Qualifiers Confirmed for Inaugural EDGA Scottish Open

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This year sees the introduction of the inaugural EDGA Scottish Open, a new 36-hole event for Golfers with Disability that will be contested alongside the European Tour's Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, with the field beginning to take shape.

The event will be staged on July 13-14, 2019 - over the weekend of one of the European Tour’s biggest events of the year. Nine players from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) have qualified from four pre-determined categories, with one wildcard invitation to be confirmed shortly to complete the field.

The Renaissance Club will host the EDGA Scottish Open during the third Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai, continuing the drive for inclusivity within golf as players tackle the same course setup as the European Tour professionals.

The season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai will host a second tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates. It will be a similar model, but the tournament will be played on Friday and Saturday (November 22-23), with eight players eligible for that event. The events in Scotland and Dubai will be run in conjunction with the EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association).

Scoring for both tournaments will feature on the European Tour’s website and App for fans to follow, while highlights of both contests will form part of the world feed broadcast. The winner in Scotland will also take part in the main prizegiving ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “It was one of the proudest moments of my time so far at the European Tour to announce that we would be working alongside EDGA to offer golfers with a disability the opportunity to play competitive tournaments alongside two of our most high-profile events.

“I am delighted to welcome the initial nine players into the field for the EDGA Scottish Open, and I have no doubt that they will relish the test at The Renaissance Club on July 13 and 14, over the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

“This event in Scotland is a watershed moment, as we work, alongside the EDGA, towards our aspirational goal of a ‘Golfers with Disability World Tour’ by 2021.”

EDGA President and IGF Head of Disability and Inclusion Tony Bennett said: “The announcement of these two exciting events in Scotland and Dubai, in collaboration with the European Tour, is already proving to be a game changer. Golf has the potential to be the most inclusive game of all, and we have seen a rapid increase in interest for the integration of individuals with disability into participation and competition programmes.

"As we prepare for the EDGA Scottish Open, we have already seen demand for a range of new initiatives, including school awareness programmes, a pop-in women’s event at the Home of Golf, St Andrews, demonstration events in rehabilitation centres, and of course more applications for national and regional tournaments. These developments indicate the reach that the European Tour has, and the growing interest from people of all abilities and from all backgrounds in the game."

Entry List – 2019 EDGA Scottish Open

Category 1 - The leading six available players from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) week 20.

George Groves - England

Brendan Lawlor - Ireland

Adem Wahbi - Belgium

Geoff Nicholas - Australia

Shane Luke - Australia

Juan Postigo Arce - Spain

Category 2 - The leading home nation player in the WR4GD

Paul Ellison - Scotland

Category 3 - USGA nominated player

Christopher Biggins (USA)

Category 4 - Golf RSA nominated player

Reinard Schuhknecht - South Africa

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open is being played for the first time at The Renaissance Club - which was founded in 2008 and nestles on 300 picturesque acres along the Firth of Forth. Scotland’s national open is the perfect day out for all the family, with fantastic food and drink outlets in the championship village as well as retail experiences and entertainment for all ages.

Fans can buy tickets to see some of the world’s best golfers – including official Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open hospitality packages – at www.asiscottishopen.com.