"Scotland the Home of Golf" is set to be premiered at this year's Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in the USA.

The film will encourage visitors to come to Scotland in 2009 and join the country's homecoming celebrations at next year's Open Championships at Turnberry.

Homecoming 2009 has been organised to coincide with the 250th anniversary of poet Robert Burns' birth and aims to attract the Scots Diaspora around the world to return home.

The Hollywood star made the announcement at Peterculter Golf Club in Aberdeen.

"I've been a lifelong supporter of golf and Burns, so to combine the two next year seems very appropriate," he said. "I look forward enormously to promoting the film, which I'm sure will do justice to Scotland's reputation as the home of golf."

First Minister Alex Salmond also used the opportunity to call for golf clubs across Scotland to open their courses up to the 'Drive it Home' initiative, which is set to be promoted as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

The aim is for hundreds of Scotland's courses to offer a free four ball to overseas visitors during the Year of Homecoming.

Mr Salmond said: "It is fantastic that Sir Sean has decided to do the film. Steven Spielberg couldn't lure him out of retirement, but Homecoming obviously has."

Courtesy of Homecoming Scotland 2009

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