Rickie Fowler during the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open. Image credit Paul Severn

It has been confirmed that the Renaissance Club will host the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open next year, with both events returning to the picturesque East Lothian venue for the second successive season.

The 2020 edition of Scotland’s national men’s open, part of the Rolex Series, the eight premium tournaments on the Race to Dubai, will be played on July 9-12, 2020, followed closely by the women’s event on the same course on August 13-16.

Golf fans from East Lothian and beyond flocked to the Tom Doak-designed course for this year’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open as the event attracted over 66,000 spectators – the highest figure since the tournament began travelling to venues across the country in 2011, following a 16-year spell at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

This summer, fans enjoyed two weeks of world class golf as Austrian Bernd Wiesberger triumphed over a field including four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and American stars Rickie Fowler Matt Kuchar and Justin Thomas to claim his sixth European Tour title. Three weeks later, the Republic of Korea’s Mi Jung Hur captured her third LPGA Tour title – a decade after her first – with a four-shot victory over an international leaderboard including Ariya Jutanugarn, Jeongeun Lee6 and Scotland’s Carly Booth.

In 2020, the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will once again form part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, as well as taking its traditional slot in the week before The Open.

Mi Jung Hur during the at Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at Renaissance Club. Image credit Getty Images

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 will be played the week before the AIG Women’s British Open.

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. With a minimalist design that incorporates the natural features of the land, the course has quickly become established as another East Lothian golfing gem.

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 for the first time this year, the club continued 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.

The club also worked 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, Chairman of Aberdeen Standard Investments said: “We’re looking forward to returning to The Renaissance Club in 2020. The facilities Jerry and his team offer both sets of players, on and off the course are second to none. The feedback we’ve received is that the location works well with the golfing public as well as our colleagues.

“We’ve also listened to the professionals who played the course this year and collectively we will be implementing a number of changes based on their feedback. We look forward to welcoming back the world’s best players to Scotland’s golf coast, for what is sure to be another memorable two weeks of golf next summer.”

Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “Scotland is synonymous with the world’s biggest golf events and, with both the men’s and ladies Scottish Opens among the most prestigious on their respective tours, it is vital we have a venue to match.

“The Renaissance Club proved to be a great host venue in 2019 and I’m looking forward to both events returning in 2020. They’ll have a positive impact on the economy – both locally and nationally – and will help support numerous initiatives on and off the golf course promoting healthy and active lifestyles, sports development, sustainability and inclusion.”

Jerry Sarvadi, Founder/Chief Executive of The Renaissance Club said: “The Renaissance Club is delighted to again work with Aberdeen Standard Investments and the European Tour to host both the 2020 Men’s and Ladies Scottish Opens. The 2019 events saw some of the world’s best players come to Scotland to compete in what ended up as very unusual, benign weather conditions for Scotland during the Men’s competition and somewhat more normal conditions during the Ladies competition.

“We believe the 2020 event will only grow in stature at The Renaissance Club, and we hope that as many people as possible will come and watch the truly spectacular golf being played next year in July and August.”

Mike Whan, LPGA Commissioner, and Mark Lichtenhein, LET Chief Executive, said: “The LPGA and the LET are happy to partner with our friends at Aberdeen Standard Investments and VisitScotland to again bring our tours to the same course as the European Tour.

“The last two years have been a wonderful opportunity to introduce the world’s best female golfers to the fans in East Lothian and we look forward to working together on what will surely be an exciting precursor to the season’s final major championship in 2020.”

Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism, East Lothian Council, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that East Lothian will be welcoming the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open for a third successive year. The events are a massive opportunity to showcase all that Scotland’s Golf Coast has to offer – the partnership between fantastic local hospitality offering, delightful food and drink places, friendly local businesses and a host of superb golf courses and other local attractions.

“The Renaissance Club proved to be a popular venue this year, following the success at Gullane in 2018, and this announcement is a reflection of the events success here in East Lothian and the warm welcome that is guaranteed to players, fans and the world’s golfing fraternity.”

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Paul Lawrie captures Staysure Scottish Seniors at Craigielaw Golf Club

PAUL Lawrie won the Scottish Senior Open to claim his first Staysure Tour title in front of a home crowd at Craigielaw Golf Club.

The 1999 Open Champion battled gusty conditions throughout the final round to record a level par round of 71 to win his maiden over-50s title by two shots ahead of Peter Baker and Peter Fowler.

The Scotsman, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Major success at Carnoustie Golf Links last month, made the turn in 33 strokes, two under par, and battled hard in the blustery conditions on the back nine to card a round of 71.

After battling injury last season and having turned 50 at the beginning of the year, Lawrie was delighted to clinch an inaugural win on the over-50s circuit, especially on home soil.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Scotland and that is my fourth win in my home country and I’m very proud of that,” he said.

“I think a lot of the players struggle to play in their own country with expectations on them, but I’ve always felt comfortable playing in front of Scottish people.

“It doesn’t matter what tour it is, winning is difficult; it’s not easy. Peter Baker did a top effort to get in the house at level par, so my job was to get in at one under par, that was the only job I was thinking about and I managed to finish one better than that.

“I’ve not won since 2012 on the European Tour. Obviously, I’m a senior now and I’m playing senior events. I want to be one of the top players on the Staysure Tour and I want to be one of the top seniors, so this win is a massive step to doing that.

“My game has been getting betting for a few weeks and I’ve been telling people that I’m getting there and I’m going to win soon. The Senior Open was the first week where I felt my foot and my back were where I needed them to be. My surgeon, Gordon Mackay, said it would take a year for my foot to be right. I thought my career was over with my foot the way that it was, but Gordon McKay did a great job.”

Baker, winner of Senior Open Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde in June, recorded a one under par round of 70 to finish two strokes behind Lawrie in a share of second place with Fowler. The overnight leader was unable to follow his impressive five under par round of 66 from day two as he signed for a disappointing four over par round of 75.

Englishman David Shacklady and Austrian Markus Brier completed the top five as they signed for rounds of 69 and 73, respectively, to finish at one over par total.

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Luffness New

A 144-strong field will descend on Luffness New Golf Club this week for the 2019 Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship. The event will take place from Wednesday 19th to Friday 21st June.

The format will be 54 holes of strokeplay with a cut after the first 36. The top-60 and ties after Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will progress to the final round on Friday. Prizes will be presented to the top three overall and the top over-65 at the end of the week.

2019 will see an extremely competitive field at Luffness with entries being balloted at a handicap of 2.9.

2018 champion, Ronnie Clark of Erskine, will be teeing it up as he looks to defend the title he won at Irvine (Bogside) in 2018.

Last year saw Clark claim his first national title after coming out on top of a three-man playoff having finished tied on five-over. The two men Clark defeated in that playoff, Andrew Atkinson and Richard Partridge, will also be competing at Luffness and will be looking to go one better than last year.

Clark was also part of the 2018 Scotland Home Internationals Team who were victorious in September at Southerness, a spot that he guaranteed with his win at Irvine (Bogside).

2017 champion, Graham Bell of Downfield, will also be in the field looking to add a second Men’s Senior Open title to his CV. Bell has also been part of the Scottish Senior Men’s Team previously.

The player with the lowest handicap competing this week is Ray Hughes of Caldy Golf Club. The Englishman, who has a handicap of +2.4, will be looking to claim a first Scottish title.

Englishman Ian Attoe will also be a serious contender, having recently won the English Senior Men’s Open Championship by an impressive eight strokes. Attoe finished the 54-hole tournament at nine under par and will be looking for more of the same in Scotland.

A full list of tee times for Wednesday’s opening round can be found here. Scoring from the Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship will be available here.

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