LIV Golf Portland Winner Branden Grace Added To Scottish Open Field
The South African has been added to the field along with fellow LIV players Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding
Branden Grace has joined fellow LIV Golf players Ian Poulter, Justin Harding and Adrian Otaegui in the Scottish Open field, despite originally being banned from the event by the DP World Tour.
The South African, winner of the recent LIV Golf Portland Invitational including the $4m individual first prize, was a surprise addition to this week's Scottish Open field a day after it was revealed that Poulter, Harding and Otaegui had their bans "temporarily stayed."
It's unknown whether Grace went through the same process and/or whether more LIV Golf players are doing the same - it may be that it is too late for any more players to join the field. Grace is paired with Ian Poulter for the first two days at the Renaissance Club, with Harding and Otaegui also out in a two ball, going off first at 7.15am on Thursday morning.
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Some may say that the DP World Tour is being 'petty' by putting the four LIV Golfers out together in separate two balls but they were late additions to the field, which increased beyond its original 156 number.
The DP World Tour also grouped the LIV Golf players together two weeks ago at the BMW International Open, where Kaymer, Larrazabal and Canter played as a three, Garcia was with Oosthuizen and Wiesberger, and Otaegui, Ormsby and Bekker were grouped together.
Following the reversal of the bans involving Poulter, Harding and Otaegui, DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley said he was "disappointed" and also said the Tour will be making further comment following the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor, which has now concluded.
“I will simply say we are disappointed by the outcome of today’s hearing, but will abide by the decision," Pelley said. "It is important to remember, however, this is only a stay of the sanctions imposed, pending the hearing of the players’ appeal as to whether those sanctions were appropriate.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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