The Barclay’s Scottish Open received welcome news today when the three current top players on the European Tour Order of Merit - Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Jose Maria Olazabal - committed to play at Loch Lomond, the event which precedes the Open Championship in July.
The two South Africans have had a stranglehold on the event in recent years, Goosen will return as the defending champion after claiming the title from Els, who won in 2000.
The trio share a rare achievement, in that, they have each won at least two tournaments on different continents at this early stage of the season.
Olazabal demonstrated a return to top form with victories in the Hong Kong Open in December before claiming the Buick Invitational in America two months later. Not to mention his fourth place in the Masters, cementing his long-running affinity with Augusta.
Goosen won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia and the USPGA’s Bellsouth Classic. Els won the Heineken Classic a week after his compatriot did Down Under then emerged on top in the Dubai Desert Classic and also won the Geunity Championship in America.
The Scottish Open takes place from July 11th-14th with the winner to receive £336,660 from a total prize purse of £2.2million.
Similar to previous years, 15 places will be on offer to compete in the Open at Muirfield the following week. Seven from a mini-Order of Merit starting at the Volvo PGA championship later this month and eight from the Scottish Open itself.