World number two Phil Mickelson, third-ranked Ernie Els and fourth-ranked Adam Scott will lead a strong field in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in July. Mickelson and Els, a double winner of the British Open warm-up event, return after finishing second and third respectively last year behind Frenchman Gregory Havret.
World number five Ernie Els is still in a daze after gifting victory to Briton John Bickerton at the Dunhill Championship on Sunday. The three-time Major winner arrived at the par-five 18th at Leopard Creek on Sunday with a two-shot lead over Bickerton, who had already completed his round. But Els twice found the water surrounding the final green to slump to a triple-bogey eight.
Irishman Padraig Harrington beat Sergio Garcia of Spain by one stroke in a four-hole British Open play-off on Sunday to land his maiden victory in a major and the first by a European for eight years. Harrington (35) completed the extra holes in 15 shots (level par) after the two Ryder Cup colleagues had finished the championship locked together on seven-under 277.
Richard Sterne's second European Tour victory at the Wales Open has earned the South African a place in next month's British Open at Carnoustie. Sterne also climbed to fourth in the order of merit after scooping the first prize of 000 at Celtic Manor on Sunday.