Castle Stuart ready for Scottish Open
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TOURNAMENT officials are confident that Castle Stuart is prepared to host the prestigious Barclays Scottish Open.
World numbers one and two, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, head a star-studded field for the event, which this year takes place for the first time on a links course, having previously been located at Loch Lomond.
Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen and Angel Cabrera will also be familiar names appearing at Castle Stuart alongside home favourites Martin Laird, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie.
When the tournament begins on Thursday, it will be the culmination of seven months hard work by the team at Castle Stuart and the European Tour. Despite a shorter timescale than normal to prepare, Peter Adams, director of international championships for the Tour, is certain that Castle Stuart is suitably equipped for the arrival of the Scottish Open.
“We are on schedule and I think now it’s just a case of we can’t wait to get started,” he said.
“Everything is ready and it really starts now because the players are beginning to arrive and get in a bit of practice before the pro-am on Wednesday.
“Even though the tournament proper starts on Thursday, all the build up starts
now and everyone is just really looking forward to it. We try to have everything ready from Monday onwards, but there will always be one or two last minute bits and pieces to tidy up, so the practice days and the pro-am gives us the opportunity to do that.”
Adams and his team have worked closely with everyone at Castle Stuart since it was announced in January that the course was the new venue for the Scottish Open and he knows just what it means to them to host a tournament of this magnitude.
“I’m really delighted for them,” he said. “They have been really supportive and there’s been an enthusiasm about the whole thing right from the start.
“There’s a huge amount that’s had to be done, not only preparing the course, but making sure spectators are well catered for as well, along with the sponsors, but they’ve got on with it all and been a real pleasure to work with.”
All that remains now for all involved is to hope for good weather, although Adams is expecting rain at some point during the course of the tournament.
“I certainly hope it’s going to be decent weather, although I think we’ll be lucky to escape a few showers,” he said.
“Hopefully, the weather will hold, but in this game you learn to just take each day as it comes.”
