Lawrie & Strachan tee up in Gleneagles Pro-Am

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie and ex-Scotland and Celtic boss Gordon Strachan are teeing it up in this year's Gleneagles International Pro-Am.

The July 24-27 event is a sell-out with teams from Scotland, England, USA, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Russia and even from the tiny Caribbean island of Aruba.

“The International Pro Am is a celebration of golf and a celebration of Scotland," said Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at Gleneagles, of a tournament that is being staged for the third year in a row.

"This event is rapidly becoming a must-experience tournament for amateur golfers and golf professionals around the world, who are immersed in an incredible four-days at our 850-acre Perthshire estate.”

Lawrie, the Gleneagles golf ambassador, will be the star name in a field that is also set to include Emanuele Canonica.

The Italian is returning to the venue where he won on the European Tour in the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2005 by two strokes.

Pros will be competing for a prize fund of £16,000 and amateurs £2,000 in an event that sees competitors will play on all three Gleneagles courses - the King’s, Queen’s and PGA Centenary, venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup and host for next year's Solheim Cup.

Strachan, meanwhile, is set to be joined in the line-up by former Scotland rugby union captain, Rory Lawson and current player John Barclay.

The event comes just before Gleneagles also stages the inaugural European Golf Team Championships, a new mixed event that is part of the multi-sport Glasgow 2018 European Championship.

In addition, the King’s is hosting the 100th playing of the Scottish Stroke Play Championship in August, while the Queen’s stages the second PING Scottish Mixed Championship in September.

“We have a fantastic summer programme of golf at Gleneagles as a pre-cursor to the Solheim Cup next year and the centenary of The King’s Course," added Silcock.