British Open Favorites? Better Check Out the Scottish Open First

Do yourself a huge favor.

Watch the Barclay's Scottish Open this week on the European Tour.

Do it, treat yourself to what has to be a simply amazing venue.

First, take this video flyover tour of the Stuart Castle Golf Links sitting there in the Scottish highlands.

Gander a look at this layout. Simply spectacular. You've got links land overlooking the Moray Firth and Stuart Castle bay. You've got snow-capped mountains in the background.

It simply doesn't get better than this.

Check it out, see who can negotiate this links drama before you start picking winners for next week's Open Championship at Royal St. George's.

See who can master this incredible layout that is new but looks like it's been there forever.

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are back in the same European Tour event since late May when they duked it out in a playoff at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, where Donald won the sudden-death affair when Westwood hit the 18th green, then watched his ball spin into the water.

That was Parkland golf.

This is links golf and this place blows out last year's Scottish Open venue, Loch Lomond, well, it blows it out of the Loch.

After the video flyover, check out the photo gallery.

This is post card stuff.

Makes you want to head over there next week.

Yes, watch the Scottish Open, it's always a treat to watch Phil Mickelson try and play links golf. Pure entertainment, maybe not for Lefty for its great for the galleries.

Castle Stuart is froth with links disaster—pot bunkers, gorse, ledges that fall off to the water, huge, undulating greens. It's all there.

Great precursor to the Open.

Can't wait.