Links switch looms for Scottish Open

THE Scottish Open, which has been held at Loch Lomond since 1996, could be heading to a new venue after the European Tour confirmed it is in discussions with "four or five" links courses at the request of sponsors Barclays.

The news is a blow to Loch Lomond Golf Club. It posted pre-tax losses of 45.5 million for 2008 and has been on the market for the past two years.

The event, won this year in July by Edoardo Molinari, has become synonymous with Loch Lomond, but Tour director Keith Waters told BBC Scotland last night: "Loch Lomond has been an excellent venue, but times change.

"(Tournament sponsors] Barclays would like us to play the event on a links course in the hope of attracting all the world's top players."

According to Waters, a decision on a prospective new venue could be made in the next month. A spokesman for Loch Lomond Golf Club declined to comment.

Past winners of the Scottish Open have included major winners Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Tom Lehman, and the event, which carries total prize money of around 3m, has always attracted a strong field. However, there have also been a number of high-profile absentees, with some players preferring to fine-tune their preparations for the Open Championship on links courses.

The feeling among Tour officials is that by switching the Scottish Open to a links course, it will ensure that all of the big names are present in their final tournament before the Open.

"In the long-term, a move to a links course would be beneficial," added Waters.

Meanwhile, Chris Doak, fresh from his Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship win over the King's course, carried that form across to the Duke's course at St Andrews yesterday to lead after round one of the Tartan Tour's 10,000 Sprint Series Final.

The Greenock pro, who claimed the national title in a thrilling play-off on Sunday night, posted a two-under 69 to set the halfway pace and lead by a shot from Graham Fox and Stephen Gray.

Doak, who was the first reserve for the Challenge Tour's Egyptian Open this week, opted against making the late dash to Cairo and his decision to remain on home soil was vindicated as he moved into pole position for the 2,000 top prize with a five-birdie round.

Hayston pro Gray, who is set to win the Tartan Tour's money-list this week, had been four-under through nine holes but a bogey at 10 was followed by a double-bogey seven at 11 in a turbulent back-nine and he finished with a one-under 70.

Aberdeen's Graeme Lornie reeled off 18 pars in a tidy 71 to sit third while former European No 1 Ronan Rafferty opened with a 72. Gareth Wright, runner-up to Doak in the Scottish championship, had to settle for a 74 while Greig Hutcheon, the Tartan Tour's order of merit winner, posted a 75.