Palm Harbor, FL …

Open Champion Henrik Stenson is relishing resuming his rivalry with Phil Mickelson by confirming he will contest this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Stenson’s formal support of Scotland’s premier event comes shortly after former Masters Champion Adam Scott also indicated he would tee-up in July at Dundonald Links.

And joining the pair will be Mickelson who has again added the Scottish Open to his schedule, and a tournament he won in 2013 at Castle Stuart before seven days later capturing a first Open Championship title at Muirfield.

Stenson made his Scottish Open debut in 2001 at Loch Lomond and while he contested the event for the next four years, he took a break before returning in 2012 and teeing-up also in 2013 but then taking another two-year break before finishing T13th a year ago.

Open Champion Henrik Stenson returning to contest the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

“I haven’t always played the Scottish Open because the times I played the Scottish Open I didn’t always play all that good the following week at The Open,” said Stenson.

“But then I played last year at Castle Stuart and then went to Royal Troon, so we all know how that finished.

“So, it is again a very good reason to be playing in the Scottish Open in the week before The Open as it’s a great way for me to return to Europe and prepare for The Open

“And hearing also that Phil is going to also be playing the Scottish Open is another good reason to be playing the Scottish given I just love it when Phil’s in the field.

“He’s a great player and a great guy, and I’ve had some good matches with him throughout the years including last year at Royal Troon so I would love to battle it out with him at Dundonald.”

Stenson has never played Dundonald Links but he has a close friend who knows the course first hand and intends drawing on his knowledge.

“I know Dundonald is like a sister club to Loch Lomond and I’ve got a good friend back home who’s a member of Loch Lomond and has played a lot of Dundonald”, he added.

“I know the course is not very old in terms of Scottish golf courses and I know the Scottish Ladies Open is taking place there after the men’s open.

“I will head to Royal Birkdale for a few days early that week so I guess it won’t be to the Pro-Am when I get my first look at Dundonald, so I am hoping it is somewhat straight forward.

“But when you look at what Phil did a few years back winning the Scottish and then The Open, and then on top of what I managed to achieve last year it speaks volumes in adding the Scottish Open to my schedule.

“I recall a stat from last year that the top-four in The Open had all played the week before in the Scottish.

“And if you are going to be properly prepared for The Open you have to either go and play the Open course or play a links course somewhere or you have got to play the Scottish Open because coming straight from target golf we play over here in the States is not the answer”.

Stenson had been forced to pull out of last week’s WGC – Mexico Championship due to a stomach virus and something we now learn was raging including the Swede’s long-time caddy Gareth ‘Lordy’ Lord still not feeling 100% ahead of this week’s Valspar Championship.