July 8, 2014. Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur and SSP Chowrasia represent Indian interest this week at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen. Kapur has found some terrific form recently, having finished T18 at the Alstom Open de France last week. Singh will seek to make amends for the missed cut in Paris. Chowrasia will also seek to erase similarly bitter memories from his missed cut at the Lyoness Open.
The field in Aberdeen is headlined by a strong bunch of players – including defending champion Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, the Quicken Loans National winner Justin Rose and Luke Donald among others. The event will serve as a preparation to The Open that follows next week at Hoylake.
Mickelson had a terrific two weeks last year – winning the Scottish Open before going on to create some memorable magic at Muirfield to claim the coveted Claret Jug. He could become the first golfer ever to defend the title at the Scottish Open if he is successful this week.
McIlroy is looking to get his game back on course, after a much publicized split with his finacee Caroline Wozniacki, just hours after distributing the invites to their planned wedding. Rose will look to replicate his recent success in Bethesda and bring some good tidings to Europe, ahead of the most important event on the golf calendar.
Singh was flat as wood in Paris, failing to make an impression on the testy course at Le Golf National in Paris. A couple of over par rounds saw him miss the weekend as he sat firmly on the cut line. Chowrasia also had a miserable run last week.
In stark contrast, Kapur held steady against the treacherous course to surge into the top 20 on the final day. On the other hand, Singh failed to break par in the first two rounds to slip out of the tournament. The Royal Aberdeen is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world.
The Balgownie course is considered among the finest links course anywhere on the planet, a par-71 measuring 6,861 yards. The signature 8th hole is a test for golfers, as they try and stay away from the nine treacherous bunkers that protect it.
Report by Anand Datla
