European Tour happy with Highland response to Scottish Open

OFFICIALS from the European Tour believe the decision to relocate the Barclays Scottish Open to the Highlands has been vindicated by the support it has received from the region.

The event had been a regular fixture at Loch Lomond for the previous 15 years, before it was announced at the start of this year that it would be moving to the links course at Castle Stuart.

Peter Adams, director of international championships at the European Tour, conceded there had been “a little bit of caution” from officials about bringing the tournament to Inverness, but since it was officially unveiled that Castle Stuart would be the venue, the reaction, particularly from within the local community, has been a hugely positive one.

“It has been great,” he said. “We have received a very warm welcome from the people in the Highlands.

“There was a little bit of caution on the part of the European Tour when we were considering if we could bring something like this so far north, but we did not need to worry. Advanced ticket sales have by far and away exceeded anything we ever experienced at Loch Lomond. It shows the Highland community have got behind it and I have been genuinely taken aback by the level of support they have shown.

“When you think that the corporate hospitality was completely sold out exactly one month ago as well then it’s a great position to be in. What we are hoping for is to see around 50,000 people come out for the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, but it might well be more. We know that advanced ticket sales have gone well, but we’ve still got to take into account walk-up sales. However, I think the figure of 50,000 is very reachable.”

Adams has visited Castle Stuart several times following the decision to move the Scottish Open to the links course and is looking forward to a new chapter in the history of the tournament

“We had many successful years at Loch Lomond, but the move to Castle Stuart represents the start of a new era,” he said.