• Defending champion, Graeme McDowell will attempt to create history by becoming the first player to successfully defend The Barclays Scottish Open. He followed David Feherty (1986) as the only Irish golfer to win the event. McDowell’s victory was part of a golden 2008 for Irish players on The European Tour. In total eight Irish wins were recorded – their most in a single European Tour season.
• South African Ernie Els has one of the best records of any player in recent years in The Barclays Scottish Open. A winner in 2000 and 2003, he also finished third in 2004 and 2007 and ninth in 2006 and 2008. His last 32 rounds over the Loch Lomond course, dating back to 2000, Els is a total of 84 under par, with a stroke average of 68.42. From those 32 rounds, 28 of them are under par, including 24 in the 60s.
• The 17th hole at Loch Lomond holds an unusual place in European Tour history. The 2000 event was the last time successive holes in one were recorded by successive players passing through it – and both were Swedes. The first was recorded by Jarmo Sandelin, who teed off last in the final group in round three, and he was followed by fellow countryman Mathias Grönberg, who teed off first in the first group out in round four.
