Louis Oosthuizen set for Castle Stuart

FORMER Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, an absentee last year, will join defending champion Luke Donald in the field for next month’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

The South African reckons the £2.5million event can help him prepare for another tilt at the Claret Jug the following week at Royal Lytham. “I’m delighted to be playing the Scottish Open,” said Oosthuizen, who lost a play-off to Bubba Watson in this year’s Masters and has since won the Malaysian Open. “Playing at Castle Stuart the week before The Open makes the Scottish Open an important tournament.

“Playing on a links course will be great preparation for so many of the little knock-down and feel shots that you will be looking to use at The Open. The fact that the Scottish Open will have a real quality field also means you will be able to be really competitive the week before The Open.”

Oosthuizen, who won The Open by seven shots at St Andrews two years ago, added: “One of the reasons I played so well at The Masters was because I was so competitive in Houston the week before. I finished third and was able to take that form and confidence to Augusta. I will be looking to do exactly the same again at the Scottish Open.”

Also confirmed for the event on 12-15 July are three-times major champion Padraig Harrington as well as Scotland’s two top ranked players, Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird.