Major Champion Adam Scott has confirmed his participation in the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open – his first appearance at Scotland’s National Open since 2009.
The 36 year old Australian, who sealed his maiden Major win at the 2013 Masters Tournament, will return to Scotland, the Home of Golf, when he tees it up at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire on July 13-16.
Scott is a ten-time European Tour winner, and secured the greatest win of his career so far at Augusta National four years ago. He birdied the 72nd hole to force a play-off with 2009 champion Angel Cabrera before birdieing the second extra hole to become the first Australian to wear the coveted Green Jacket.
Currently number ten in the Official World Golf Rankings, Scott will be making his eighth appearance at Scotland’s showpiece annual golf event. He finished fourth eight years ago when Germany’s Martin Kaymer took the title at Loch Lomond Golf Club, and recorded his best finish when he tied third at the same venue in 2001.
This year the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be the fourth event in the European Tour’s new Rolex Series, a premium category of tournaments each with a minimum prize fund of US$7million. With the significant prize fund increase and greater Race to Dubai points on offer, a world-class field, including current Open Champion Henrik Stenson, will be descending on the North Ayrshire coast in the week before The 146th Open Championship.
Scott is aiming to secure his second Major by fine-tuning his links game at Dundonald before heading to Royal Birkdale for the Open Championship, as he bids to go one better than his second place finish in 2012, when he narrowly lost out by one shot to Ernie Els.
Scott said: “It’s been quite a few years since I played the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, so I’m excited to be teeing it up in July. It is great to see that the tournament is now part of the new Rolex Series on the European Tour no doubt elevating the event to a new level.
“I’m looking forward to returning to Ayrshire, and to Dundonald in particular. I was just a few miles down the road at Royal Troon for The Open Championship last year, but I actually played Dundonald about ten years ago just for fun and it’s a really enjoyable course.
“I’m structuring my schedule a little bit differently this year and taking the opportunity to include the Scottish Open the week before the Open makes a lot of sense.”
As well as a world-class field competing inside the ropes at Dundonald Links, there will be a host of entertainment for spectators to enjoy outside the ropes, including a free American Golf show, a host of family entertainment and a wide selection of food from local suppliers.
Fans can buy tickets to see some of the world’s best golfers competing on the Ayrshire coast – including official Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open hospitality packages – at www.aamscottishopen.com/tickets
