Former champion Jeev Milka Singh has already stolen a march on his rivals including many of the Scots in the field in already having played this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open host venue.

Singh, who won the 2012 Scottish Open in a play-off, hosted a corporate outing at Royal Aberdeen early in the week of last year’s defence of his title at Castle Stuart.

Only a handful of players in the field, including Aberdonians Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay, along with Stephen Gallacher and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt have previously set eyes on the links gem.

“I had a corporate day at Royal Aberdeen on the Monday before driving up to Castle Stuart and while I only played nine holes and it was just fantastic,” he said,

“You are going to have to know where to hit your tee shots and from what I saw over the front nine it’s a fabulous test of golf.

“It’s not as picturesque as Castle Stuart but Royal Aberdeen makes up for that in many other ways.

“I’m strong believer that national open’s like the Scottish Open and Irish Open should always be played on a links course, as that is the very history of the game.

“I love links golf so having seen half of the course last year I am looking forward to enjoying the full 18-hole experience later this week.”

Two years ago Singh was sitting in the Castle Stuart clubhouse sipping on a cup of tea and enjoying a slice of chocolate cake when he found himself in a play-off.

The very popular Indian golfer then went out and birdied the first extra hole to defeat Italy’s Francesco Molinari but after home favourite Marc Warren, who led early on the back nine,stumbled to miss the play-off by a shot.

“Winning a major national Open like the Scottish Open was very special for me and especially coming from India,” he added.

“So to win in the country where golf first started will always be dear to me.

“And when I won two years ago it qualified me for the Open Championship so I would like to do that again this week as I am not into Royal Liverpool.”