Scotland amateur golfers will continue to benefit from financial backing and essential warm-weather training camps by virtue of an extended sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management.
The global investment group, who are the name sponsors of the Scottish Open and back a number of leading professional players, have been supporting the Scottish amateur teams of both sexes for several years, the men’s team since 2007.
At the Duke’s Course at St Andrews, where the SGU is based and which will host the cream of Europe’s amateur golfing talent this August with the European Men’s Individual Championship, the deal was extended for a further two years until the end of the 2015 season.
The AAM support involves financing team requirements throughout the amateur season and specifically the two annual warm-weather winter camps in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
AAM are the main sponsors of the Scottish Open, to be held at Royal Aberdeen in July, and also the Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield in August.
Leading Tour professionals Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Scott Henry, Catriona Matthew and Kylie Walker all get individual backing from the finance company.
AAM’s presence is also felt in club professional golf and their “blanket sponsorship” of the game in Scotland was once described by Ireland’s former Open champion Padraig Harrington as “the envy of the rest of the world”.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil, one of the leading amateurs in Scotland, said that the support of the company was essential.
“It’s great to have a major global brand such as Aberdeen Asset Management investing in the squad and the players really appreciate the backing they have given us over the years,” said the 18-year-old.
“Increased funding gives us the opportunities to perform at the top level and compete around the world, and we want to give them a return by putting in some big performances in the major events this year.
“The warm weather camps have been fantastic to allow us to prepare and work hard with all our support in coaching in ideal conditions when the winter wouldn’t allow us to do so back home. We’d love to go one better in the European Team Championships this year having been runners-up in 2013 and with the Eisenhower Trophy in September and the European Individual here at the Duke’s, it’s a big year for the players.”