Scottish excursion for the Seniors

The European Seniors Tour will return to the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club to compete for a £225,000 prize fund at the 16th edition of the Scottish Seniors Open from September 26-28. Last year, an exciting contest saw former Ryder Cup player José Rivero of Spain hold off the challenge of Scotland’s Ross Drummond to claim victory and a winner’s cheque for £33,750. Drummond’s fellow Scot Gordon Brand Jnr will himself become eligible to compete on home soil on the Seniors Tour for the first time when he turns 50 on August 19, 2008. Brand Jnr, a dual Ryder Cup winner, will hope to emulate or even better his compatriot Drummond’s achievement in his maiden Seniors Tour season when he tees up at this year’s event, which will for the third consecutive year be played at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club near Edinburgh and is being supported by associate sponsors EventScotland. EventScotland, established in 2003, is Scotland’s dedicated national events agency and is responsible for attracting, creating and developing sporting and cultural events throughout the country. In 2008, the agency has already pledged its support to the Scottish Challenge on the European Challenge Tour from June 23-26, and The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard on the European Seniors Tour from July 24-27. The Scottish Challenge will be held at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club, whilst Royal Troon in Ayrshire is the venue for the Senior Open Championship. Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, said: “The increasing success of the Scottish Seniors Open justifies EventScotland’s long-term strategy to support and develop this, and other golf events in Scotland, particularly as we look towards hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland. “Since our support began in 2003, the Scottish Seniors Open has continued to grow to become one of the annual highlights of Scotland’s golfing calendar. I’m sure this year will be no different as we look forward to returning to the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club at the end of September. “Golf and Scotland are inextricably linked and it is important that we continue to develop Scotland’s golfing product, as it not only boosts our economy but also helps cement our reputation as a premier golfing destination, our status as the sport’s birthplace and helps continue the development of young golfing talent throughout the country.” Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “Last year’s contest between José Rivero and Ross Drummond was indicative of the exciting and high-quality golf we have come to expect at the Scottish Seniors Open. “The tournament has been a happy hunting ground in recent years for Scottish golfers: in 1998, David Huish started the trend, before the in-form Bill Longmuir, winner of the recent DGM Barbados Open, triumphed in 2004. Sam Torrance completed the Scottish set in 2006, when the tournament returned to the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club after a six year break. “We are always afforded a warm welcome at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, and the support of EventScotland will further contribute to a thoroughly enjoyable tournament.” Neal Graham, Director of Golf at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Scottish Seniors Open back to Dalmahoy this year, and feel sure that the course will provide a tough but fair challenge for the competitors. Last year we received lots of positive feedback about the course and its condition, and this year we will be doing all we can to ensure it is better still. “Dalmahoy has a great tradition of staging top class tournaments, having previously hosted the Solheim Cup and the Scottish PGA Championship, and we look forward to working with the European Seniors Tour and EventScotland to make this a successful tournament.”