.