Aberdeen Asset to sponsor Scottish Open

Global investment firm announces three-year backing for Tour event

Luke who’s talking: World No.1 Luke Donald will return to Castle Stuart to defend his Scottish Open title this year

Aberdeen Asset Management has been announced as the new title sponsor of the Scottish Open in a deal to run for an initial three-year term.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady and his Aberdeen Asset Management counterpart Martin Gilbert made the announcement at Edinburgh Castle today.

They were joined by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond MSP and former Open champion Paul Lawrie in the capital. Lawrie is one of several Scottish professionals representing Aberdeen Asset Management on tour.

As well as Aberdeen Asset Management’s title sponsorship, the package includes Scottish Government funding to the tune of £2m over the duration of the term to ensure the tournament continues to bring economic and sporting benefits to the whole of Scotland and helps nurture the next generation of golfing talent by linking the event to a programme of junior golf activities.

This funding will also help the Scottish Government meet its obligations to back European Tour tournaments in the run-up to The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

The prize fund for the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be £2.5million rising to a minimum of £3million for the 2013 and 2014 tournaments.

The first tournament under the new title of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be played this summer at Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness from July 12-15, with the three-year agreement seeing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open also take its place on the European Tour international schedule in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

However, it is not yet clear if the tournament will remain at Castle Stuart for the duration of the term. The agreement with the Highland links is split into two guaranteed years with an option to continue for a third year. The tour insisted that no decision will be taken about the venue for 2013 or 2014 until the conclusion of this year’s event.

O’Grady said: “We are delighted to welcome Aberdeen Asset Management, an eminent global company based in Scotland, as title sponsor of the Scottish Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments on The European Tour International Schedule which, this year, will once again be played on the spectacular links layout at Castle Stuart.

“We are also extremely pleased to welcome Scottish Government support. This commitment is another example of Scotland’s strong backing for European Tour events, and is part of the strong partnership that has developed in the build-up to the 2014 Ryder Cup.”

O’Grady also batted away suggestions that the tournament will be re-located to the Trump Interntional Golf Links near Aberdeen within the three-year term of the new sponsorship agreement.

“I think I am on record as saying that the Trump International Golf Links is a fantastic course,” he said. “However, it is not on radar for the Scottish Open right now. It will not host the tournament during the lifetime of this agreement.”

The global reach of the Scottish Open was a significant factor in Aberdeen Asset Management’s decision to take title sponsorship of the event. With the key objective of building the brand in the USA and across Europe, the tournament’s established reputation as a leading professional European Tour event proved a natural fit for the global asset manager.

Back for more: The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will take place again this year at Castle Stuart Golf Links 

The announcement also enhances Aberdeen Asset Management’s existing golf portfolio which currently includes the sponsorship of European Tour members Lawrie and Martin Laird and leading female professional Catriona Matthew in addition to the backing of the Scottish men’s and ladies’ amateur golf teams.

The company is also the title-sponsor of the Ladies’ Scottish Open on the Ladies’ European Tour and the Tartan’s Tour’s prestigious Northern Open.

Martin Gilbert said: “We are delighted to announce our sponsorship of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. As a loyal supporter of Scottish golf for nearly 15 years, we are proud to be involved in sponsoring this globally recognised tournament.”

Last year saw Castle Stuart Golf Links become the seventh Scottish course to host the tournament since 1972, following in the footsteps of Downfield, St Andrews, Haggs Castle, Gleneagles, Carnoustie and Loch Lomond.

The Inverness venue – co-designed by managing partner Mark Parsinen and golf course architect Gil Hanse – debuted at number 56 in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the World and received universal praise last July for the test it provided the world’s best golfers.

Fittingly, it was the No.1 golfer in the world – England’s Luke Donald – who walked away with the 2011 trophy at the end of the week, a victory which not only enhanced his position at the top of the official world golf ranking but also helped him lay the foundations for topping the Race to Dubai at the end of the season.

Donald has already confirmed he will be back to defend his title in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July. “The Scottish Open is one of the favoured tournaments on the European Tour and I can’t wait to get back there,” he said. “Staging the event on a links course encourages a better field and to have some preparation on this type of course the week before The Open is what everyone is looking for.”

Supporting the announcement, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The Scottish Open is one of the flagship events on the European Tour as well as a jewel in the crown of the Scottish sporting calendar that attracts keen interest from golf fans across the world.

“I am therefore delighted to announce that Scottish Government funding, alongside major sponsorship from Aberdeen Asset Management, has helped secure the future of this prestigious tournament for Scotland.

“This fantastic event brings significant benefits to the whole of Scotland, both in terms of tourism revenue and the priceless television exposure around the world to golfers and others interested in travelling to our shores. Last year’s tournament alone was worth more than £5m to the Scottish economy.

“Not only will today’s announcement ensure these benefits continue, but our agreement to link the tournament to a programme of junior golf events and our innovative ClubGolf programme will also help our efforts to drive participation in the sport and unearth the next generation of Scottish golfing stars.

“Scotland is already recognised worldwide as the home of golf, and with The Ryder Cup set to be played at Gleneagles in 2014 as well as the new commitment to the iconic Scottish Open announced today, everyone in this country can look forward to a bright future for Scottish golf.”

The 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will take place at Castle Stuart from July 12-15.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered