Last chance for players to qualify for The Open at the Scottish Open
Last Updated: 12/07/17 3:38pm
The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open provides one last chance for players to secure one of the remaining qualifying places for next week's 146th Open, live on Sky Sports.
Scottish pair Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale and Ryan Fox of New Zealand claimed the three places on offer at last week's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and another three spots are up for grabs at Dundonald Links.
Those places at Royal Birkdale will go to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties, with 105 of the field hoping to secure a Major berth.
Here's a look at some of those yet to qualify……..
Former world No 1 Luke Donald has featured 16 times in The Open but will need to make his mark in Ayrshire this week after slipping to 90th in the world rankings.
The Englishman finished second in the RBC Heritage back in April but has missed the cut in his last five PGA Tour events and could only manage 65th place in the BMW PGA Championship on his last trip across the Atlantic.
Donald did, however, win the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in 2011 and will be hoping for another good performance in Scotland if he is to have a chance of improving on his best finish in The Open - a tie for fifth at Turnberry in 2009 and also at Lytham in 2012.
The 39-year-old is looking forward to tackling this week's layout and has some previous experience of the course.
"I do enjoy Links golf," he said. "I think it's totally different to what we play week in, week out so obviously, I had some success at the Scottish Open you know feeling really comfortable with the Links golf and the golf courses that they've played on.
"I've played here before a long time ago. I came here just before The Open at Turnberry [in] 2009, so I have played it. It's a nice set up and it should be a fun week."
Graeme McDowell finished alongside Donald in fifth place at Lytham in 2012 and the Northern Irishman is another player who has yet to book his place at Royal Birkdale.
The 2010 US Open winner and 2008 Scottish Open champion has also tumbled down the rankings - to 102nd - after a poor run of form and will need to up his game after failing to make the weekend at the US Open, Open de France and Irish Open.
The 37-year-old, who has played in The Open every year since making his debut in 2004, did manage to finish in a tie for 10th behind Alex Noren in last year's Scottish Open at Castle Stuart and a repeat performance could be good enough to secure a spot at Royal Birkdale.
Other past Scottish Open champions in action this week and still chasing a place in The Open are Edoardo Molinari, Gregory Havret, Johan Edfors and Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.
Bjorn, 46, won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond back in 1996 and finished in a tie for second in The Open in both 2000 and 2003, but he is another player who will require a dramatic improvement in form to be in contention this week.
American Daniel Im just missed out at last week's Irish Open - due to Drysdale's higher world ranking - after coming joint-fourth following a bogey at the last and the world No 365 will be hoping for another good display this week.
Former Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson, who is now 247th in the world, is also still chasing a place at Royal Birkdale and has been in a decent run of form in recent weeks.
However, the 41-year-old was forced to withdraw at the halfway stage of last week's Irish Open due to a pulled muscle in his back and will need to have put that injury behind him.
Other former Ryder Cup players still seeking a place in The Open are Nicolas Colsaerts, Victor Dubuisson, Robert Karlsson - Bjorn's vice-captain for 2018 - David Howell, Stephen Gallacher and Niclas Fasth.
Ireland's Paul Dunne made his name in the 2015 Open when he was tied for the lead after three rounds when playing as an amateur.
He eventually had to settle for joint-30th place after closing with a 78 and went on to miss the cut last year, so he will be keen to earn himself another chance of glory via the Scottish Open this week.
The 24-year-old looked set to qualify at last week's Irish Open after opening with rounds of 67 and 69 but slipped back to joint-54th place after a disappointing weekend.
So with a $7m prize fund up for grabs, as well as the three Open places, there is plenty to watch out for at Dundonald Links this week, while there is also one final Open place on offer in the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour.
Who will take those final spots for The Open? Watch the Scottish Open and John Deere Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.