The European Tour has confirmed that the Scottish Open will keep its traditional place on the calendar, following uncertainty over the tournament's future after the withdrawal of its main sponsor. Barclays ended its 10-year partnership with Scotland’s premier event after this year’s tournament, raising fears it might be moved to a new timeslot and lose prize money. However, the 2012 edition will retain its traditional July date. This year’s tournament was relocated to Castle Stuart after being held at Loch Lomond from 1996. European Tour chief operating officer Keith Waters stated that the links course near Inverness would continue to host the event.
"The European Tour will maintain the 2012 Scottish Open event at Castle Stuart and it will also retain its date in the week before the Open Championship," Waters told reporters in Malaysia ahead of this week’s co-sanctioned Iskander Johor Open. "And while the Tour is still in discussion with sponsors, we can assure that the total prize money will be the same as this year, which is three million pounds ($4.7 million)."
After Barclays’ unexpected withdrawal, several other tournament administrators were eager to secure the event’s place on the calendar. Waters confirmed that the Gil Hanse-designed course would host the tournament from July 12-15.
Eight-time European Tour order of merit winner and Europe’s victorious 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie welcomed the decision to keep the event at the Inverness course: "It is very good news that the Scottish Open remains locked into the week before The Open, and I’m delighted the Tour has confirmed that. We were all a little shocked when Barclays withdrew their sponsorship, but the Tour has indicated they are talking to new sponsors, which is very comforting in this economic climate."
World number one Luke Donald won this season’s event, which was shortened to 54 holes due to poor weather. Montgomerie feels the venue offers an ideal challenge close to the third major of the season: "Castle Stuart is a stunning new course, and while we were very unlucky with the weather this year, it will be good to go back there next year as it is an ideal warm-up for The Open. My only advice to organizers is that the course needs to be toughened up, which means tightening the fairways."
**Topics related to the article:**
- Titleist AP1 710 Iron Set with Graphite Shafts
- Mizuno JPX 800 Forged Iron Set with Steel Shafts
- Callaway Diablo Forged Iron Set with Graphite Shafts