Els changes mind for Castle Stuart charge
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ERNIE Els has will warm up for the defence of his Open Championship crown by competing in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart from next Thursday – despite recently hinting he wouldn’t.
With Darren Clarke also committed to playing the £3million event, Els’ participation means that the last two Open champions will be teeing up at the magnificent Inverness venue next week.
Els, who secured his second victory in The Open Championship last year to add to his previous win at Muirfield, has enjoyed great success at the “home of golf” and will be bidding for his third Scottish Open title, having first triumphed in 2000 and then again in 2003, when Clarke finished in a tie for second place.
The South African has 28 European Tour titles to his name, with the most recent coming in last month’s BMW International Open, where he recorded his first victory since overcoming Australian Adam Scott by a single stroke in The Open Championship last year.
He hinted after his BMW win that he may not play at the Highland links course, but he’s decided that this is the best preparation for him ahead of The Open.
Els competed at Castle Stuart the week before his triumph at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and the 43-year-old is hopeful the same routine will aid his quest to become the first man since Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win back-to-back Open Championships.
He said: “Playing the Scottish Open is not only the perfect preparation for The Open, it’s also a tremendous tournament in its own right. Playing links golf in Scotland is such a fantastic experience, especially on a beautiful course like Castle Stuart.
“I have very fond memories of my two wins in the Scottish Open, and if I can win it a third time next week, it would be the perfect platform for my defence of The Open. The Scottish galleries are very knowledgeable, they really know their golf, so if we can get some decent weather we should be in for another great week.”
Entrance to the Pro-Am next Wednesday is £12 in advance and £15 on the day.
Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for the Saturday (£10) and the Sunday (£15) of the event. Hospitality packages are also available.
Additionally, new summer “stay and play” packages are available via Castle Stuart on www.castlestuartgolf.com
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Full ticket information can be found at www.aamscottishopen.com or www.europeantour.com
tickets or telephone 0800 023 2557. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.
