Els another Major name to Castle Stuart field
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ERNIE Els will aim to add another title to his already impressive golfing CV when he lines up in the Barclays Scottish Open next week at Castle Stuart.
The 41 year old South African, nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’, has won the event twice in the past at Loch Lomond in 2000 and 2003.
The former Open champion, who won the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2002, could become only the second player in the history of the event to win it three times. Ian Woosnam won it in 1987, 1990 and 1996.
Els, with 26 European Tour titles to his name, said: "I am delighted to be playing the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open. I am really looking forward to seeing the new venue – I have heard good things about the course and it promises to be a great week."
In 2000 a closing 68 was enough to see off the strong challenge of American Tom Lehman and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie.
Three years later Els had a rather more comfortable success when he went into the final round with a five shot lead and maintained that advantage over Darren Clarke and Phillip Price to lift the trophy.
Els has already South African Open Championship for the fifth time this year.
Els will strengthen an already impressive field for the tournament’s first staging at the Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness. In total the field boasts ten Major Champions, 25 Ryder Cup players, 99 players who have won on The European Tour and 14 men who have triumphed on the US PGA Tour.
Championship Director Peter Adams said: "We are delighted to welcome Ernie to the Barclays Scottish Open. Ernie is one of the game’s truly global players with his talents recognised the world over but he is always accorded a special welcome in Scotland and I know that will be the case once again at Castle Stuart."
