Scots welcome chance to host Ladies European Tour

Mhairi McKay and Janice Moodie believe it is important for Scotland to continue hosting the Ladies European Tour in order to help the growth of the women’s game in their homeland.

The 54-hole De Vere Ladies Scottish Open starts tomorrow at the Carrick at Cameron House, Loch Lomond, and is the second major event to be hosted north of the border after the Women’s British Open was on the Old Course at St Andrews last month.

“I think it’s important to have a Scottish professional event to encourage the amateurs and to have a ladies professional event in their back garden that they can look forward to,” said the 32-year-old McKay.

“It’s nice to see so many amateurs in the field this week because in America Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel and all these people had lots of chances to play on the LPGA Tour before they turned professional.

“I think it just gives you something to work towards.”

Six members of last week’s defeated European Solheim Cup team – Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, English duo Laura Davies and Trish Johnson, France’s Gwladys Nocera and Wales’ Becky Brewerton – are taking part in the event.

They are joined by a number of other top European stars and Moodie believes the positioning of the event in the calendar has helped attract a quality field.

“Apart from possibly the weather, it’s a very good slot in the schedule. There is no event in the US and it is right after the Solheim so the European team could get here,” she said.