The Scottish Open - Perfect Preparation

Post by Golf Writer Kieran Clark

Since its links rebirth in 2011, the Scottish Open has become golf’s most standout and important warmup event. With the 144th Open Championship at St. Andrews on the horizon, many of the game’s leading players have sought to hone their game in a seaside environment, which has previously helped bring success to the most recent winners of the Claret Jug.
The last four Open champions - Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy - all stood triumphant at the conclusion of the game’s oldest major championship, just days after competing in the Scottish Open. 

Such a run can be no coincidence, and it has certainly captured the attention of many marquee names, with the likes of Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Mickelson all in the field this week at the immaculately presented Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian. For them, playing the Scottish is the ideal precursor for potential Open success.

Will Gullane prove to be perfect preparation for the 2015 Open Champion?

However, that being said, it would be unfair to label the Scottish Open as simply being a dress rehearsal. It has long established itself as being one of the premiere events on the European Tour, with its previous incarnation at the spectacular and wonderfully designed Loch Lomond Club consistently drawing huge crowds and star-studded fields.
Its important position on the calendar has brought with it credence and prestige, but the event’s allure has only been intensified in the years since it began touring many of the Scotland’s lesser appreciated seaside courses, with Castle Stuart, Royal Aberdeen and now Gullane all making appearances on this new nationwide rotation.

For Matt Kuchar, the advantages of travelling over from America and competing at Gullane are multi-layered: “You're here; you acclimate to the time, the weather, the golf. It's like a great tune-up,” said the seven-time PGA Tour winner. “I played Loch Lomond a number of times and I love Loch Lomond, but I think what they have done with moving it to links golf is such a better formula to have players prepare to go to the Open.”

With the challenges of playing a links course being so fundamentally different from what the players commonly face on the PGA Tour, both technically and mentally, it would seem to be only common sense that a player should grasp that opportunity and come over early to adjust to the environment.

Phil Mickelson has become a big fan of the Scottish Open in recent years

No one in the field can appreciate that to a greater extent than Phil Mickelson, who incredibly clinched the Claret Jug at Muirfield just a week after winning the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

That was two years ago, and the five-time major champion is back for more: “I've been getting acclimated not only to the time change but also the links-style golf. It led to success in the following week's performance, as well. I think in the last four, five, six years, the winner of The Open Championship has played here at The Scottish Open. So I think we get a lot out of it.”

There is clearly no textbook definition outlining what makes ideal preparation for the Open. Each player is different. Many – Tiger Woods included – elect to come over to the British Isles a week early, adjusting their game to links golf in a relaxed environment away from all media attention.

However, Masters and U.S. Open champion, Jordan Spieth has elected to remain stateside to fulfil his commitment at the John Deere Classic, where he won his maiden professional title in 2013. It is a decision that has subsequently generated much debate in recent weeks.

While his support to the event in Illinois is more than admirable and should certainly be respected, there can be little doubt that the 21-year-old has not given himself the best chance to win at St. Andrews and complete an historic third leg of the Grand Slam.

The young Texan will fly to Scotland overnight after the John Deere concludes on Sunday, and won’t arrive in Fife until the afternoon. As a result, he will have to quickly adjust to the time difference, with just two full days to prepare for the challenge of the Old Course, which he has played just once before in a practice with teammates prior to the 2011 Walker Cup.

The iconic layout can be somewhat beguiling to a player in their early experiences of playing it, with the ancient links being one of the most intriguingly strategic courses in the world. It needs to be learned and understood – and Spieth has surely put himself at a disadvantage when compared to many of his competitors who already have a vast knowledge of the Old Course.

It would also be fair to believe that the likely absence of the world number one will only complicate matters. With Rory McIlroy rupturing an ankle ligament when playing football at the weekend, even more of the (already glaring) spotlight will be fixated on Spieth in the build-up to the championship at the Home of Golf, which could only serve to further inhibit his fast-track preparations.

Despite these stark obstacles, there is no question that Spieth can still win at St. Andrews. He has already shown this year that he has a penchant for achieving the remarkable. However, he certainly hasn’t given himself the best chance to do so. And with such a special and career defining achievement on offer, he surely owed himself that opportunity.

Though there is no guaranteed ‘right’ way of preparing for the Open, playing in the Scottish has shown itself to be fairly close to it. When the 144th Open champion is crowned on the iconic 18th green of the Old Course, don’t be surprised if he had spent the previous week in East Lothian.