[Photo: European Tour]
Graeme McDowell won the Scottish event in 2008 and will join World Number Two, Phil Mickelson, who went close to claiming the title on his debut in 2007 before eventually losing out in a play-off to Frenchman Grégory Havret, and World Number Six Ernie Els.
Mickelson will become World Number One if he wins or finishes outright second at the Barclays Scottish Open said:
“Everything about the tournament, from the sponsors, to the golf course and the stunning setting at Loch Lomond is as good as it gets in golf. I would love to add The Barclays Scottish Open to my list of career wins: to be successful in Scotland, the home of golf, is something that every player would love to have on his resumé and I am no different.”
The European contingent is headed by defending champion Martin Kaymer who is aiming to be the first player in the tournament’s illustrious history to win back-to-back.
Also headlining for Europe will be the winner of last week’s Alstom Open de France, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Thomas Björn, Alvaro Quiros, Ross Fisher, Rhys Davies and brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
Joining Mickelson from the USA is Lucas Glover and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, with former Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Steve Marino, John Daly and JB Holmes.
Australian Robert Allenby brings his undoubted talents with Korea’s Y E Yang, winner of the 2009 US PGA Championship, three time Major Champion Vijay Singh of Fiji, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and the precocious talent of Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa also in the mix.
The South African field includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman along with the emerging talents of Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
