WORLD number one Scottie Scheffler has confirmed he will return to the Genesis Scottish Open this summer.
High profile names including Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas have all been announced for the tournament, which takes place at The Renaissance Club.
The competition, which was won last year by 29-year-old Schauffele, is being played in East Lothian for the sixth year in a row.
Scheffler, who is teeing it up at the Genesis Scottish Open for the third consecutive season, was looking forward to the competition, which tees off on July 13.
He said: “I’ve enjoyed having the Genesis Scottish Open on my schedule over the past few years and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Renaissance Club again.
“It’s a fun golf course to play, and I really like the style of golf it requires of you.
“I feel like it helps with preparation going into The Open the following week too, getting a feel for the style of golf and also playing in a big event with such a strong field and supportive fans.”
Meanwhile, Englishman Rose is aiming for his second victory in Scotland’s national open, having triumphed at Royal Aberdeen in 2014.
Rose has enjoyed an impressive season, clinching his 11th PGA TOUR win and his first worldwide title in four years with a three-shot victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, moving back inside the world’s top 50 and into contention for a sixth Ryder Cup appearance.
The 2013 US Open champion and 2016 Olympic Gold Medal winner said: “The win in 2014 was part of a special run in my career, and it’s always a pleasure to come back to the Genesis Scottish Open.
“The Scottish fans are knowledgeable and appreciative of good golf, and they add so much to what is already a huge event.
“My game is in a great place just now and I look forward to trying to lift the trophy for a second time this summer.”
American Schauffele won the competition last year by one stroke from his compatriot Kurt Kitayama to become the first American to win the competition since Rickie Fowler in Gullane in 2015.
The 29-year-old is looking forward to returning to the scene of his first win in Scotland in the week before The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.
He said: “I can’t wait to return to The Renaissance Club to defend my Genesis Scottish Open title.
“It was a special week, winning my first title in Europe and the way I did it, digging in on Sunday and making it count down the stretch to get it over the line.
“The fans really got behind me, which just added to the experience of playing in Scotland, and I’m looking forward to coming back in July.”
The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, counting on both the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex and the FedExCup, and boasts Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, as title sponsor.
Genesis title-sponsor two tournaments on the PGA TOUR’s 2022-2023 schedule, with the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club concluding last weekend.
The Genesis Scottish Open benefits from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, managed by VisitScotland, and retains its place in golf’s global calendar the week ahead of The Open as part of these agreements through to 2025.
For more information on tickets, go to www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour
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