Dundonald Links chiefs reckon they have won a watch with the news that the 2017 Scottish Open will see its prize fund rocket to a whopping £5.6 million as part of a lucrative new Rolex Series on the European Tour.

And the Ayrshire venue’s director of golf, Ian Colquhoun, has admitted that the charm offensive to attract the world's best players to the west coast is already underway.

Dundonald will stage the domestic showpiece next July and has been boosted by the announcement of the Rolex Series, a seven-strong programme of money-soaked events that will also include the BMW PGA Championship, the Irish Open, the Italian Open, the Turkish Airlines Open, the Nedbank Challenge and the DP World Tour Championship.

The Scottish Open will retain its much sought-after place in the schedule the week before the Open Championship itself.

Five of the last six Claret Jug winners have warmed up by competing in the Scottish Open down the years and Colquhoun is hopeful the world’s best will be attracted to Ayrshire in 2017.

He said: “I invited all the players from Europe, Asia and the US who took part in the Open last year to come along and experience the facility.

“A few have been already while representatives of Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth have been here, scouting the course and the surrounding area. I think we’ll get a great field.

“With its place in the schedule and now the increased purse, the Scottish Open has huge pulling power.”

Last year’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart suffered a sharp decline in attendance figures with 42,000 passing through the gates but Colquhoun is confident west will prove best in 2017.

He added: “Loch Lomond got 90,000 at its peak and that’s what we have to target. From the European Tour’s perspective, they are optimistic that the figures will be very strong.”