Spaniard Olazábal guided Europe to a sensational 14½-13½ victory at Medinah Golf and Country Club last September, when his men staged an incredible comeback from 10-6 down heading into the final day’s singles matches to win by the narrowest of margins.

His successor McGinley is already plotting how to keep the Samuel Ryder trophy in European hands at the 2014 contest at Gleneagles, and at Castle Stuart will have the chance to run the rule over numerous contenders for his team before the qualification begins seven weeks later.

Both men have enjoyed illustrious careers on The European Tour and as Ryder Cup players, with Olazábal, winner of 30 professional titles worldwide including two Masters Tournament victories, forming half of The Ryder Cup’s most successful partnership as he and close friend Seve Ballesteros won 11, drew two and lost two of their matches together.

 McGinley played in three Ryder Cups – all of which resulted in victory – and is best known for holing the winning putt at the Belfry in 2002.

However, neither player has been able to add his name to the star-studded list of former champions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, which includes Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Ernie Els and two other previous European Ryder Cup captains in Colin Montgomerie, the victorious leader in 2010, and Ian Woosnam, who masterminded the 2006 triumph at the K Club.

McGinley said: “Castle Stuart is a venue which will always have happy memories for me because it was there, in 2011, that I made my 500th appearance on The European Tour. I remember shooting 66 in the last round that year to finish in the top 15, so I am hopeful I can recreate that form when we return there next month.”

Olazábal said: “It’s always such a pleasure to play links golf – especially in Scotland, the ‘Home of Golf’. I just love playing there, and the crowds are always great – hopefully the weather is just as good this year!”

A season ticket to see the McGinley and Olazábal, as well as world class players such as Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Matteo Manassero at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open can be bought for £70 in advance of the tournament, a saving of £10 on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are currently priced at £30, rising to £35 on the gate.

Concessions (60 and over) start at £50 for a season ticket and £20 for any one day tickets if purchased in advance. Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free.

Entrance to the Pro-Am on Wednesday is £12 in advance and £15 on the day.

Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for the Saturday (£10) and the Sunday (£15) of the event. Hospitality packages are also available.

Full ticket information can be found at: www.aamscottishopen.com or www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +440800 023 2557. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.

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For more information visit www.EuropeanTour.com.

 The 54-hole pro-am, taking place from November 21^st to 23^rd, will be hosted by Gloria Golf Course at the Gloria Serenity Resort, and will see teams from all over Europe compete at the Michel Gayon-design layouts.

 The 2012 tournament saw Wales’ Simon Edwards continue his fine Turkish-form with a 10-under par 206 total capturing the $8,000 winner’s cheque, one shot ahead of fellow Welshman, Garry Houston, in a field consisting of a combined seven Ryder Cup appearances, 24 European Tour wins, and 21 Challenge Tour wins between them.

 “Golf in Turkey has evolved a long way since David Clare, Mustafa Koç and his team at Beko, conceived this groundbreaking pro-am,” said Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf. “This will be the 12^th time we have supported the Beko Classic and that really speaks volumes about the quality of the event and its ongoing popularity with both its professional and amateur competitors from across the continent.”

 “It Is fantastic that Turkey can now boast a European Tour event; the Turkish Airlines Open, part of the European Tour Final Series, and I am sure that this is in no small part thanks to the exposure to professional golf that the Beko Classic has provided.”

 Mustafa Koç, Chairman of Koç Holding, said of the event: “As Beko is growing so is our support for the game of golf. I am proud to be associated with the Confederation of Professional Golf and honoured to know that the Beko Classic Pro-Am is the longest running Pro-Am on the popular Confederation of Professional Golf calendar.”

 “This years event is going to be held at the Gloria Golf Resort where many years ago we held the Beko Seniors event on the European Seniors Tour. I have fond memories from that event and after going back to Gloria for this year’s event I am sure it will become a popular venue with all the competitors.”

 Gloria Golf Club is the largest golf complex in Turkey; with 45 golf holes comprising of the 18-hole `Old Course`, the 18-hole `New Course` and the 9-hole `Verde Course`, as well as the largest practice facilities in Turkey.

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 For updates, information and news from the 2013 Beko Classic, visit the Beko Classic Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

 For more information on Gloria Golf Club visit www.Gloria.com.tr.

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 Notes to Editors:

 The Confederation of Professional Golf is an Association of 36 National PGAs (31 European and 5 international) with a collective membership in excess of 21,000 golf professionals.

 Our core mission is to represent, promote and provide advice to develop professional golf and ensure that the administration of the professional game throughout the continent delivers excellence in the services provided to ensure highly qualified, highly skilled PGA Professionals who lead the advancement of the game. [cpg.golf]

Italians also took the Pro-Am prize, with a team of Paolo Campanella, Riccardo Spitale, and Eleonara Frassi accompanying their professional Akim Hassan on the way to -33 under total of 177.

Eventual individual winner Gaggero (pictured, left) started his final round in the driving seat at four-under with Welshman, Liam Bond (-3), and Spaniard, Juanma Fuentes (-2) hot on his heels.

A bright start for the early tee-times was later diluted slightly by uncharacteristic rain, but the players managed to battle through the Dunes course’s tougher conditions with Gaggero taking a four-shot lead over his chasers through the latter stages.

Gaggero remained strong and completed his final round with a level-par 71, four-under par total (209), with Bond at two-under (211), and Anthony Aruta and Paul Nilbrink tied for third place on two-over par (215).

The Pro-Am arm of the tournament was lead through the early stages by Aruta and his team with 91 points, and a tightly packed group of teams lead by the professionals of Gaggero, Paul Marks, Henrik Engdahl and Giles Johnson each on 89 points.

Clear blue conditions but with a strong breeze from the sea in round two made play more challenging but still didn’t prevent some great scoring, culminating in Akim Hassan’s team (pictured, right) finishing just one shot ahead of Itamar Cohen’s team of Yoduda Levi, Hazy Magen, and Guy Benhamou, who took second place with a -32, 176 points. A fine performance from the Aegean Airlines Chairman, Theodore Vassilakis, his professional Henrik Engdahl, and partners Makis Papadopoulos and Nikolaos Kosmatos, secured a -29, 173 points total for third place.

Gaggero received his winner’s cheque from Mr. Theodore Vassilakis, at the post-tournament gala dinner at Costa Navarino’s Romanos hotel, and was clearly thrilled to have taken his second Aegean Airlines Pro-Am title:

“I’d like to thank Mr Vassilakis and Aegean Airlines for their support of this great tournament,” said Gaggero. “I would also like to congratulate all the organisers, the Confederation of Professional Golf team, and the Costa Navarino staff at both courses – a special thank you also goes to my team that supported me throughout.”

For full individual professional and Pro-Am team results visit the Confederation of Professional Golf Tournament Hub Page here: http://bit.ly/12s2Z8X.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the CPG.com, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

The 54-hole pro-am, taking place from November 21st to 23rd, will be hosted by Gloria Golf Course at the Gloria Serenity Resort, and will see teams from all over Europe compete at the Michel Gayon-design layouts.

The 2012 tournament saw Wales’ Simon Edwards continue his fine Turkish-form with a 10-under par 206 total capturing the $8,000 winner’s cheque, one shot ahead of fellow Welshman, Garry Houston, in a field consisting of a combined seven Ryder Cup appearances, 24 European Tour wins, and 21 Challenge Tour wins between them.

“Golf in Turkey has evolved a long way since David Clare, Mustafa Koç and his team at Beko, conceived this groundbreaking pro-am,” said Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf. “This will be the 12th time we have supported the Beko Classic and that really speaks volumes about the quality of the event and its ongoing popularity with both its professional and amateur competitors from across the continent.”

“It Is fantastic that Turkey can now boast a European Tour event; the Turkish Airlines Open, part of the European Tour Final Series, and I am sure that this is in no small part thanks to the exposure to professional golf that the Beko Classic has provided.”

Mustafa Koç, Chairman of Koç Holding, said of the event: “As Beko is growing so is our support for the game of golf. I am proud to be associated with the Confederation of Professional Golf and honoured to know that the Beko Classic Pro-Am is the longest running Pro-Am on the popular Confederation of Professional Golf calendar.”

“This years event is going to be held at the Gloria Golf Resort where many years ago we held the Beko Seniors event on the European Seniors Tour. I have fond memories from that event and after going back to Gloria for this year’s event I am sure it will become a popular venue with all the competitors.”

Gloria Golf Club is the largest golf complex in Turkey; with 45 golf holes comprising of the 18-hole `Old Course`, the 18-hole `New Course` and the 9-hole `Verde Course`, as well as the largest practice facilities in Turkey.

————————

For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the CPG.com, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.