Colin Montgomerie, winner of the Volvo Order of Merit crown from 1993 to 1999, will spearhead the Scottish challenge in the £2.2 million Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond from 11-14 July.
Winner of the Loch Lomond event in 1999 - his first professional victory on home soil - Montgomerie will be joined by fellow Scot and Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance. Gordon Brand Jnr, Andrew Coltart, Ross Drummond, Alastair Forsyth, Stephen Gallacher, Colin Gillies, Craig Lee, Andrew Oldcorn, Gary Orr, Dean Robertson, Raymond Russell, and Murray Urquhart are also in the Scottish line-up.
Forsyth, who is currently ranked 20th in the Volvo Order of Merit, has enjoyed a successful 2002 season so far, finishing fifth in the Bell’s South African Open in January before capturing the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, while Oldcorn next week launches his defence of the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
Montgomerie, who said of Loch Lomond “wherever it is ranked, it ought to be higher,” is looking forward to returning to the bonnie banks to challenge the current European Number One and defending champion, Retief Goosen for the coveted Barclays Scottish Open title.
Gallacher, who was recently appointed Touring Professional for Loch Lomond Golf Club, has also had a good year so far, with a fifth place finish in the ANZ Championship in February, followed by a fourth place finish in the Qatar Masters in March. He is currently ranked 53rd in the Volvo Order of Merit.
Coltart prevented Gallacher from enjoying his maiden victory on The European Tour last year, when he clinched The Great North Open title by one shot. This was Coltart’s second European Tour win following his maiden victory in the Qatar Masters four years ago.
