Graeme McDowell has apologized to Scottish Open title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management for bashing host course Castle Stuart ahead of the championship this week.
McDowell dismissed the Gil Hanse-designed course as an improper test for the tournament, as well as a precursor to the Open Championship.
"Graeme has been in touch to apologize and he’s not the first person to say something they regret, so we’ve got not problems whatsoever with him," Aberdeen Asset Management CEO Martin Gilbert said, according to the Daily Mail. "In fact, he’s been a true gentleman."
The 2010 U.S. Open champion told the Scottish Sun that the event has lost prestige, in part because of its host course.
"Castle Stuart probably has not been a strong enough golf course," McDowell said, adding later, "It is a beautiful venue – but it is probably a little too wide open off the tee and a little one-dimensional."
Gilbert seemed to even cede the point to McDowell.
"In fairness to Graeme, he has a point to a certain extent in terms of old and new links courses," he said.
Next year, a classic links gem will take over as host of the tournament after a three-year stint at Castle Stuart. Royal Aberdeen will be the new host. It's the sixth-oldest golf club in the world.
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