Scotland’’s golfing public can look forward to watching eight of the world’’s top 20 players in action at Loch Lomond next week with the official confirmation that America’’s Phil Mickelson and Australia’’s Adam Scott will be competing in the £2.4 million Barclays Scottish Open from July 7-10.
Mickelson, who is currently ranked fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking, returns to Loch Lomond for the third year running. He said: “I always look forward to going back to Loch Lomond. It's really an enjoyable event - quality competition the week before The Open Championship, a really fun course to play, some of the most knowledgeable fans we see all year and great accommodation.”
Scott, who last played at Loch Lomond in 2003, is currently ranked seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking and 12th on the European Tour Order of Merit. Today’’s announcement brings to eight the number of players in the world’’s top 20 who will be challenging defending champion, Thomas Levet, for The 2005 Barclays Scottish Open title. In addition to Mickelson and Scott, they include Angel Cabrera, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Miguel Angel Jiménez.
This year, the three amateur spots at Loch Lomond are going to the Scottish Amateur Champion, George Murray, The Amateur Champion, Brian McElhinney, and the winner of the Darren Clarke Foundation, Rory McIlroy.
As current Scottish Amateur Champion, Murray is expected to receive great support from the crowds in this, his first appearance in The Barclays Scottish Open. McElhinney, the 22 year old from County Donegal, won the Irish Match Play last year and took the prestigious Amateur Championship title earlier this month. He is keen to follow in the footsteps of Sergio Garcia and win the low amateur prize at Loch Lomond.
Commenting, Keith Williams, Chief Executive, Loch Lomond Golf Club said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott back to Loch Lomond and hope that the young amateurs will enjoy their first Barclays Scottish Open experience.”
Spectators can take advantage of special discounts by booking tickets for this year’’s event on line at www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk In line with the policy embraced by The European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and The Golf Foundation, of making the game more accessible to the younger generation, The Barclays Scottish Open is also pleased to offer free entry to accompanied juniors under the age of 16.
Full details of all daily admission and season ticket prices are available on the website www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0141 887 2992 or by sending an email to: tournament@barclaysscottishopen.co.uk
