Quartet lifted by AAM funding

ROSS Kellett, one of four Scottish rookie professionals to join Aberdeen Asset Management’s golf stable, hopes to follow Martin Kaymer on to the European Tour.

The sponsorship boost will help former amateur team-mates Kellett, James Byrne, David Law and Michael Stewart fund campaigns on four different circuits over the coming months.

Kellett has a card for the Alps Tour, Byrne is playing on the Asian circuit, Law is competing on the EPD Tour and Stewart launches his bid to get on to the EuroPro Tour next week, though he is hoping to play primarily on the Challenge Tour.

In most cases, it means starting at the bottom of the ladder but, having seen Kaymer come off the third-tier EPD Tour then go on to become a major winner and world No 1, Kellett is confident the experiences can stand the Scots in good stead.

“Martin played EPD maybe two or three years before he got to world No 1,” said the Colville Park player, who finished in a tie for fourth in his season-opening event in Morocco last month. “It just shows these mini tours are somewhere you can start and if you can get off them and move up there’s no reason why you can’t achieve things.

“These guys are very good, but not untouchable. If you believe in your game and you graft and put the time in, you’ll get there.”

The quartet received support as amateurs from Aberdeen Asset through its sponsorship of the SGU squads and now join the likes of Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Martin Laird, Sandy Lyle and Catriona Matthew on its professional portfolio.

“Aberdeen helped massively with the SGU, so for them to come on again and help me and the guys when we are starting off (in the professional ranks) is great,” said Kellett. “A lot of the guys who are on the Tour have said how important is to get started like this. You can go and play and not worry about funding. It’s a massive boost.”

Law, the double Scottish champion who resumes his EPD Tour campaign next month, added: “When you’re trying to find your feet in a new environment, you don’t want to be worrying about the money aspect. You need to focus on the golf.”

While Stewart, a member of last year’s winning Walker Cup side at Royal Aberdeen, has entered the EuroPro Tour Q-School at Frilford Heath, he’s hoping to land some Challenge Tour starts later in the year. “It’s just to get some competitive golf and get sharp before the Challenge Tour kicks off in May,” said the Ayrshireman.