Former champion Phil Mickelson confirmed he will again contest this year’s Aberdeen Assert Management Scottish Open at Gullane.
Mickelson captured the event in 2013 and a week later drew on finding the shortest route around Castle Stuart in travelling to Muirfield that borders this year’s Scottish Open venue and capture golf’s oldest major.
“The Scottish Open is again on my schedule and I’m looking forward to playing Gullane,” said the five-time Major winner.
“I haven’t played the course before but I know exactly where it is right alongside Muirfield as someone pointed that out to me when I was practicing at Muirfield ahead of The Open.
Phil Mickelson, and winner of the 2013 Scottish Open, confirms he will contest this year’s 2014 event at Gullane. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“And along with The Open this year being held at St. Andrews it’s going to be another great fortnight playing golf on two great Scottish links courses.”
Mickelson was commenting after posting a one over par 71 on the opening day of the $US 6.1m Honda Classic on the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
Also confirming his Scottish Open appearance is Russell Knox who will again be afforded an invitation given his business deal with the title sponsor.
“I haven’t played Gullane No. 1 since my Scottish Amateur days so it will be great to go back,” he said.
“I got bounced out in the first round of the match-play stages but I did have a hole-in-one at the lucky par three, 13th.
“I was playing against Greg McBain from Aberdeen and he had eagled the par five 12th hole and the next hole I made the hole-in-one, so between us we went eagle, eagle.
“So it will be good to go back to Gullane and hopefully it will be a double week in Scotland as the goal is to qualify for The Open at St. Andrews.
“I’ve played the Old Course about five or six times and it’s one of my favourites so two weeks back home playing two huge events would be superb.”
However at this stage Knox does not foresee teeing-up in any other European Tour events unless his current World No. 98 ranking improves.
“If I can get myself up into the top-50 on the rankings than I can virtually pick and choose my tournaments, so for the time being it’s all about consolidating my status here on the PGA Tour,” he said.
“That also is one of the reasons why I didn’t play out at Pebble Beach and last week at Riviera as I am more comfortable on the grasses over here in Florida than I am on the West Coast.
“So not having played those two events I feel rested for a good assault on the ‘Florida Swing’.”
And while Knox will look to play back-to-back events in July in Scotland he wants to knock two to three events off his PGA Tour season after having contested 26 tournaments and the most he’s ever played in a year since turning pro in 2007.
“I do want to play a less than I did last year but in saying that with good play, I may have to play a little more,” he added.
“I just want to ensure I am not playing for the sake of playing, and it’s also the experience I’m gaining of knowing what courses suit my game as I pointed out in not wanting to play Pebble Beach or last week in L.A.
“So this was the first time I have taken two weeks off knowing that I could have played and while it was difficult forcing myself into doing that, it also felt weird not playing.
“I need to become better at accepting taking time off”.
