Barclays Bank PLC has agreed a five year contract to title sponsor The Scottish Open on The European Tour International Schedule. The Barclays Scottish Open will take place at Loch Lomond Golf Club, Glasgow, Scotland, from 11th – 14th July 2002. The tournament will be televised by the BBC on all four days of the Championship with a potential worldwide audience reach of 400 million homes.
Prize money for the 2002 Barclays Scottish Open, which will be co-promoted by The European Tour, Loch Lomond Golf Club and the International Management Group, will be 3,600,000 euro (£2,200,000) with a first prize of 550,000 euro (£336,660).
Ken Schofield, executive director of The European Tour, said, “We are delighted to welcome Barclays Bank PLC to our family of sponsors and specifically as title sponsors of The Scottish Open. Barclays are making a significant investment, for which we thank them. The Scottish Open is without question one of the elite events on The European Tour International Schedule and Loch Lomond Golf Club has swiftly and deservedly been recognised as one of the great courses in the world.
“The arrival of Barclays Bank PLC, who share with us a global vision, will not only enhance the Championship but will also further strengthen the superb partnership that is in place and has been determined to ensure that Tour competition is very special the week before the Open Championship.
“We must, of course, pay tribute to Lyle Anderson with whom, as president of Loch Lomond Golf Club, it has always been a delight to work. He has been the driving force not only behind the development of the Club but also in determining that this Championship should attract, as it does, a world-class field.”
Loch Lomond Golf Club, which officially opened in 1994, first hosted European Tour competition in 1996 when Thomas Björn won. Tom Lehman (1997), Lee Westwood (1998), Colin Montgomerie (1999) and Ernie Els (2000) were subsequently successful and in 2001 Retief Goosen captured The Scottish Open when he led from start to finish following a first round 62.
Lyle Anderson, president of Loch Lomond Golf Club, said, “We have, since 1996, been delighted to congratulate six exceptional champions and, through our partnership with The European Tour and International Management Group, been able to provide Scotland with an impressive showcase steeped in the rich golfing traditions of the country.
“We now congratulate Barclays in becoming title sponsors. We feel very proud of what has been achieved in our short history and with Barclays on board we know our quest for perfection, both on and off the course, will continue as we further our objective of making this championship one of the great international sporting events with a worldwide field that enjoys worldwide exposure.
“This is an exciting new chapter in the development of international golf at Loch Lomond. We have shared from the start with The European Tour and with the unfailing co-operation of Ken Schofield, the vision for one of the world’s great tournaments to be played at Loch Lomond and we believe that, together, we have achieved that over the last six years. Our field each year has been at the top of European Tour golf.
“We now have the perfect sponsor for a tournament of this magnitude. We are pleased and proud to have advanced The Barclays Scottish Open to the stature it enjoys and with Loch Lomond Golf Club’s worldwide reputation we are convinced all the world’s great players will want not only to play the course but also to win this great title.”
The Barclays Scottish Open will continue with the policy, embraced by The European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and The Golf Foundation, of making the game move accessible to the younger generation. The tournament will include free entry for an accompanied junior, under the age of 16, in every adult ticket.
The first Scottish Open was played in 1972 when England’s Neil Coles won after a play-off at the second extra hole with Brian Huggett, of Wales, at Downfield in Dundee. Graham Marsh, of Australia, won the title in 1973 at St Andrews and, when the Championship returned to The European Tour International Schedule in 1986, Ireland’s David Feherty won at
Haggs Castle, Glasgow. The international tradition of the championship has continued with players from Australia, Denmark, England, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, United States and Wales all on the roll call of champions.
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Loch Lomond Golf Club www.lochlomond.com