Sergio Garcia heads field for first ever Asian Tour event in Scotland

Sergio Garcia has been announced as the headline name in the field for the Asian Tour’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship. 

The Asian Tour makes its first ever stop in Scotland at Fairmont St Andrews for the tournament from August 24-27.

Europe’s all-time Ryder Cup record points scorer Garcia will be among a number of star players in the $1.5 million event, which is the sixth International Series tournament and 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season.

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Garcia will be joined in the field by fellow Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, while Chileans Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira will also tee it up in Fife.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “As our first tournament in the country that gave golf to the world, the St Andrews Bay Championship promises to be a momentous week for us.

“It’s fitting, therefore, that we should have Major champions such as Sergio and Charl and players of the calibre of Joaquin and Mito to grace this auspicious occasion.” 

Garcia, who finished T27 in last week’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, has six Asian Tour wins during his decorated career, with his most recent victory on the circuit coming at the Singapore Open in 2018.

Strong field shaping up for the Asian Tour's debut in Scotland 🙌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⛳ #InternationalSeries #SABC #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/zlOKikKvrO

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) June 21, 2023

The Spaniard’s opportunities to play in Europe are now limited following his defection to LIV Golf and resignation from the DP World Tour, but he will play a home LIV event at the iconic Valderrama from June 30-July 2 before his rare appearance in Scotland.

He was never a regular competitor at the Scottish Open on the DP World Tour, but will return on the Asian Tour on the Torrance course at Fairmont, designed by Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance.

The St Andrews tournament takes place a week after the International Series England at Lee Westwood’s home course, Close House in Newcastle.

Westwood is set to be among 10 LIV players, including Graeme McDowell and Patrick Reed, teeing it up in the North East from August 17-20.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.