Adam Scott to defend at Gleneagles

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2003 The Diageo Championship at Gleneagles | Preview | 17 Jun 2003

The Diageo Championship at Gleneagles replaces, in name at least, the Scottish PGA Championship, but it is essentially the same tournament at the same venue.

Defending his 2002 win will be Australian Adam Scott, who in winning by ten shots last year, came close to the record eleven shot winning margin on the European Tour.

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles is one of three courses at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland. The two original layouts, the King’s and Queen’s Courses, both designed by British Open Champion of yesteryear James Braid, were joined by the addition of the Jack Nicklaus designed Centenary layout which lays claim to being the best inland course in Scotland, although the nearby Rosemount course at Blairgowrie may well dispute that claim.

This year’s event has been elevated in status somewhat and has attracted a solid field as a result. Colin Montgomerie heads the list in terms of credentialed players but the field will also include Adam Scott, Paul Lawrie, and recent winners, Ignacio Garrido, Paul Casey, Darren Fichardt and Ian Poulter.

The Australasians in addition to Adam Scott are Peter O’Malley, Richard Green, Jarrod Moseley, Peter Fowler, Greg Turner, Stephen Scahill, Brett Rumford and Lucas Parsons. Andrew Buckle and Brad Kennedy have been given sponsors exemptions into the event and Scott Gardiner, Steve Bowditch, Ed Stedman and Marcus Fraser all hoping for a start from those outside the exempt category.

The event is worth 1.67 million euro ($A2.95 million) with the winner to receive 282,000 euros.