The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open could be headed east of Edinburgh, with Gullane high on the European Tour’s list of potential golf venues.
Since the inaugural event in 1972 the tournament has been staged at just six venues – Downfield, the Old Course at St Andrews, Haggs Castle, Gleneagles, Loch Lomond and, for the past three years, at Castle Stuart, Inverness.
The event will be staged at Royal Aberdeen next year before moving to another leading links course, with a likely return to Castle Stuart in 2016.
The European Tour’s chief executive George O’Grady is keen, with the backing of the Scottish government and the sponsors, to rotate the tournament at a number of venues.
“We haven’t sat down yet with the First Minister or Martin Gilbert from Aberdeen Asset but they are happy that it’s the tour’s decision,” said O’Grady.
“We are trying to look at any potential venue and we’ve been made to feel very welcome at all of the courses. We are mindful of the gender issues in some places but we are not ready to take a decision yet.
“We have looked around the Muirfield region and Gullane, for instance, has a great history.
“We have looked at the whole area of East Lothian as we are aware we could take the Scottish Open there.”