Retief Goosen, who battled it out against reigning Masters Champion and World Number Four, Phil Mickelson, to win the 2004 US Open Championship last week, is hoping to repeat his performance of 2001 when he won The Barclays Scottish Open just two weeks after securing his first US Open title.
Goosen, who is seventh in the Official World Ranking and second in the Volvo Order of Merit, will be competing alongside defending champion and World Number Two, Ernie Els, in the £2.2 million Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond from July 8-11. Goosen said: "I always look forward to returning to Loch Lomond, especially having held the title of Barclays Scottish Open Champion. It is a great tournament held on a fantastic golf course."
Completing the line-up of past Loch Lomond champions confirmed to play in this year's event are Thomas Björn (1996), Tom Lehman (1997), Colin Montgomerie (1999), Eduardo Romero (2002) and Lee Westwood (1998).
They will also be joined by Major winners Mark Calcavecchia, Ben Curtis, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle, Phil Mickelson, Jose Maria Olazábal, Tom Weiskopf and Ian Woosnam.
With Mickelson competing alongside Els and Goosen in The 2004 Barclays Scottish Open, Scotland's golfing public are in for a dramatic week of golf. Mickelson edged out Els to secure his first Major Championship at Augusta National in April and fought a hard battle against Goosen in the US Open Championship last weekend. Speaking about Loch Lomond Mickelson said: "I will return to this tournament, and expect to do so for many years...I love this place. It is a magnificent stage for a very important championship."
Els, who considers Loch Lomond to be the best course in Europe, led from day one last year to secure his second Barclays Scottish Open title. The leader of the 2004 Volvo Order of Merit said: "After the Majors, this is my favourite event in the world. I truly love to come and play at Loch Lomond."
He continued: "I am delighted to be returning to defend my title at The 2004 Barclays Scottish Open. It is a great tournament with a fantastic golf course and a week I look forward to each year."
Lehman, who won at Loch Lomond back in 1997 and won the Open Championship in 1996, said: "It will be great to be back at Loch Lomond again in July. It's a wonderful tournament and one of my all time favourite golf courses in the world."
