Scott up for Dundonald return

Golf: Australian switching up his Open championship preparation by heading for Ayrshire

Ten years after first playing Dundonald Links, former US Masters champion Adam Scott has confirmed he will contest this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on the Ayrshire links course.

Scott, pictured, is defending this week’s WGC–Mexico championship in Mexico City, but is adding Scotland’s premier event to his schedule in the week leading up to the 146th Open championship.

It will be the first time world number seven Scott has competed in the tournament since 2009, when he shared fourth place behind Germany’s Martin Kaymer at Loch Lomond.

Scott has preferred to spend the week of the Scottish Open playing practice rounds on the Open championship host venue.

But not this year and with Scott eager to become the first Australian to win the event since Wayne Riley saw off Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie to win the 1995 Scottish Open at Carnoustie.

“I haven’t played a Scottish Open for a long while and I am looking forward to heading back to Dundonald, as I went there about 10 years ago and just played the course for fun,” said Scott

“The last six years I have spent the entire week playing the Open championship venue just getting myself acclimatised and getting used to playing links shots.

“I just can’t think of a better preparation and I find it amazing the R&A let us do that, so I take full advantage. This year, with a second baby due in August, my schedule is a little different so the thought of going over to play a few practice rounds at Royal Birkdale and then playing the Scottish Open ahead of the Open championship sounds good to me.

“And the good thing is I will then head to Royal Birkdale and that’s a great track. I had a great experience playing there in the 2008 Open as I played nicely without getting into contention.”

Scott will be among just 77 players competing this week in Mexico City.

It is first time a WGC event will be staged in Mexico and the tree-lined Club de Chapultepec course will host all but one of the world’s top 50 after world number two Jason Day withdrew suffering from an ear infection.

Scott added “It’s going to be really high in Mexico City and while I played in Denver and I know Johannesburg is pretty high up, it’s tricky playing at altitude.

“But I am sure I will be able to work out pretty early in the week where the ball is going.”

“Haven’t played a Scottish Open for a while, I am looking forward to heading back”