DEFENDING champion Min Woo Lee has described the Scottish Open as “really, really important to me”.
The Australian won his second European Tour title at The Renaissance Club, near Dirleton, last year when he held off Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off.
This year’s event, which takes place seven days before The Open at St Andrews, has an impressive-looking field, with 14 of the top 15 players in the world lining up today (Thursday).
Major winners Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spieth, as well as the four current Major champions – Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Fitzpatrick – are among the high-quality turnout in the county.
Lee, 23, who began last year’s final round three shots adrift of co-leaders Fitzpatrick and Detry, said: “The next few tournaments are really, really important to me.
“Obviously next week is a Major and this week is defending.
“It’s a big event on the European Tour.
“The field’s very strong and you just need to do well and for me, I need to do well as well the next two weeks.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
The prestige of the tournament, which was twice held at nearby Gullane before switching to The Renaissance in 2019, has been boosted this year.
The event benefits from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, managed by VisitScotland, and also includes three tournament invites and three players from the Korean Professional Golfers Association.
It also forms part of The Open Qualifying Series, which means the leading three players not otherwise exempt who finish in the top 10 and ties at The Renaissance will secure their spot at The 150th Open Championship.
Among the home golfers at the tournament, which will come to a close on Sunday evening, is Robert MacIntyre.
The Oban golfer is the number one Scotsman in the rankings and comes into the tournament with confidence.
He said: “I’m seeing good signs in my game, good performance last week.
“I changed quite a few things but we’re still pushing to do the same things and trying to get better, trying to win golf tournaments.”
The 25-year-old was also full of praise for those behind the scenes at The Renaissance, which is hosting the tournament for the fourth year in a row.
Each of the last three years has been decided by a play-off, with Bernd Wiesberger and Aaron Rai previously claiming wins.
MacIntyre said: “DP World Tour, Scottish Open, done an unbelievable job in getting everything and pushing everything forward.
“When we first came here, it was worrying when obviously we had the poor weather and wind and scores skyrocketed.
“They put so much time and effort into having a change on golf course.
“This year, it’s a different golf course, and looking at the weather, it’s the same.
“This golf tournament, it’s one of the best.”
For tickets, visit et.golf/GSO2022Tickets
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