American Patrick Reed can’t wait to get his first taste of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
The 25-year-old, who will make his debut in the event at the Inverness venue next week, was the standout of the American Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in 2014.
The four-time PGA Tour winner was the leading points scorer for Tom Watson’s side, winning three matches and halving one to remain unbeaten.
His interaction with the Scottish crowds when playfully putting his finger to his mouth to silence the home cheers was one of the most memorable moments of the cup.
Reed, who finished tied 20th at last year’s Open championship at St Andrews, said: “I can’t wait to get to Castle Stuart and make my Scottish Open debut. It’s a tournament and a course I’ve heard a lot about – it will be a great opportunity for me to fine-tune my game ahead of the Open championship at Troon.
“I got a really nice reception from the Scottish crowds at St Andrews last year and I feel like I have a special relationship with them now after the fun of the Ryder Cup.
“They’re very respectful and knowledgeable, so I’m looking forward to a great week in the home of golf.”
Reed will be joined in the field by fellow American Ryder Cup players JB Holmes, the 2013 Scottish Open winner Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, who is a vice-captain to Davis Love III for this year’s match against Europe at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
A 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, Stricker’s best European Tour result on Scottish soil came at Carnoustie – a share of eighth – when the Open championship was held there in 2007, while his sole win on the European Tour schedule came at the 2001 WGC Match Play championship in Australia.
Holmes, the world number 21, is making his first Scottish Open appearance in six years and his first at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
The 34-year-old has won four times on the PGA Tour and was part of the Americans’ last winning Ryder Cup team, at Valhalla in Kentucky in 2008.