2016 OPEN champion Henrik Stenson is coming to East Lothian to play at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open this summer, organisers have confirmed.
The competition takes place in East Lothian for the second year running, being held at The Renaissance Club at Archerfield between July 8 and 14 a year after heading to Gullane Golf Club.
Swede Stenson, who won The Open at Royal Troon three years ago, will be aiming to add the Scottish Open title to his 11 European Tour wins when he tees it up in East Lothian this summer.
Stenson lifted the Claret Jug in 2016 after he recorded a final round 63 in a thrilling battle with Phil Mickelson, which drew comparisons with the legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977.
The 43-year-old, who topped the Race to Dubai in 2013 and 2016, will be appearing in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open for the 11th time, as the event continues to play a crucial part in his preparations for The Open.
He is one of six players in the last nine years to have won the Claret Jug after featuring in the Scottish Open.
Stenson said: “I always love coming back to Scotland. It’s a place where I obviously have some fantastic memories, and the fans always make me feel very welcome.
“The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open has always been good preparation for The Open for me. I feel like I’ve come in ready and have had some great results when I have played in Scotland the week before.
"I did that in 2013 when I finished second behind Phil Mickelson at Muirfield and again in 2016, which went very well for me.
“I’m also looking forward to teeing it up at The Renaissance Club for the first time. It’s a new venue for the tournament but it’s in a real links golf paradise and just along the coast from Muirfield and so many other great courses.”
Stenson will join defending champion Brandon Stone of South Africa, as well as Scotland's Russell Knox and former world number one Lee Westwood, at The Renaissance.
The Renaissance is also hosting the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open on August 5-11.
To buy tickets for the Scottish Open, visit asiscottishopen.com
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