More Great News for Golf in Ayrshire

LET and LPGA to co-sanction Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open

A ground-breaking co-sanctioning agreement between the LET and LPGA has been reached that will see Dundonald Links host both the 2017 men’s and ladies’ Scottish Opens whilst elevating the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open to the highest prize fund event on the Ladies European Tour outside the Majors.

The initial three-year deal, brought together by the LET and the LPGA in partnership with title sponsor, Aberdeen Asset Management and key partner, VisitScotland, will see the event transition from a Pro-Am format to an individual stroke-play event with a stellar field and strong global media exposure.

With a full 156-strong player field and a prize fund of US$1.5m, the enhanced 72-hole Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open will sit on both the LET and LPGA schedules and underlines Scotland’s commitment to growing women’s golf as it looks towards hosting The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. It also draws on the strong support of Aberdeen Asset Management across all levels of the game, giving equal prominence to both men and women whilst helping to ensure live footage from both the men’s and ladies Scottish Open’s is beamed to golf fans around the globe.

Taking place the week before the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns in 2017, the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open will kick off a superb two weeks of links golf in Scotland. The back-to-back stretch of events echoes the successful strategy employed by the men’s Scottish Open taking place the week before The Open – an approach proven to be a competitive advantage for those players competing in both championships.

The men’s and ladies’ Scottish Open’s will be played at the same venue within a three-week period for the first time in Scottish Open history - a great accolade for the Kyle Phillips designed course at Dundonald Links in Scotland, the ‘Home of Golf’.

Paul Bush, Director of Events with VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is known around the world as the home of golf and host of the world’s greatest golf events so it is entirely fitting that the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open stands proudly alongside these world-class tournaments on both the LET and the LPGA. The huge success of the men’s Scottish Open taking place the week before The Open provided the inspiration for us to achieve similar success with the Ladies Scottish Open ahead of the Ricoh Women’s British Open and these outstanding two weeks will now rival anything the world of golf has to offer. This historic agreement underlines Scotland’s commitments to women’s golf as we look forward to The 2019 Solheim Cup and I would like to pay tribute to both the LET and the LPGA, alongside our partners at Aberdeen Asset Management, for the vision to make this a reality.”

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management said: “This is huge stepping stone for the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open to rank alongside the biggest tournaments across both tours. It has been our vision to grow the event to a point where it becomes a staple on the world’s best players’ calendars whilst continuing to expose the Aberdeen brand in key markets. This deal, with live TV on both the Golf Channel and Sky Sports will continue to do that and we would like to thank all of those that have come together to make it happen.”

Ivan Khodabakhsh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies European Tour, said: “The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open is one of our most highly anticipated events and we are pleased to partner with VisitScotland, our fantastic tournament sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management and the LPGA to enable our Members to compete for a significantly increased prize fund. With world class women’s golf from across the continents, the event will generate huge interest, beyond the borders of the golf community, which will help to set the perfect stage for The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles.”

LPGA Commissioner, Mike Whan, said: “Given Scotland’s rich history in golf, I am excited that the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open will provide an opportunity for the best players in the world to spend two consecutive weeks in Scotland. This tournament will be a great lead-in to the RICOH Women's British Open, and give our global fans a great two-week viewing experience from the UK. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the LET, Aberdeen Asset Management, and VisitScotland to bring the world’s leading professional women golfers to our Scottish fans and spectators.”

The 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open will take place at Dundonald Links, North Ayrshire from 27^th - 30^th July.  Further information on the event will be available in due course and you can follow the event at www.ladiesscottishopen.com #AberdeenLSO.

Scottish Open announcement

Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open forms part of new Rolex Series

VisitScotland and Aberdeen Asset Management have welcomed the news that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be part of the newly announced Rolex Series as part of an enhanced European Tour schedule for 2017.

The European Tour revealed that the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, taking place at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire in 2017, will benefit from an enhanced prize fund of US$7 million thanks to the agreement as well as a significantly enhanced media profile through improved television and digital production and increased coverage worldwide.

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has long been a favourite event of the world’s best players, occupying an envied position the week before The Open and offering players the perfect links preparation for the world’s oldest major championship.

Five of the last six Open Champions have played in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open the week before, including Phil Mickelson who completed a historic double winning both events back to back in 2013 at Castle Stuart and Muirfield and Henrik Stenson, who recorded a record-low score of 20-under par en route to winning at Royal Troon in 2016.

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open’s inclusion in the Rolex Series means the event is now likely to appeal to even more of the world’s best players, enhancing an already world-class player field looking to win the coveted Scottish Open title while at the same time seeking competitive action on a links course the week before The Open.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Through our strong partnership with Aberdeen Asset Management and the European Tour we have enjoyed seeing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open go from strength to strength and the announcement of its inclusion in the Rolex Series for 2017 is an indication of its importance to the European Tour schedule.

“This announcement will further enhance the appeal of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open to the world’s best players and see the outstanding images of world-class golf courses in Scotland, the Home of Golf, shared with even more potential visitors around the world.”

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “It has always been our ambition, together with The European Tour and VisitScotland, to continue to grow this great tournament into one of the biggest in the world. To be part of the newly formed Rolex Series, coupled with the fact the tournament became the first regular European Tour event to be shown live on NBC, further positions the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as one of the jewels in the crown of the world’s golfing calendar. Credit to Keith Pelley and his team for having the vision and determination in making it happen.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has always been one of the leading events on our schedule, based on the world class golf courses in Scotland and its proximity to the Open Championship, and its inclusion in the Rolex Series will only serve to enhance that position.”