Els to head for Moray Firth
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OPEN champion Ernie Els has confirmed that he will play at this month’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
The South African’s entry means the last two British Open winners are competing at the Moray Firth links event, with 2011 winner Darren Clarke also returning to play the Scottish.
Castle Stuart hosts the tournament for the third year running between July 11 and 14, attracting large numbers of golf fans from Moray.
With Els joining big names like last month’s US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson, PGA Championship winner Matteo Manassero, Padraig Harrington, Nicolas Colsaerts, Henrik Stenson and Branden Grace, big crowds are once more expected.
Els, who secured his second victory in The Open Championship last year to add to his previous win at Muirfield, has enjoyed great success in the Home of Golf and will be bidding for his third Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open title, having first triumphed in 2000 and then again in 2003, when Clarke finished in a tie for second place.
The South African has 28 European Tour titles to his name, with the most recent coming in last month’s BMW International Open, where he recorded his first victory since overcoming Australian Adam Scott by a single stroke in The Open Championship last year.
Els competed at Castle Stuart the week before his triumph at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and the 43 year old is hopeful the same routine will aid his quest to become the first man since Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win back-to-back Open Championships.
He said: "Playing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is not only the perfect preparation for The Open, it’s also a tremendous tournament in its own right. Playing links golf in Scotland is such a fantastic experience, especially on a beautiful course like Castle Stuart.
"I have very fond memories of my two wins in the Scottish Open, and if I can win it a third time next week, it would be the perfect platform for my defence of The Open.
"The Scottish galleries are very knowledgeable, they really know their golf, so if we can get some decent weather we should be in for another great week."
Scottish favourites like Paul Lawrie, Martin Laird, andy Lyle and Marc Warren – who so nearly won last year – have also entered and will bid to snatch the crown from India’s Jeev Milkha Singh.
A season ticket can still be bought for £70 in advance of the tournament, a saving of £10 on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are currently priced at £30, rising to £35 on the gate.
Concessions (60 and over) start at £50 for a season ticket and £20 for any one day tickets if purchased in advance. Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free.
Entrance to the Pro-Am on Wednesday is £12 in advance and £15 on the day.
Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for the Saturday (£10) and the Sunday (£15) of the event. Hospitality packages are also available.
Additionally, new summer ‘stay and play’ packages are available via Castle Stuart on www.castlestuartgolf.com/stay-and-play.php
Full ticket information can be found at: www.aamscottishopen.com or www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +440800 023 2557. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.
