Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open set for The Renaissance Club in 2019

• East Lothian venue to host Scotland’s National Opens for the first time
• The move continues the innovative strategy of playing both tournaments on the same course within the same month

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will return to East Lothian next year when The Renaissance Club hosts Scotland’s National Open on the European Tour for the first time from July 8-14, 2019.

This will be followed by the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, which will once again be played over the same course, from August 5-11, 2019.

Founded in 2008, The Renaissance Club nestles on 300 picturesque acres along the Firth of Forth and is one of the newest additions to the world-famous stretch known as Scotland’s Golf Coast.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Doak, who is known for minimalist designs that incorporate the natural features of the land, the course has quickly become established as another East Lothian golfing gem.

This year’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, just along the coast at Gullane Golf Club, once again forms part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, which comprises eight premium tournaments on the 2018 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, Dundonald Links in Ayrshire and Gullane all enjoying hosting duties since then.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned by both the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), has also become established as a key event in the schedules of many of the world’s best female golfers and holds the largest prize fund ($1.5 million) in European Women’s golf, outside of the Majors.

Since its opening in 2008, The Renaissance Club has proven a significant addition to the golf tourism offering in East Lothian, gaining worldwide acclaim for the quality of its layout and design. As part of its commitments to hosting Scotland’s two national opens, the club has pledged to continue to support the golf tourism industry in Scotland by targeting additional visiting golfers from around the world as well as introducing a reduced rate for Scottish Golf members through their seasonal tee time programme.

Additionally, the club will work with both VisitScotland and Scottish Golf to support and fund women and junior golf development initiatives and make its practice facilities available to Scottish Golf’s amateur squads during preparation for major events.

Martin Gilbert, Co-Chief Executive of Aberdeen Standard Investments said: “At Aberdeen Standard Investments we are committed to hosting our sponsored events at the best possible venues around Scotland. The Renaissance Club is certainly one of those and we’re delighted that the Men’s and Ladies’ Scottish Opens will be showcased to both the spectators and an ever-increasing global TV audience from The Renaissance Club in 2019. We’re sure it’ll be a huge hit with the world’s best players and thanks must go to all those involved in making it happen.”

Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “I am pleased agreement has been reached for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Men’s and Ladies Scottish Opens to be staged at the Renaissance Club in 2019, a venue which has proven to be a great addition to one of the country’s most iconic golfing regions on Scotland’s Golf Coast.

“I’m particularly pleased with their commitment to open up the club to members of Scottish Golf-affiliated clubs, and their support for women and juniors. These initiatives fit well with the Scottish Government’s commitment to the development of golf in Scotland, particularly among women and young people, as we prepare to host The Solheim Cup in 2019.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to bring the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open to The Renaissance Club and a course which has quickly built a reputation as one of the finest in a simply stunning part of Scotland.

“East Lothian proved to be a wonderful host area when Gullane first held the event in 2015, and we are looking forward to two fantastic tournaments in the area in succession this summer and again in 2019. Our thanks go to our partners Aberdeen Standard Investments and Visit Scotland for their vision and commitment to bringing world class events to golf fans in Scotland.”

Jerry Sarvadi, Founder/Chief Executive of The Renaissance Club said: “We are delighted to be hosting both the Men’s and Ladies Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open tournaments in 2019. We look forward to showcasing our golf course, designed by world renowned golf course architect Tom Doak, and our other world class facilities to golfing fans from around the globe.

“The course will provide a true links challenge that will be enjoyed by the world’s golfing elite and we look forward to welcoming them and visitors from around the world to experience the stunning views at The Renaissance Club on Scotland’s Golf Coast.”

Cllr John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian and Spokesperson for Economic Development & Tourism, said: “I am delighted to see the return of both these events to Scotland’s Golf Coast in 2019 and for the first time to The Renaissance Club.  I am sure that the players, organisers and spectators will receive outstanding hospitality and welcome in East Lothian and I am very much looking forward to both 2018 and 2019 being East Lothian’s Summer of Golf.”

Golf fans can enjoy two world-class fields in Gullane this summer when the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 12-15) and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open (July 26-29) are played over the space of a fortnight in East Lothian.

Fans can buy tickets from just £15 to see some of the world’s best golfers – as well as official Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open hospitality packages – at www.asiscottishopen.com

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is one of the premier events on both the LET and LPGA, and the only co-sanctioned event with equal playing rights across both Tours.  The event is FREE for all who register on https://ladiesscottishopen.com/

For ticket information on The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open visit https://www.asiscottishopen.com/

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About The European Tour

The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2018, the European Tour International Schedule will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 30 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 2017 went to England’s Tommy Fleetwood for the first time, and which, since 2009, has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, twice by Henrik Stenson, and once each by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald.

Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 27 Members celebrate a total of 53 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 27 tournaments in 21 countries in 2017, and the Senior Tour, which featured 16 tournaments in 12 countries in 2017 and which, from the 2018 season onwards, will be known as the Staysure Tour. 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. In 2018, the 42nd staging of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States of America will take place at Le Golf National, France, from September 28-30.

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, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates, Hilton and Titleist as Official Partners.

About the Rolex Series

The Rolex Series is the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule, comprising eight events in 2018, staged in a variety of golfing locations around the world, each with a minimum prize fund of US$7 million.

Launched in 2017, the Rolex Series showcases innovation, enhanced broadcast and digital coverage, and world class players, with the list of champions in the first year comprising: Alex Noren (Sweden), Tommy Fleetwood (England), two-time winner Jon Rahm (Spain), Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain), Tyrrell Hatton (England), Justin Rose (England) and Branden Grace (South Africa).

The 2018 roster of Rolex Series tournaments is: the BMW PGA Championship (May 24-27); the Italian Open (May 31-June 3), HNA Open de France (June 28-July 1); the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation (July 5-8); the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 12-15); the Turkish Airlines Open (November 1-4); the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player (November 8-11); and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November 15-18), where the leading golfer on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex will be crowned.

About Aberdeen Standard Investments

Aberdeen Standard Investments is a leading global asset manager dedicated to creating long-term value for clients. To achieve this, we offer a comprehensive range of investment capabilities, as well as the highest levels of service.

We manage worldwide assets worth £575.7bn* on behalf of clients in 80 countries. In managing these assets, we employ over 1,000 investment professionals and provide client support from 50 client relationship offices globally.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments brand was created in connection with the merger of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC and Standard Life Plc on 14 August 2017 to form Standard Life Aberdeen plc.

* AUM data for Aberdeen Standard Investments as at 31 December 2017

About Scotland, the Home of Golf

Scotland is renowned around the world as the Home of Golf. It is the birthplace of the game and to this day remains its spiritual home. It is also a modern, dynamic and world-class golf events and tourism destination welcoming hundreds of thousands of golfers every year and regularly playing host to the biggest tournaments in the world.

The golf industry in Scotland is worth more than £1 billion annually to the Scottish economy, of which golf events and golf tourism plays a major role.

Through activity delivered by organisations including VisitScotland, Scottish Development International and Scottish Golf, the Scottish Government is committed to continuing to support the growth of the game in this country. This includes; supporting economic and business growth within the Scottish economy, driving increased participation in the sport and helping to nurture the next generation of Scottish golfing stars through the Clubgolf programme of junior golf activities.

For more information on the Scottish Government and its partners: www.scotland.org | www.visitscotland.com | www.scotent.co.uk | www.sdi.co.uk | www.scottishgolf.org | www.clubgolfscotland.com