The co-sanctioning of Scotland’s premier men’s tournament for the first time between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour is already set to attract the biggest world-class field in this year’s 40th anniversary of the event.
It will be a maiden Scottish Open appearance for the now 43-year-old Watson, ahead of a third tee-time for the popular American a week later on the Old Course for the 150th Open at St. Andrews.
Watson said: “Playing the Scottish this year is a no-brainer for me and there will be a lot of other U.S. guys looking to tee-up in the Scottish. It’s going to be a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
Bubba Watson confirms he will be making his Genesis Scottish Open debut this year. (Photo – PGA Tour)
“So, there are going to be a lot of guys going over for the Scottish and then teeing up a week later at St. Andrews.
“I am looking forward to 2022 and getting out there and challenging”.
Joining Watson in East Lothian will be fellow Masters winner, Patrick Reed and the 31-year-old Texan returning for the first time since contesting three Scottish Opens in succession from 2016 to 2018, and his best finish of a T10th in 2017 at Castle Stuart.
Reed said: “I’ve played the Scottish Open a lot in the past and I know it’s been some time since I last played the event, but I am going to play it this year
“So, the Scottish Open this year is definitely on my schedule. The good thing is also the co-sanctioning of the Scottish with the PGA Tour means I can add the event to one of the numbers I have to play on the PGA Tour.
Two others will be making their Genesis Scottish Open debut and they are 36-year-old Canadian Jason Kokrak who, last November, captured a third PGA Tour title with his victory at the Houston Open and six-time PGA Tour winner in Aussie Mark Leishman.
Kokrak said: “I’ve not played the Scottish Open, so I’m looking forward to it very much.
“The co-sanctioned with Europe and the PGA Tour also makes it more attractive. It gives you a boost to get over early and play the Scottish Open. Also, there’s probably a much bigger purse given it is a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
“Plus, I’ve always talked about going over to The Open a week earlier just to give myself more preparation for a major championship, so I am going to do the same this year for all the four majors”.
Leishman, 38, is adding the Scottish Open to his schedule ahead of returning to St. Andrews a week later where, he said, he has some ‘unfinished business’ after losing out in a play-off at the 2015 Open.
He said: “I’ve never played the Scottish Open, and already looking forward to it. I’ve not heard much about the course but it just now makes sense for me to play the week before and be in Scotland given The Open is not far away in St. Andrews”.
Though a big disappointment for the DP World Tour, sponsors Genesis and all Scottish fans is confirmation Phil Mickelson will not tee-up at the Renaissance Club.
In 2013, Mickelson won the back-to-back Scottish Open and the Open Championship crowns.
Speaking with the GolfbyTourMiss he said: “No, I won’t be playing the Scottish Open this year”.
The Rolex Series Genesis Scottish Open will be held from July 7th to 10th at the Renaissance Club and boasting a £stg 6m prize purse.
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