Barclays add Kenyan Open to portfolio

BARCLAYS have made an announcement about a new development in its golf portfolio but the wait goes on for confirmation about a venue for next year's Scottish Open.

The banking giant, which already backs both the Scottish Open and Singapore Open on the European Tour, said yesterday it has agreed a deal with the Challenge Tour to become title sponsor of the Kenyan Open for the next three years.

It is the longest-running event on the second-tier schedule and previous winners include Trevor Immelman (2000) and Edoardo Molinari (2009).

Keith Waters, the European Tour's chief operating officer, said in Dubai last weekend he hoped an announcement would be made about the Scottish Open this week, with Castle Stuart near Inverness expected to get the nod for the event next July.

There has been some suggestions the European Tour was not keen to go to Castle Stuart, while Barclays were. But Waters dispelled that, saying: "We believe Castle Stuart is a superb venue, and Barclays want to go to a links course, and Castle Stuart is definitely a links course."

When Waters was further quizzed if the delay was due to Barclays' uncertainty between choosing either Castle Stuart or The Renaissance in East Lothian, he added: "Wait for the announcement."