Padraig Entered for Castle Stuart

Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington is hoping his love of links golf can help him to be crowned the king of Castle Stuart after confirming he will compete in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open from July 12-15.

The Irishman finished tied 14th at the Inverness venue last year with rounds of 69, 67 and 68, and he will be looking to build on a promising start to 2012, which included a share of eighth place at the Masters Tournament in April.

Renowned as a links expert following his Open Championship triumphs at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale the year after, Harrington is keen to display that kind of form again a week before he heads to Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club to try to win a third Claret Jug.

“I loved the week in Inverness and am really looking forward to getting back to Castle Stuart,” said the 40 year old. “There was a great atmosphere all week last year and I enjoyed the area, the town and the golf course.

“There is nothing quite like getting back to playing links golf the week before The Open Championship. It is ideal preparation for The Open, and I have always been in favour of taking the Scottish Open to a links venue for that reason. It is good to know that we have the opportunity to play links golf at Royal Portrush soon before Castle Stuart prior to tackling Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s.

“I shot three rounds in the 60s at Castle Stuart and finished in the top 15 last year and not even the freak weather on the Saturday managed to spoil my week. The Scottish Open is one of the leading events on the schedule, and I am certainly relishing the chance to try to add another prestigious title to my list of victories.”

Harrington will join a strong field for the second staging of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, with Luke Donald, who returned to World Number One eight days ago following his brilliant victory in the BMW PGA Championship, already confirmed to defend the title he won last year. Scottish pair Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird will lead the home challenge.

Kearney in Good Canary Finish

Four strong rounds by Dubliner Niall Kearney secured a share of eleventh place at the Fred Olsen Challenge de España in La Gomera, and the best finish in the four outings so far this season on the European Challenge Tour.

Lengthy trips to Nairobi and Barranquilla went unrewarded with missed cuts at The Barclay's Kenya Open and Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic. Last month at the ALLIANZ Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne it was a similar story. 

But in La Gomera Kearney carded rounds of 71-65-69-66 for an 11 under total.

Although it was Spaniard Eduardo de la Riva claimed a memorable home victory firing a flawless closing round 65 at Tecina Golf in La Gomera.

De la Riva finished one stroke clear of Englishman Simon Wakefield with a winning total of 19 under par to claim his maiden Challenge Tour victory at the €160,000 event, while the total of 265 (-19) is the lowest winning score so far this season.

Beginning the day three shots behind overnight leader, Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik, de la Riva got his final round off to the perfect start with a 40 foot putt for three at the first before capitalising on both of the front nine’s par fives with further birdies at the third and seventh, before reaching the turn in 32 shots thanks to a superb bunker shot at the ninth.

A further two birdies followed on the back nine at the par four 12th and long 17th to complete a blemish free final offering from the 29 year old, and he was understandably delighted.

He said: "I started very calmly and holed a 12 meters putt to get me in the game, then I chipped close on the third for birdie and after that I just let my game go because I knew there would be birdie chances on the way.

“I felt very comfortable out there, especially with my putter. I started playing with it last week where I had two bad rounds but was not the putter’s fault. This one is going to stay in my bag for a while. After so many years with belly and long putters now I feel I am a better player with the regular one.” 

De la Riva also spoke of overcoming a long-standing back injury and his ultimate aim of making it back onto the top tier of European golf.

“I’m not sure of my schedule now. I have been diagnosed with two disk protrusions in my back and I have to treat them, and then I will decide,” he said. “My goal has always been The European Tour. Since I got the card nine years ago I have grown up as a player, as a person and in every sense.

“Now everything is going perfect and I want to play. I made the right fitness preparation and it has worked. I have been close to a win on the main Tour a couple of times lately, I know I can trust on my game and trust myself, I just have to hole the putts the way I did today."

England’s Simon Wakefield narrowly missed out on victory on the Canary Island after following up a superb 63 in Saturday’s third round with a five under par 66 to fall one shot short of de la Riva.

"I made a slow start with a bogey where I made eagle yesterday so that was disappointing,” said Wakefield. “It was difficult to catch up so I settled down and let my experience not to rush and be patient and it came. I knew I needed to birdie the 18th to catch Eduardo but couldn’t. Overall I am very happy with the tournament."

Two shots further back were the trio of Scotland’s Scott Henry, Spain’s Luis Claverie and France’s Alexander Levy, while Englishman Charlie Ford had earlier shot a course record 61 – ten under par – a superb performance featuring 11 birdies and just the one bogey that propelled him 38 places up the leaderboard into a tie for sixth at 15 under par.

"That was my first course record in competition,” said Ford. “I felt really good. Yesterday I played very well from tee to green but terrible on the greens; today I tried to do the same but hole some putts and made all the short putts. I’m very happy."

Overnight leader Vancsik joined Ford in a share of sixth place after closing with a one over par 72.

Colm Moriarty finished on 6 under for share of 44th place.

The other Irish entry, Stephen Grant, missed the cut on this occasion.