Scottish Open move to Castle Stuart is hailed as 'visionary' by George O'Grady

Speaking in Edinburgh yesterday at the launch of a new trophy for the event - the old one was of Rossdhu House at Loch Lomond - O'Grady revealed the title sponsor had been the driving force behind the European Tour heading further north than it ever has before but believes the decision is about to be vindicated.

Advance ticket sales for the event have smashed previous levels, corporate hospitality sold out ages ago and the field at Castle Stuart isn't just headed by the top two players in the world, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, but also includes a host of other global stars, including Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

"We have been hugely encouraged," said O'Grady. "We had a tremendous run at Loch Lomond, where there wasn't one bad tournament. But things come to an end and Barclays were driving for the event to go to a links venue. I admire them for their decision to push us into going (to Castle Stuart]. It was a brave decision but I think it will turn out to be very visionary not to go to a traditional venue as opposed to one that is new."

Castle Stuart will be staging one of the European Tour's biggest events just two years after it opened, but O'Grady revealed he'd heard nothing but positive comments from players who have paid advanced visits and also insisted he wasn't concerned about the winning total on Sunday week being low due to the course being relatively wide open from the tee.

"I'm not keen personally on the European Tour to follow Open Championship venues. Loch Lomond had a character all of its own, which we liked, and I hope Castle Stuart will be the same," added the Irishman. "The response from everyone who has been to Castle Stuart has been excellent and today, just ahead of the tournament, everything looks set fair.

"The jury on what the total attendance will be is out until the Sunday night. So far, though, indications are very good and when you unearth new links venues, especially at a time when the world is in love with links golf, it can work for you.

"As for the possibility of some low scoring, I think the week before the Open Championship we don't necessarily need to have the toughest course you are ever likely to play. We want to give players the feel of links golf. We are very happy, Barclays are very happy and it the tournament is as successful as it looks as though it is going to be then on the Sunday night we will all be smiling."

The aim is for Castle Stuart to stage the event for the next three years and, having been instrumental in it moving to the Highlands, it is likely that the rolling arrangement the Tour has with Barclays will continue until at least the same period of time.

"We are a commercial organisation and until now there hasn't been a golf course to take a tournament of this size," replied O'Grady when asked if the main Tour had ever considered staging an event north of the Drmochter Pass before. "There are lots of wonderful courses up in the Highlands, the likes of Royal Dornoch and Nairn, for instance, but there is a lot of baggage that goes with a tournament like the Scottish Open.

"When you look at the videos of Castle Stuart you wonder where the spectators are going to go because some of the holes are right up against the coast and there are a couple of slightly tight areas. But our team on the ground have that under control - they have plans to make that work."

First Minister Alex Salmond, who also attended yesterday's trophy unveiling at Hamilton and Inches on George Street, said he is delighted to see a European Tour event heading for the Highlands for the first time. "It is wonderful for the north of Scotland for the Barclays Scottish Open to be staged at Castle Stuart. I've not been there yet but I flew over it during the election, taking a small detour, so that I could see it from the air and it looks magnificent."