LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Now the Scottish Open has moved to a links course the tournament will offer a better clue as to the player most likely to succeed at the following week's British Open, Louis Oosthuizen said on Monday.
The 28-year-old South African also believes the Scottish Open venue switch from Loch Lomond to Castle Stuart in Inverness will improve his chances of retaining his British Open title in July.
"The fact the Barclays Scottish Open is being played over a links course this year is really good news for me," Oosthuizen said in a news release.
"Playing on a links course will help me better prepare to defend The Open as I will be able to work on a lot of the shots I'll require to do well at Royal St George's.
"Obviously the perfect preparation would be to win at Castle Stuart. Whoever wins the Scottish Open this year will have to be considered a big favourite for The Open because their links game will be in great shape," Oosthuizen added.
The winner of last year's British Open at St Andrews will be joined at the Inverness links by U.S. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, world number four Phil Mickelson and Scottish Open champion Edoardo Molinari.
Organisers expect more of the world's elite players to announce their intention to compete in the July 7-10 Scottish Open in the next few weeks.
Schwartzel said the players would attach extra significance to the British Open warm-up event due to the move away from Loch Lomond, the tournament's home for the last 15 years.
"The Scottish Open has always been a big week on tour because it is the week before The Open and it now has an extra edge because it's being played on a links course," he said.
This year's British Open will be held at the Royal St George's course in the south east corner of England from July 14-17.
The 28-year-old South African also believes the Scottish Open venue switch from Loch Lomond to Castle Stuart in Inverness will improve his chances of retaining his British Open title in July.
"The fact the Barclays Scottish Open is being played over a links course this year is really good news for me," Oosthuizen said in a news release.
"Playing on a links course will help me better prepare to defend The Open as I will be able to work on a lot of the shots I'll require to do well at Royal St George's.
"Obviously the perfect preparation would be to win at Castle Stuart. Whoever wins the Scottish Open this year will have to be considered a big favourite for The Open because their links game will be in great shape," Oosthuizen added.
The winner of last year's British Open at St Andrews will be joined at the Inverness links by U.S. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, world number four Phil Mickelson and Scottish Open champion Edoardo Molinari.
Organisers expect more of the world's elite players to announce their intention to compete in the July 7-10 Scottish Open in the next few weeks.
Schwartzel said the players would attach extra significance to the British Open warm-up event due to the move away from Loch Lomond, the tournament's home for the last 15 years.
"The Scottish Open has always been a big week on tour because it is the week before The Open and it now has an extra edge because it's being played on a links course," he said.
This year's British Open will be held at the Royal St George's course in the south east corner of England from July 14-17.
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