Star-studded field for Scottish Senior Open

Two-time Major champion Sandy Lyle is aiming to reignite his European Senior Tour order-of-merit challenge at Fairmont St Andrews this week when he plays in the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open.

The Scotsman was the early season pacesetter on the Senior Tour following top-five finishes in Australia and Japan and his first tournament victory in 19 years in the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship presented by Mission Hills China.

However, he has since slipped to eighth place on the order of merit and with eight events remaining on the 2011 Senior Tour schedule, Lyle will be hoping to make up lost ground when he makes his debut on the five-star resort’s Torrance course.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the home fans again,” said Lyle. “Scottish fans always give me a fantastic reception and hopefully I can perform well for them.

“I started the season off very strongly but it’s not been as good over the past two or three months, so I’m hoping to recapture my form and next week would certainly be a good time to do that.

“It was nice to have that winning feeling again earlier this year in China but to win in Scotland, at the Home of Golf, would be extra special.”

Lyle won’t be the only home favourite for fans to cheer on with Sam Torrance set to compete on the course he designed, and, another former Ryder Cup captain, Ian Woosnam, is also sure to be a popular figure

The Torrance course has hosted the tournament for the last two years and is a layout which has proven popular with competitors, meaning the trio headline a strong field of competitors.

A plethora of Ryder Cup stars will be in attendance, including Costantino Rocca, Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy and Antonio Garrido, along with defending champion Barry Lane, 2009 winner Glenn Ralph, BBC analyst and former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and Britain’s most successful amateur golfer Gary Wolstenholme.

The action starts on Friday (aug 19th) and concludes on Sundays (21st).

Fairmont St Andrews boasts two first-class 18-hole layouts in The Torrance and The Kittocks courses. Both belong to 2-FORE!-1 and offer half-price green fees with a 2-FORE!-1 voucher.

The courses have benefited as part of a £17m redevelopment the luxury resort has recently undergone, which also saw improvements to the lavish spa complex and five-star hotel.

*For more information on Fairmont St Andrews or to book a stay call 01334 837000 or email standrews.scotland@fairmont.com or visit http://www.standrewsbay.com/