Scotland's Ryder Cup hopes boosted

Andy Farrell, The Independent, 8 February 2001

The Scottish Open, defunct since 1996, will return to the European Tour after receiving backing from the Scottish Executive as part of its bid to stage the 2009 Ryder Cup.

Henry McLeish, the First Minister, announced that an investment of £750,000 by the Executive and the Bank of Scotland would go towards staging not only the Scottish Open but the Scottish PGA at Gleneagles and the Scottish Seniors Open as well.

While the Ryder Cup Committee is to discuss at a meeting this month whether Scotland, Wales or the North-east of England will stage the 2009 match, a date for a decision has yet to be confirmed. An announcement had been expected last week but has been put off indefinitely.

"This announcement is great news for Scotland's Ryder Cup bid," McLeish said. "But our support for golf development must extend well beyond the time that the Ryder Cup Committee select the successful bid. We are underpinning Scotland's Ryder Cup bid with a comprehensive strategy to develop and support golf at all levels."

Though a new title sponsor has still to be found, the Scottish Open will resume its traditional date in the week prior to the Open. The event, often held at Gleneagles before moving to Carnoustie for its last two years, will be played at Loch Lomond whose own Invitational tournament, held since 1996, lost its sponsor last year.

The return of the Scottish Open was welcomed by Colin Montgomerie, who, despite winning the national Opens of England, Ireland, France, German, Holland, Spain and Portugal, has yet to claim his home country's title.