SCOTTISH OPEN SET TO RETURN TO CASTLE STUART GOLF LINKS
News Release
Castle Stuart Golf Links
For use – immediate
Castle Stuart Golf Links will host the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the fourth time in six years in 2016, it was confirmed today (Sunday 13 July).
On the final day of the four-day event held this year at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club the European Tour and partners – main sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management and the Scottish Government - announced the prestigious competition will be played next year at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian.
The following year it will be back to Castle Stuart, near Inverness, which hosted the event for three successive years from 2011-2013 when Luke Donald, Jeev Milkha Singh and Phil Mickelson were crowned champions.
Stuart McColm, general manager at Castle Stuart Golf Links, which opened just five years ago, said: “We are delighted that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be making a swift return to Castle Stuart where its three-year run was greatly enjoyed by players and golfing fans.
“The competition brought out huge crowds to the course and was seen by an enormous audience across the world which enhanced the reputation of the Highlands of Scotland as a major golfing destination.”
The 2013 tournament at Castle Stuart broke new ground by being the first regular European Tour event to be shown live on a major United States TV broadcast network following a landmark agreement signed with NBC which complemented coverage on the Golf Channel.
Phil Mickelson’s play-off triumph – his first on a British golf course - reached a worldwide television audience of more than 500 million and generated exposure worth more than £53 million.
Mickelson went on to win The Open Championship the following week at Muirfield and said his fifth Major success was due to preparation at Castle Stuart.
He said: “Winning Castle Stuart at the time was a big win for me. Last week was special because I was playing so well. It gave me confidence heading into this week.
“It was exactly what I needed to propel me into this championship because I played well in that final day in difficult conditions. That gave me confidence I could play my best golf on links conditions.”
Since opening in 2009, Castle Stuart Golf Links has become internationally renowned among both amateur and professional players.
It was placed at No. 56 on Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World in 2013.
For more information contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
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