Ernie Els Headlines This Week’s Scottish Open
The Scottish Open has had a recent history of being an excellent tune up for the British Open. The last two years the winner of the Scottish Open has gone on to win the Claret Jug and the season’s third major.
In 2011, it was Darren Clarke leaving Castle Stuart Golf Links with a win before winning his first major the next week at Royal St George’s. Last year Ernie Els accomplished the same feat. The Jupiter resident won the Scottish Open and then went on to win his second British Open title the next week at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Els returns this week to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as not only the defending champion but is someone who is looking for the same two week success he had last year. If this year’s Scottish Open champion were to go on to win next week’s British Open, it would be the third year in a row that Castle Stuart would produce the eventual British Open Champion. With results like that, it is no wonder the Scottish Open has become the ideal tune-up location for the top golfers in the world and this year is no exception.
Castle Stuart will welcome seven Major winners, 21 Ryder Cup players, and 18 of the 29 European Tour champions in 2013, headlined by defending champion Els.
“Playing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is not only the perfect preparation for The Open, it’s also a tremendous tournament in its own right,” said Els, who is also a two time Scottish Open champion.
Included in the field will be fellow PGA Tour pro Phil Mickelson who will be making his third consecutive trip to Castle Stuart. Mixed in with the seasoned veterans will be a few first timers at the event.
Included in that group is American Brooks Koepka. The Wellington native and Bears Club member will be making just his fourth European Tour appearance of the year and first at the Scottish Open. Koepka, who learned the game as a kid at Sherbrooke Golf and Country Club in Lake Worth has quickly began making a name for himself and even qualified for this year’s British Open.
In addition to producing the last two British Open winners, the Scottish Open will also be the first European Tour event to be broadcast live on network television in the United States when NBC airs weekend coverage of the event.
For more information on the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, visit www.europeantour.com.
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