Scots bid to win home event
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MAJOR champion Paul Lawrie and US PGA star Martin Laid will lead the home challenge at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open which starts on Thursday.
There are 16 Scots in the field at Castle Stuart.
Colin Montgomerie was the last Scot to win the event in 1999 World Number 54 Laird goes into the £3 million tournament in confident mood.
Glasgow-born Laid, who now lives in Arizona, fell out of contention last year with a closing 74.
Fellow Scot Marc Warren came even closer to lifting the trophy in Inverness 12 months ago, but four dropped shots in three holes towards the end of his round saw him lose out.
Other notable Scots in the elite field include two winners from the 2013 European Tour, Stephen Gallacher and Scott Jamieson, who lie 23rd and 13th respectively in The Race to Dubai.
Gallacher won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, whilst Jamieson secured his maiden tour title in the season-opening Nelson Mandela Championship last December.
Other Scots who have tasted success on the European Tour include Richie Ramsay, winner of the 2012 South African Open Championship and the 2012 Omega European Masters.
Sponsors’ invitations have been extended to James Byrne, Major Champion Sandy Lyle, Callum Macaulay and two-time European Tour winner Gary Orr, while Greig Hutcheon owes his place in the field to his position at the top of the Tartan Tour Order of Merit.
The Scottish contingent is rounded off by Challenge Tour champions Chris Doak, David Drysdale and Scott Henry, who is playing his first full season on the European Tour this year.
