The Cleveland Golf Srixon Scottish Senior Open will increase its prize fund for its second year at Fairmont St Andrews in August.
The Scottish Seniors’ move to the Torrance course at the Kingask resort last year proved a big success, with large crowds coming out to see England’s Glenn Ralph take his first professional victory.
Both Cleveland Golf and Fairmont St Andrews renewed their attachment with the event for a further two years after that success and now the prize fund will rise to £250,000 for this year’s event from August 20 to 22, up £25,000 on 2009.
Former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn will make his first appearance in the event, joining some of Europe’s most famous senior players in the event that will follow the Open at St Andrews and the Seniors’ Open at Carnoustie as three top events staged on the east coast this summer.
Paul Bush, chief operating officer at EventScotland, said, “The Cleveland Golf Srixon Scottish Senior Open is one of the most important tournaments on the European Senior Tour and this year’s increased prize fund reflects this status.
“This is a big year for golf events in Scotland, with the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship taking place at St Andrews just a month prior to the Scottish Senior Open adding to an already impressive year-long calendar.
“This year we will also be starting the official countdown to the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles when Scotland picks up the mantle as the next European destination.
“Momentum is building for 2014, and raising the profile of golf events like the Scottish Senior Open which are hosted annually in Scotland is hugely important to ensuring that the nation remains firmly established as the home of golf and the best place in the world to play, watch and compete.”
Fairmont St Andrews general manager Charles Head said, “We are delighted at the return of the Cleveland Srixon Scottish Senior Open to St Andrews in 2010.
“The Torrance course proved a strong test to the field in 2009 and, following the Torrance’s honour as a local final qualifying course for the Open Championship this summer, we are confident it will be a worthy test once again when the Senior Tour returns again in August 2010.”