▪ Gullane hosted the European Tour event in 2015 while the Ladies will play there for the first time
▪ American Rickie Fowler triumphed on the European Tour in 2015
▪ The move continues Aberdeen Asset Management and Visit Scotland’s innovative strategy of playing both tournaments on the same course within the same month
The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will return to East Lothian next year when Gullane Golf Club hosts Scotland’s National Open for the second time from July 12-15, 2018.
This will be followed two weeks later by the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open played over the same course from July 26-29, 2018.
In 2015 the picturesque links course was the venue for Rickie Fowler’s thrilling win on the European Tour, as the American birdied three of the last four holes to surge past Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Kuchar and Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin and seal his maiden European Tour title.
This year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire will be the biggest yet, as it forms part of European Tour’s new Rolex Series, comprising eight of the premium tournaments on the Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of US$7million.
Some of the finest courses in Scotland, the Home of Golf, have played host to the tournament over the years, including St Andrews, Gleneagles and Carnoustie. From 1996 to 2010 it was based at Loch Lomond Golf Club, with Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness, Royal Aberdeen and Gullane all enjoying hosting duties since then.
In addition, golf fans in Ayrshire can now look forward to more memorable moments in the company of many of the world’s best female golfers, with this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links now co-sanctioned by both the LET and LPGA for the first time.
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management said: “We had a great tournament with a great winner in Rickie at Gullane in 2015 and we anticipate equally worthy winners of the men’s and ladies editions this year at Dundonald.
“Both events are amongst the most highly regarded on their respective Tours and have become sought after fixtures ahead of both the Men’s and Ladies ‘Open Championships.’ Gullane is a spectacular course and together with our tournament partners we will continue to host our events at the best possible venues which showcase Scotland in all its glory to an ever increasing global TV audience.”
Paul Bush, Director of Events with VisitScotland, said: “Gullane Golf Club is home to three of Scotland’s finest links courses and will provide an outstanding venue for both the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open in 2018. With strong men’s, ladies and junior sections it is the epitome of a traditional Scottish golf club at the heart of the local community and I am delighted it will once again get the opportunity to welcome the world’s best players to East Lothian. We are proud to have so many world-class venues in Scotland, the Home of Golf and I look forward to two more successful events in East Lothian in 2018.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Gullane Golf Club next year, at an exciting time in the history of the tournament.
“As we return to this wonderful setting we know that we can expect enthusiastic support from Gullane Golf Club, the golf community in East Lothian and our partners and stakeholders, as we plan for another exciting festival of golf.”
In a joint statement, LET Chief Executive Ivan Khodabakhsh and LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan commented: “Aberdeen Asset Management and Visit Scotland have done an excellent job of elevating this tournament for both Tours and we are both very proud, together with our Members, to be their partners. Their strategy of playing two weeks after the men’s Scottish Open and providing the best female golfers from both Tours the ability to play in Scotland the week before the RICOH Women’s British Open is extremely positive for our Members.”
Willie Biggart, Captain of Gullane Golf Club, said: “It is great news that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is coming back to Gullane after the success in 2015. We are also delighted to be hosting the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open for the first time.
“At Gullane, we are well placed to be able to deliver a top class championship venue which is in touch with all the requirements of the European Tour and the Ladies European Tour in the 21st Century. The course offers classic links golf with perfect seaside lies on our fairways, fast-running greens and challenging bunker positions. The course will once again provide a true links challenge that will be enjoyed by the world’s golfing elite. We look forward to welcoming both events to the Club and wish them both a fantastic week of golf.”
Cllr John McMillan, Provost and Spokesperson for Economic Development & Tourism, East Lothian Council, said: “The news that the Scottish Open and the Ladies Scottish Open will be coming to Gullane in 2018 is something that will be welcomed across East Lothian. Gullane Golf Club hosted the Scottish Open for the first time in 2015 when we enjoyed wonderful weather and a spectacular win by Rickie Fowler. It is well known that the Scottish Open takes place immediately before the Open Championship so there will be much anticipation about which stars of the golfing world we will have the honour of welcoming to Scotland’s Golf Coast. Both tournaments will raise the profile of Gullane, and East Lothian as a whole, especially amongst the world’s golfing community. That can only be great news for boosting East Lothian’s economy both in the short and long term.”
Golf fans can enjoy two world-class fields for the price of one this July at Dundonald Links when The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (July 13-16) and the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open (July 27-30) are played over the space of a fortnight on the Ayrshire coast.
For every purchased ticket through – www.aamscottishopen.com/tickets – spectators will receive FREE entry to the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.
For ticket information, including official hospitality packages, please visit:
Aberdeen Asset Management Men’s Scottish Open: www.aamscottishopen.com/tickets
Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open: www.ladiesscottishopen.com.
–ENDS–
About The European Tour
The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2017, the European Tour International Schedule features a minimum of 47 tournaments in 26 countries, including eight Rolex Series events, all part of the Race to Dubai.
Celebrating the global connectivity of the European Tour and Dubai, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player, an honour which in 2016 went to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson for the second time, and which since 2009 has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, as well as by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on prize money won, with the top 10 ranked players at the end of the season sharing a $5million Race to Dubai bonus pool.
Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 26 Members celebrate a total of 52 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on the Tour.
The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which featured 28 tournaments in 22 countries in 2016, and the Senior Tour, which featured 13 tournaments in nine countries in 2016. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup.
The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Emirates and Titleist as Official Partners.
About the Rolex Series
Commencing in 2017, the Rolex Series is the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule. Presently comprising eight tournaments, staged in a variety of golfing locations around the world, Rolex Series events will offer a minimum prize fund of US$7 million.
The 2017 roster of Rolex Series tournaments include: the BMW PGA Championship (May 25-28); the HNA Open de France (June 29-July 2); the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation (July 6-9); the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (July 13-16); the Italian Open (October 12-15), the Turkish Airlines Open (November 2-5); the Nedbank Golf Challenge (November 9-12); and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November 16-19), where the leading golfer of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex will be crowned.
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Aberdeen is one of the top five European pure-play, global asset managers. Aberdeen’s vision is to become the world’s most trusted partner in delivering investment simply.
We are defined by our pure focus on asset management, including equities, fixed income, property and multi-asset portfolios. All our investment solutions are driven by our commitment to straightforward, transparent investment approaches that stress intensive, first-hand research and a long-term view.
As of 31 March 2017, we manage assets of £308 billion on behalf of institutional and private investors.
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