Defending champ Phil Mickelson along with Rory McIlroy delivered Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open organisers the ideal New Year’s gift with a ringing endorsement of host course – Royal Aberdeen.
www.golfbytourmiss.com previously confirmed the appearance of the double Major winning duo for the event commencing on July 10th.
However with Mickelson and McIlroy appearing for a first time in 2014 at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship both have spoke of rubber-stamping the Scottish Open in their schedule.
Royal Aberdeen awaits 2014 Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open.
“Everything I have heard about Royal Aberdeen has been positive saying it is one of the greatest links golf experiences you could have and that it’s a very challenging, demanding test of golf,” said Mickelson.
“It’s going to be a great place to play prior to a British Open championship. And so everything I’ve heard is positive.
“I know it’s about 50 miles from Castle Stuart, and I’ll probably try to go play a round there at Castle Stuart as Castle Stuart to me is one of the best modern day golf course designs that I’ve seen in that the golf course is playable under any conditions.”
McIlroy will be contesting his first Scottish Open since ending T46th in 2009 at Loch Lomond.
And after missing the cut in the Open Championship at Muirfield last year for a first occasion since winning the Low Amateur medal on debut in 2007, McIlroy is extra keen to play the week prior this year’s Open Championship at Hoylake.
He said: “The one thing I am going to do for sure is definitely play the week before The Open and get some competitive links golf.
“It’s all well and good, I guess practicing on links and hitting those shots, but once you play competitively on a links it’s a little different.
“And to be playing at Royal Aberdeen is going to be a great way to lead into the Open Championship.”
Mickelson and McIlroy will play the opening two rounds together of this weeks’ Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and with the five-time Major winning Mickelson confident his double Major winning rival will get back to his winning ways in 2014.
He said: “I think Rory’s going to have a great year, I really do.
“He’s too talented to have another year like last year. And you saw glimpses of his game being sharp with his win in Australia last December so I think he’s going to have a great year.”
