The stunning Castle Stuart Golf Links plays host to the Scottish Open for the first time, skysports.com picks six players to watch.
Stunning links venue near Inverness to host event for first time
The European Tour welcomes a stunning new venue to its international rota, when Castle Stuart Golf Links plays host to this week's Barclays Scottish Open.
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Opened only two years ago, this excellent new facility within the Scottish Highlands replaces Loch Lomond as venue for this prestigious event, that was first staged back in 1972.
Running alongside the Moray Firth, the Castle Stuart links - near the town of Inverness - has attracted an excellent field for its maiden journey into professional European golf.
And with The Open championship taking place next week in Kent, Castle Stuart should provide some much-needed links practise for those teeing-up at Sandwich.
So who's taking part in Scotland?
Darren Clarke: If the wind blows through the bleak yet beautiful Scottish Highlands, the 42-year-old Ulsterman can not be ruled out.
Luke Donald: The new world No 1 headlines this week's tournament, as he prepares to put the finishing touches to his links game ahead of The Open Championship.
Retief Goosen: Despite no European Tour victory since 2007, the experienced South African continues to play a high standard of golf. The world No 23 has posted three top-three finishes on Tour this season.
Paul Lawrie: The 1999 Open champion is very much at home on links venues in his home country - so could be worth an each-way punt. He has already won on Tour this year, having tasted victory in Andalucia back in March.
Graeme McDowell: Usually plays well when the going gets tough and this week may just provide testing conditions for the high-quality field.
Chris Wood: Has missed a number of excellent chances in recent weeks to claim a maiden European Tour title. While a victory may be out of reach this weekend, Wood has a decent links record - a brace of top-five finishes in The Open to his credit - and the 23-year-old is clearly in good form.
