Scotland’s Callum Macaulay, who has followed up his stellar amateur career with an excellent start to life on the paid ranks of The European Tour, will aim to take another step on the road to golfing stardom when he lines up in the world-class field for The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond from July 9-12.
The 25 year old from Falkirk won the 2008 Scottish Amateur Championship at Carnoustie before leading Scotland to its first victory in The Eisenhower Trophy – the World Amateur Team Championship – at Royal Adelaide, where the Scots finished nine shots clear of runners-up, the United States.
Fresh from that success, Macaulay travelled to The European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Golf de Catalunya in Spain last November where he gained one of the 32 cards on offer and, since then, has handled himself with aplomb on The European Tour.
In his ten outings to date, he has made the cut on no less than eight occasions with his best performance coming in the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal in March where a stunning back nine of 28 – one shot outside the Tour record – in a final round 64 saw him finish second, one shot behind winner Tano Goya.
“I’m absolutely delighted to receive an invitation to The Barclays Scottish Open,” he said. “My experience of the tournament in 2008 as an amateur was unbelievable; it was one of the most special weeks of my life. I think half of my club were there to support me and it all made for a fantastic week. I can’t wait to play my first National Open as a professional at Loch Lomond in front of my home support”
Macaulay will be joined by a host of his fellow countrymen, all aiming to get their hands on the magnificent trophy.
Leading the way is, to date, the only Scot to have done just that, the current European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, who triumphed at Loch Lomond a decade ago in 1999, carding a sensational final round 64 to turn an overnight three shot deficit into a three shot winning margin.
“Loch Lomond Golf Club holds great memories for me and I am very much looking forward to returning for The Barclays Scottish Open,” he said. “It is such a pleasure to play in front of my home crowd and I always really enjoy the week.”
Other Scottish European Tour champions in the field, looking to add The Barclays Scottish Open title to their respective CVs are: Scott Drummond, Alastair Forsyth, Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle, Gary Orr and Marc Warren.
They will be joined by leading Scottish amateur Wallace Booth, a team-mate of Macaulay’s from the World Amateur Team Championship success, and also the 2008 Scottish Stroke Play champion, a title he claimed at the Duke’s Course in St Andrews.
Aside from Montgomerie, there are another nine men in the field who have experienced the special joy of winning at Loch Lomond: Thomas Björn, Tim Clark, Johan Edfors, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Grégory Havret, Thomas Levet and Lee Westwood, plus the man who will defend the title next month, Graeme McDowell.
“I can’t wait to get back to Loch Lomond again this year,” said McDowell. “Winning The 2008 Barclays Scottish Open was a fantastic moment in my life that elevated my career to a whole new level. It was also a proud moment for me as I had my parents there to witness it – it is a win I will treasure for a very, very long time.”
“It’s such a great week and to return as defending champion is a real buzz. I like the way the past champions are displayed on the driveway leading up to the clubhouse and, this year, when I see myself up there; it is going to bring all the emotion of last year flooding back. I can’t wait.”
While the Northern Irishman is the latest player on the Loch Lomond Roll of Honour, the first, current European Tour Tournament Committee Chairman Thomas Björn, revealed just how much affection the tournament still holds for him.
"The Barclays Scottish Open will always be a very special event for me as it was where I won my first European Tour event,” said the Dane “I enjoy the beautiful surroundings that Loch Lomond offers and all the memories that flood back when I come here."
For further information on The Barclays Scottish Open, including ticket sales, go towww.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk. Under-16s accompanied by adults will gain free admission to the tournament, parking is free to all, and there will be rail and bus links to the tournament from Glasgow city centre. Adult day tickets are available for £25 (senior citizens £15) until June 30, with season tickets available for £60 (senior citizens £35).
