The winner of the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters will head to the Aberdeenshire venue straight after the Senior Open at Carnoustie – making for a great fortnight of links golf in Scotland: “I’ve never played at Trump International, but I have heard much about it. I think it’s good the tournament and for the area to have Major champions playing in such a great tournament, especially in Scotland.
“I love to play in Europe and I have great memories in Scotland, especially at Carnoustie where I lost by only one shot in 1999 – I have great memories there.”
The Argentine won his maiden Legends Tour title last month, claiming the Paul Lawrie Match Play presented by Petsure at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire – beating James Kingston in the final.
“I enjoy playing on the Legends Tour so much, because I love to play in Europe and see so many old friends – I love to play here” he said, adding how excited he is for the visit to Scotland and a true test of golf: “I like links golf because it is different, you have to play great golf on the links, you have to be able to hit every shot – low, high and you have to have some good imagination.
I am looking forward to playing at Trump International in Scotland to see how tough the test is there.”
The man he beat in the final at Hanbury Manor, James Kingston, is also relishing the test ahead at Trump Intertnational Golf Link, but does so with caution too: “I don’t know if it is the kind of golf course you can take on, I thought I did take it on last year in certain holes, in certain rounds – it’s just a golf course where the weather dictates to you and it’s not the kind of golf course that you feel you can overpower.
“The nice thing about it is there are quite a few holes where you can play the safe way or choose to be a little more aggressive, and should you pull it off then it will probably reward you with some birdies or whatever, but if you do make a mistake then you’re going to pay for it.
“It’s a great golf course, probably one of the most scenic golf courses I’ve ever seen in my entire life and I’m looking forward to going back there.
“When I was speaking to Paul Lawrie, he said to me that it is a great golf course and that I would really enjoy it, but I thought it was just going to be another links golf course – when I got there I was absolutely surprised because it really is one of the top links courses that I have played. First of all, the most scenic and secondly it is a good golf course it’s not just a pretty golf course – it is a good golf course with some really tough holes, holes that you can take on but you’ve got to be really careful when you choose to take them on.
“I do like links golf, I think the great links course are the ones that put the trouble in your face, but also gives you an avenue to hit the ball into. If you do take on that little bit of risk and succeed in putting the ball in a good spot then it rewards you big time!”
The field gathered for the Legends Tour’s flagship event now includes Colin Montgomerie, John Daly, Paul McGinley, Alex Cejka, Shaun Micheel, Michael Campbell with more big names set to be confirmed.
The strength of event is a factor too for Kingston: “In golf, you’re not playing against other players but when you’re playing in a field with some of the top players it does make you raise your game and having a lot of these top players around adds so much to the tournament for the spectators, the organisers and the event itself it obviously raises the while level of the tournament. Knowing that you’re in a field where if you do play well, that you’ve beaten some of the top players, makes it so much more rewarding.
“We got to see John Daly first in South Africa because that’s where he came and made his name, he played in South Africa and we knew him before the rest of the world knew him! He went from there and then won the PGA Championship which made his John Daly as everybody else knows him today. It was a completely different ball game that he played, he hit the ball distances that we could never even fathom and he took golf courses apart with that distance that he had. I’d love to see how he does at Trump International because it is not thew kind of golf course that you can just overpower.”
Confirmed names in the field include eight-time European Tour order of merit winner, our tournament host Colin Montgomerie; 1991 Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie, 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell, 2003 US PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel, two-time Major winner Angel Cabrera (2007 US Open & 2009 Masters), defending champion Peter Baker, Legends Tour leader on the MCB Road to Mauritius rankings – Scott Hend, and the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.
Wednesday 31st July see the Luxe Scot Celebrity Pro-Am take place at Trump International Golf Links, with celebrities confirmed to be playing there including: Anton du Beke, Brian McFadden, Damon Hill, Darren Gough, Gavin Hastings, Gianfranco Zola, Gordon Strachan, Jimmy Nesbitt, Judy Murray, Keith Duffy, Leone Rolle (DJ Rudimental), Kriss Akabusi, Robbie Fowler, Roberto di Matteo and Scott Quinnell.
Tickets are on sale at www.legendstour.com/tickets with spectators saving against the gate entry prices by buying online now.
VIP Clubhouse Hospitality is available through Trump International for £250 per person (tables of 10 available) including:
Exclusive access to Trump International clubhouse
All-day dining and complimentary bar*
Limited edition tournament gift
Priority parking
Tournament admission
Contact [email protected] or visit www.trumpgolfscotland.com for details.
*Terms & conditions apply
The par-72 championship course was designed by Dr Martin Hawtree and opened in 2012. It features two loops of nine holes nestled in amongst the Great Dunes of Scotland with views of the Aberdeenshire coastline and the North Sea. It is a truly stunning award-winning golf course, where each hole has its own distinct characteristics and unique features.
