Scotland's golfing tourism makes a huge contribution to the UK's income, a new report has found.

The figures indicate Scotland’s golf industry makes up 20% of added value to the UK economy, contributing £409m in 2014, despite comprising only 8% of the population.

Scotland’s reputation as the home of golf was boosted by its hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup and 2015 Open Championship, contributing to a significant increase in consumer spending on the sport.

Participation rates for the sport in Scotland are also higher than the UK average, with 7% golfing regularly and 17.5% occasionally compared to UK averages of three per cent and 7.4% respectively.

The study also found jobs supported by the golf industry in Scotland increased from almost 12,000 to 15,000 between 2011 and 2014, boosted by Scotland’s ability to attract major sporting events.

The report was compiled by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University and funded by golf governing body the R&A.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "Golf is one of the most popular sports in Scotland and throughout the UK as a whole.

“This report presents an extremely positive picture of the sport and highlights the substantial contribution it makes to the economy.

“It will enable us to measure growth and identify emerging trends in future which will be extremely valuable."

VisitScotland welcomed the report, with chief executive Malcolm Roughead saying the report “shows the huge impact and influence that Scotland has in the golf industry, not only in the UK but worldwide, and the considerable value of the industry to Scotland’s economy”.