Castle Stuart has been typecast as a lamb to the slaughter but there is a growing suspicion that the beguiling new venue for the Barclays Scottish Open has a wolf’s bite underneath that cuddly-looking exterior.
If there was no wind then the 7050-yard “neo-links” designed by Gil Hanse and Kingsbarns developer Mark Parsinen might well be vulnerable but there’s as much chance of that on the Moray Firth as last week’s rumour about Tiger Woods showing up here turning out to be true.
Woods may not be here or at the Open next week but there is as high quality a field as could have been expected and in future years more will come, if a smitten Padraig Harrington is any judge.
“Way beyond my expectation,” said the three-time major champion who has not played the Scottish Open since 1999 because he preferred to prepare for the Open on links courses rather than parkland Loch Lomond.
“Somebody said that it’s the best new-built links course out there and you would have to think it’s right up there.
“There’s so many options out there, there’s so many way to play the holes, it really is back to playing traditional links golf.”
He added, “People wanted to come but that will even increase over the years when they see the course.
“Actually, it’s there already when you look at the field here, and who wouldn’t want to get used to this, it’s just as good as it can be.”
Harrington was the most vocal about switching the Scottish to a links and was as good as his word about returning to play in it when it did.Tinker man”Loch Lomond is a beautiful place to play and it was a shame to miss that event but the change from parkland to links is so significant it takes me more than a few days to get used to that,” he said.
“I’d always be sitting at home thinking, I could have won that. But it’s great to be back and if I have a chance of winning on Sunday, then I’d put all my effort into winning this and forget about (the Open) next week.”
Now down to 54th in the world and widely criticised for tinkering with the swing that won him three majors in 13 months, Harrington still has the belief he is going in the right direction.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll always be tinkering,” he said. “I still believe I’m getting there and I’m excited about my game.”
“I’ve been optimistic before so you can’t read too much into me saying this but you can put a bet on me this week.”
The team behind Castle Stuart have been reasonably sanguine about a 20-under aggregate winning score on what is one of the shortest courses on tour this year, and the wide-open nature of some fairways adds to the false sense of ease.
However Scotland’s leading player of the moment, Martin Laird, spotted the disguise almost immediately.
“It’s fiery, the ball is buzzing around,” said the Arnold Palmer Invitational winner.
“It’s generous off the tee but approach shots are at a premium.”Laird’s futureHe added, “There are five par-fours under 400 yards but you can’t just smash it down there, because then you’ve got a 40-yard shot in downwind and you won’t stop even a sand wedge on those greens. Some of the toughest holes out there are the shorter ones, and I really like that.
“Some guys will shoot five-under but not every day if the wind stays up.”
Laird is home for the first time since his second US Tour win, which catapulted him inside the top 25 in the world, started his re-acclimatisation with 18 holes with his dad at Lundin Links his parents live in Upper Largo and is gradually adjusting.
“I had a low Scottish draw when I went to America 11 years ago and gradually began hitting it higher for the style of golf over there but my swing’s at a stage now because I can control my ball flight.
“I started hitting punches and low draws, and those little bump and runs which don’t come automatically; even today I’d improved a bit.”
The 29-year-old is ready for the extra expectation that comes with his new status and welcomes the extra support.
Laird said, “I think more people will know about me this year and obviously I want to perform for the people who come out.
“This is pretty much the week in the whole year I want to play well in.”