They may juggle global finances to the tune of a whopping £324.5bn but the keen golfing folk at Aberdeen Asset Management have always remained true to their roots.
Yesterday, the investment group strengthened its relationship with the Scottish Golf Union and unveiled an agreement to extend the sponsorship of the national amateur squads for a further two years. The alliance between the two stretches back to 2007 and the latest deal comes on the back of the SGU announcing record-breaking sponsorship income of £360,000 for the last financial year.
The game in this country is fortunate to have such enthusiastic, all-embracing backers. From sponsoring the Scottish Open and the Ladies' Scottish Open, as well as players such as Paul Lawrie, Catriona Matthew and Colin Montgomerie, Aberdeen Asset Management's influence in the domestic game is extensive.
Ross Duncan, marketing and sponsorship manager of the SGU, is well aware of the fortunate position the governing body is in. "It can be easy to be complacent when you have a company like Aberdeen Asset Management but we have to continue to work hard to ensure that we are delivering value for money," he said. "The onus is on us and the players to deliver those goods."
With Scotland's amateurs having won the European Cup of Nations in the spring, and Jamie Savage having landed the Irish Open Strokeplay recently, the players who are benefiting from the financial input have made an encouraging start to the campaign.
"The funding gives us the opportunity to perform at the top level so hopefully we can give them a return by putting in some big performances in the major events this year," said Bradley Neil, the former Scottish Boys' champion.
One of those 'major' events will be the European Amateur Championship, which will be staged at the Duke's Course in St Andrews in August. The 72-hole contest, which returns to Scottish soil for the first time since 2003, boasts a roll of honour including Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy and Stephen Gallacher and will offer the winner a place in the 2015 Open over the Old Course.
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