Els to play at Castle Stuart
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ERNIE Els will aim to add another title to his already impressive golfing CV when he lines up in the field for the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links from July 7-10.
The 41-year-old South African has enjoyed bountiful success in Scotland in the past, winning The Open Championship at Muirfield in 2002 and bookending that Major triumph – his third in total – with two victories in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 2000 and 2003.
Now Els will try and win the Barclays Scottish Open title for the third time – a feat only achieved in the event’s illustrious history by Ian Woosnam (1987, 1990, 1996) – which would bring his total European Tour title haul to 27.
“I am delighted to be playing the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open,” said Els. “I am really looking forward to seeing the new venue – I have heard good things about the course and it promises to be a great week.”
In the 2000 Scottish Open Els emerged victorious at the conclusion of a dramatic final day which was virtually a repeat of the 1997 US Open Championship at Congressional, a closing 68 at Loch Lomond good enough to see off the strong challenge of American Tom Lehman and Scotland’s own Colin Montgomerie.
Three years later, however, the South African’s victory march was decidedly different. Els entered the final round at Loch Lomond five shots clear of his nearest challengers Darren Clarke and Phillip Price and when each of the main protagonists carded final round 69s, Els ended the tournament with a comfortable five shot winning margin.
Els has already tasted success on The 2011 European Tour International Schedule, winning the South African Open Championship for the fifth time in total. The victory, at Durban Country Club, came after a thrilling final day battle with his old adversary Retief Goosen which saw Els come out on top by a solitary shot.
Els will strengthen an already impressive field for the tournament’s first staging at the majestic Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness. In total the field boasts ten Major Champions, 25 Ryder Cup players, 99 players who have won on The European Tour and 14 men who have triumphed on the US PGA Tour.
