Scottish Ladies’ Open moved forward to May

AFTER being held in August for the last two years – when it clashed with the Scottish Seniors Open – the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open is moving to a “prime slot” on the Ladies European Tour schedule next season.

The 2012 event will be held at Archerfield Links in East Lothian on 3-5 May, meaning it will be the first tournament of the season in Europe after the circuit visits Australia, New Zealand and Morocco.

“The May slot is a prime one in the European golfing calendar,” said Robbie Clyde, Ryder Cup Project Director at EventScotland.

“The early summer date gives spectators the chance to see Europe’s best female golfers compete in Scotland and will also ensure there is no clash with other tournaments taking place at the home of golf in 2012.

“EventScotland is committed to supporting the Scottish Ladies Open through to 2018, and we look forward to working closely with our partners, Aberdeen Asset Management and Archerfield Links, to make sure the event continues to be a success.”

For that to happen, it would certainly be helpful if the new date suited Scottish No 1 Catriona Matthew, who stormed to a ten-shot victory at Archerfield Links earlier this year.

The Solheim Cup player has still to finalise her 2012 schedule, but the May slot was free on the LPGA Tour fixture list this year and Matthew didn’t play in the event the week before, the Avent LPGA Classic in Alabama.

It won’t be the first time the Scottish Ladies Open has been held so early in the season. It occupied the same slot in 2008, the second year it was staged at The Carrick on Loch Lomond, before moving to the east coast.

The event will once again be a pro-am; it will carry a prize fund of £183,000 and the field is likely to feature 80 players.

The schedule takes in two new tournaments, including the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters. It has taken over the Scottish Ladies Open slot and will be played at The Buckinghamshire, home of the LET, on 16-18 August.

“We have been able to offer our members a wide range of attractive playing opportunities at some of the world’s finest international venues,” said Alexandra Armas, the LET’s executive director.

“We are pleased with the schedule, particularly given the poor shape of the global economy and these are exciting times for the LET.”