Next year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open could be set for a Saturday finish to avoid a repeat of yesterday’s clash with the Wimbledon men’s final.
The final round at Castle Stuart Golf Links had to compete with a host of other attractions including the British Grand Prix and the Wimbledon men’s singles final.
With tee times moved back to late afternoon to suit the demands of American broadcasters, the Euro 2016 final was an added distraction and Aberdeen Asset Management chief executive Martin Gilbert, pictured below, confirmed the tournament could be moved forward a day to avoid a repeat at Dundonald Links next July.
He said: “One of the thoughts is to start the Scottish Open a day earlier, on the Wednesday, so that we are not up against Wimbledon.
“With Andy Murray in the final, it’s going to be a tough choice. We have to look at it and the broadcasters would be happier because they would have something on the Wednesday as well.
“That would probably mean we’d have to scrap the pro-am, but the pros would probably regard that as a bonus.”
Aberdeen Asset Management’s contract to sponsor the Scottish Open runs until 2020, although the host venues beyond 2017 at Dundonald are yet to be agreed.
However Gilbert is keen to return to the Granite City, where Royal Aberdeen hosted the tournament two years ago, as well as Gullane Links, the 2015 venue.
Gilbert said: “We would obviously like to go back to Aberdeen, and Gullane probably, now that Muirfield is knocked out of any tournament for the foreseeable future (after the members voted to retain the club’s male-only membership).
“Gullane did really well. We want to take it to good courses – Kingsbarns would be another one we would love to go to.
“The television coverage is very important for the Scottish Government, so I think Kingsbarns lends itself to that more than most courses.”
Trump International Golf Links has been tipped as another future Scottish Open host, although Donald Trump’s involvement in the US presidential campaign appears to have put that on the back-burner.
Asked if the Trump course was off the radar as a future Scottish Open venue, Gilbert replied: “I don’t think so. It’s a magnificent golf course and if you’ve haven’t played it you should definitely go.
“While he’s running for the US presidency it was definitely decided it would not be that great.
“But it’s magnificent, it really is, and it would make a great venue because it’s got massive parking.
“When we played at Royal Aberdeen about six of the players stayed there and every evening they’d play nine holes around the course. But, at the moment, it’s off limits.”
Gilbert, meanwhile, remains confident the Scottish Open will preserve its coveted slot in the European Tour calendar in the week before the Open championship.
There were claims earlier this year the Irish Open and Scottish Open could share the date, taking the pre-Open slot on alternate years, although those suggestions have been dismissed by European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley.
Gilbert added: “We wouldn’t commit beyond 2020 without knowing it was this date. We all share the same ambition to build this tournament.
“I think Keith’s thoughts were to create three £7million tournaments and almost a links swing.
“I have always thought it would be a good idea to do Ireland, Scotland and then the Open champion-ship.
“We enjoy doing this and it works for us in terms of brand awareness in the UK and the US.
“I don’t think there is any chance of the date moving. Keith wouldn’t be able to come back up to Scotland if he took it away. As long as we keep up with events I don’t see it changing.”