Royal Aberdeen gets a touch of tartan

Golfers at the Scottish Open showed their support for the tournament’s official charity at Royal Aberdeen yesterday in a rather traditional way – by wearing Scottish tartan trews.

For every professional who donned the colourful trousers at Royal Aberdeen, £500 was donated to The ARCHIE Foundation – the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Children’s wards in Inverness and Elgin and all child health across the North of Scotland.

Nine of the leading golfers in the field at Royal Aberdeen entered into the Scottish spirit of the event and wore tartan during their pro-am.

Scots stars Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher were joined by local golfers, Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay, in wearing their national dress with pride.

The English trio of European Ryder Cup stars, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood also joined the party with flamboyant Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke completing the star line-up.

For the other stars, including 2013 US Open champion, Justin Rose, the new outfit was something slightly different.

“Tartan isn’t usually my first choice of outfit during a pro-am but I’ve really enjoyed wearing them today and taking part in this great initiative for such a worthy cause,” said Rose.

Ian Poulter, not shy to stand out from the crowd in a different style of clothing, agreed.“Being able to wear my tartans for charity here today has been great and a nice way for the players to help raise money for the championship’s official charity,” said the Englishman.

The ARCHIE Foundation is making the difference for more than 130,000 children every year, with the support of the Scottish Open helping to transform the journey back to good health of countless local children.

“I am very familiar with the outstanding work the foundation does on behalf of the sick children and their families.” – Paul Lawrie

Paul Lawrie, who helped launch the official charity with Richie Ramsay earlier in the year knows just how much of a difference the support can make.

Lawrie said: “Having visited Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital on a number of occasions, I am very familiar with the outstanding work the foundation does on behalf of the sick children and their families in the North of Scotland.

“With the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen in 2014, it is appropriate that we are able to raise valuable funds for the organisation through fantastic initiatives such as wearing these tartans today.”

David Cunningham, chief executive officer for The ARCHIE Foundation, was grateful for the donation which he believes will have a big impact.

“We are extremely grateful for this and to all the players for so generously giving their time and contributions to engage with the charity and help support our sick children,” he said.

“This will all help to make such a difference for them.”

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The bunkered team is on-site at Royal Aberdeen all week for the Scottish Open. Keep up-to-date with the action as it happens on our Twitter and Facebook pages.