Whisky Focus - Jeev Milkha Singh and Ballantine's Toast 30 Years of Scottish Open

Ballantine’s, the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, celebrated its sixth successful year as an Official Sponsor of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at the weekend, as India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was named the overall winner of the tournament.

Singh clinched the title in the closely-fought final round yesterday after he birdied the first extra hole in a play-off against Italy’s Francesco Molinari. He was rewarded for his outstanding performance with a coveted bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old in the tournament’s landmark 30th year.

The last time Singh faced a play-off was at the 2008 Ballantine’s Championship, when he narrowly lost out to Graeme McDowell. He made up for that yesterday, and said he would enjoy celebrating his win with a dram of the prestige expression later that evening.

Recognised as of one Scotland’s most iconic golfing events, this year’s Scottish Open took place at the challenging Castle Stuart Golf Links, overlooking the Moray Firth in Inverness, for the second year. The stunning course, which is situated close to Ballantine’s spiritual home, Glenburgie Distillery, welcomed a host of star players, including the current Ballantine’s Championship winner Bernd Wiesberger, as well as former Ballantine’s Championship winners Marcus Fraser and Thongchai Jaidee. Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Padraig Harrington also joined the world class field.

Ballantine’s presence at this year’s Scottish Open included two branded bars for spectators, prominent on-course signage and player awards including a bottle of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old for an eagle on the 12th hole and a bottle of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old for the lowest round of each day.

Speaking at the tournament yesterday Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, said: “We are proud to continue our support for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, especially as the tournament celebrated its 30th year this week. The fact that this tournament is played just a stone’s throw from Glenburgie Distillery – where one of the signature malts in the Ballantine’s blend is produced – further highlights the link between golf and our whisky.”

Ballantine’s association with golf started in 1960 when the first Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, Korea’s first and only European Tour event and the country’s largest golf tournament, to which the brand is committed until at least 2013. Ballantine’s has been official sponsor of the Scottish Open since 2007.
 

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