Moodie 'not invited' to play at Archerfield

JANICE Moodie will complete a three-week trip to Europe at this week's AIB Ladies' Irish Open at Killeen Castle, but she won't be coming back for her home Scottish Open at Archerfield from 18-20 August.

"I wasn't invited," she said. "I suppose I could have entered but I had already made arrangements to play at the LPGA's Safeway Classic in Oregon. I would have played at the Scottish if I had been invited."

Moodie was the only Scot to make the cut at the Ricoh Women's British Open at Birkdale at the weekend, and is currently the Scottish No2 behind Catriona Matthew, who won the British title at Lytham last year. While Matthew struggled to find sponsors during her year's reign as a major champion, Moodie does have major backers in Lexus cars and Franklin Templeton Investments.

"It maybe helps that I'm a chatty Kathy," joked the 37-year-old. "But I'm also lucky because both sponsors have been with me for a long time.

"It's good because it means my expenses are covered for every tournament. The trouble is most sponsors want to back the young players. The older you get, the more difficult it becomes."

Matthew, 40, is also playing in Ireland but will be another absentee at Archerfeld as she has also opted to go to the States and compete in Portland.