Adam Scott reckons he played the best golf of his career in Scotland and the Aussie ace is hoping a return to the game’s birthplace can help him find his form again in this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open

The former Masters champ make his first appearance in the domestic showpiece since 2009 but memories of a triumphant trip to Scotland in another event still stir the senses.

As an emerging 22-year-old back in 2002, Scott showed his class when he romped to a sizzling 10-shot victory in the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles as he claimed the third European Tour win of his blossoming career.

Scott said: “I remember a lot about that tournament at Gleneagles and maybe to this day it's the best golf I've ever played in my career. To win a tournament by ten shots? That doesn't happen very often.

“Everything just kind of fell into place for me, and I was playing out of my mind a little bit that year. They were good times.”

Having missed the cut in his last competitive outing in the US Open back in June, Scott has been left stewing in his golfing juices but the 36-year-old reckons the links effect here in Ayrshire can galvanise him ahead of next week’s Open at Royal Birkdale.

Scott, who is part of a shimmering world class field in Ayrshire this week which includes Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Patrick Reed, added: “I was about 16-years-old when I took a first trip over to Scotland to play some junior tournaments.

“In fact I did two tours that year. I came over in the middle of summer and then at the end of summer. I played a lot of golf. I started up north and played Royal Aberdeen and then St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles. We played a tournament at Loch Lomond, then Western Gailes, Turnberry, Troon and Prestwick.

“We don’t really play links golf now at all, especially on the US Tour and I think the adjustment is tougher the you think. We are so used to playing a certain way that it takes time. So in the past, coming over here 10 days before the Open and playing the venue really worked for me.

“But this year, I’ve had a slight schedule change and less tournament play leading up to the Open and I think I needed that competitive play. So coming back to the Scottish Open really ticks the boxes and hopefully, with four days here, that will be enough links golf to get me ready.”

On the local front, meanwhile, Glasgow golfer Scott Jamieson is relishing the prospect of a Scottish Open in his own backyard.

The 33-year-old has played the domestic showpiece in the Highlands, in the north east and on the East Lothian coast but never in his own neck of the woods.

Jamieson, a former winner on the Euro Tour, said: “I’ve never had the Scottish Open in the west. They had it at Loch Lomond, but I wasn’t on the Tour then. When you play in Scotland, even in front of the Scottish fans, I never felt I had loads of people from the golf club or close by who went up to watch. So this week I'm really looking forward to it.”

Jamieson has qualified for the Open twice with high finishes in the Scottish Open in recent years. There are three Birkdale spots on offer this week and with a hugely increased prize fund of $7 million this year, the Cathkin Braes man has plenty to play for.

He added: “The Scottish Open is so big now in its own right, with such a massive prize purse and world rankings points, it’s really something you want to get. You probably would be more keen to get a top five finish because of the size of the tournament on its own. The Open spot comes as an extra reward for doing that.”

“I’ve qualified for the Open through good finishes at Castle Stuart and Royal Aberdeen and I have a chance to nick one of them this week again. My game is miles better than it was this time last year. It’s been a much better year.”