Lawrie and Laird ready to carry home hopes in Scottish Open

PAUL Lawrie and Martin Laird will spearhead a strong home challenge seeking to end a 13-year drought in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links.

A powerful domestic contingent is assembling on the shores of the Moray Firth next week to back up Lawrie and Laird’s bid to emulate Colin Montgomerie, who was the last Scottish winner of the championship at Loch Lomond in 1999.

Included in that group is Montgomerie, now in his 50th year but who still enjoys the cut and thrust of competition after 31 titles earned on the European Tour to complement eight successes as European No1.

The presence of Lawrie, Laird and Montgomerie at the highly acclaimed new links of Castle Stuart will afford the Highland golfing public an opportunity to watch a number of Scotland’s most successful stars alongside some of the brightest emerging talents.

Those include tournament invitees James Byrne, David Law and Michael Stewart who are embarking on their professional careers.

Invitations have also been extended to former Open and Masters champion Sandy Lyle and two-time European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth.

Four other Scots who have tasted glory on the European Tour – Stephen Gallacher, Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay and Marc Warren – will be seeking titles on home soil.