Scottish Open boost as Clarke and Westwood join field

DARREN CLARKE and Lee Westwood will join one of the strongest fields in the history of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club from July 10-13.

Two of the most decorated players in European golf, Clarke and Westwood are also close friends and have formed one of most formidable Ryder Cup partnerships of recent times, winning six points out of a possible eight when paired together in golf’s greatest team event.

Clarke, in particular, will be hoping his return to the Scottish will conjure memories of one of the greatest moments of his career, when he claimed his first Major at The 2011 Open Championship a week after playing in Scotland’s national open.

Clarke, who finished runner-up to Edoardo Molinari in 2010, is hoping that he can add a 15th title to his European Tour trophy haul.

Last year American Phil Mickelson became the latest player to benefit from the experience of the Scottish links in his quest for Open glory, defeating Branden Grace in a playoff to claim his first Scottish Open title before going on to earn his fifth major title and first Claret Jug at Muirfield a week later.

Westwood returns to this event — which he won in 1998 — for the first time in three years.

Mickelson, two-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and Jimmy Walker, three-time winner this year on the US PGA Tour, have all confirmed their attendance at what is one of the Tour’s most prestigious events.

Darren Clarke with Lee Westwood.