Former Scottish Open champion Graeme McDowell wanted to play at Castle Stuart this year to make up for “inadvertently” criticising the course three years ago.
The Northern Irishman, who won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, played in the 2011 event at Castle Stuart but opted against returning the following two years.
In 2013, McDowell said: “No disrespect to the Scottish Open as I love that event but it has lost its prestige. Castle Stuart probably hasn’t been a strong enough course the past couple of years.
“Let’s get the Scottish Open on a phenomenal links course with a great purse and a world-class field.”
McDowell, who apologised to Aberdeen Asset Management chief executive Martin Gilbert after making the comments, has since had a change of heart and has included the Scottish Open in his schedule as he bids to earn a place in Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team. The 36-year-old said: “I didn’t really want to jump back on a plane to Florida between the French Open and the Open at Royal Troon so the Scottish Open fits into a natural run. I feel like I owe the people of Castle Stuart a revisit and I am looking forward to getting back there.
“I competed there in the past and inadvertently criticised the golf course when I wasn’t trying to, it’s a beautiful part of the world. My wife’s heavily pregnant. I am going to be on the road for five weeks in a row, playing in France, Scotland, the Open, Canada and then the US PGA championship.
“It is not ideal but it is going to be my Ryder Cup run and I’ll be wanting to put the head down and play some golf.”
McDowell pipped Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher to earn the ninth and final automatic spot on Paul McGinley’s side for the match at Gleneagles in 2014.
He hopes to do enough to secure a place in the team for the fifth successive time by qualifying for this year’s match at Hazeltine. But the Portrush golfer accepts he has his work cut out to make Clarke’s final 12.
He added: “There are so many great young players coming through, such as Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Danny Willett.
“It is going to be a really highly-contested team and picks are going to be hard to come by. I certainly don’t want to wait for a pick this year. I’m desperate to be on the team but I have to stay patient and just let it take care of itself.”