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Padraig Harrington plans for Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Castle Stuart Golf Links from July 11-14.
The Dubliner knows a thing or two about the links game having won back-to-back Open Championships in 2007 and 2008, and has identified the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as the perfect way to prepare for the season’s third Major at Muirfield the week after Castle Stuart.
“There is no substitute for competitive play on a links course to prepare for The Open,” said Harrington. “You can practise all day long, but you cannot replicate the same conditions on the range as you can on a links course, especially with a scorecard in your pocket and a hugely important title on the line.
“The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open ticks all of those boxes. We have a great venue at Castle Stuart which provides a good test of links golf that demands all of the shots you need to compete at any Open Championship venue. We will also have a very strong field so the level of competition is extremely high. If you can get into contention on Sunday at the Scottish Open then you are going to take a lot of confidence into the next week.”
Harrington has played in the last two editions of the tournament at Castle Stuart, finishing in a tie for 14th place in 2011 and then tied 16th last year.
Last week Harrington opted out for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to take a break after a lengthy stint in the US.
