More big names sign up for Scottish Open in response to LIV Golf launch

More star names have been added to the field for next month’s Genesis Scottish Open in an announcement that has clearly been timed to coincide with the first LIV Golf event being held in England this week.

World No 3 Patrick Cantlay is set to make his debut in the $8 million Rolex Series event at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian, meaning four of the current top five in the global rankings are set to be in action on 7-10 July.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler had already been confirmed, as well as Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa, the world No 2 and No 5 respectively. The odd man out at the moment is Australian Cameron Smith.

In addition Cantlay, four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, past two Olympic gold medallists Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose and former European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood have also been added to the mouth-watering line up on Scotland’s Golf Coast.

It now boasts ten of the top 20 players in the world, including all four current major champions in Scheffler, Rahm, Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

“I’m excited to make my Genesis Scottish Open debut next month,” said Cantlay, won the 2021 FedEx Cup after closing out an impressive season with victories in two of the three FedEx Cup Play-Off events.

Referring to the 150th Open at St Andrews the following week, he added: “To play back-to-back weeks in Scotland, the Home of Golf, will be awesome and hopefully I can bring my A-game for the Scottish fans.”

Koepka, who won the Scottish Challenge at Aviemore in 2013, has played three times in the Scottish Open but this will be his first appearance since 2015.

“I can’t wait to get back to Scotland,” said the newly-married American. “I have great memories of playing there in previous years and the fans are always fantastic. I