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 27th - 30th
July. Further information on the event
will be available in due course and you can follow the event at www.ladiesscottishopen.com #AberdeenLSO.