Defending champion Ernie Els has withdrawn from the Scottish Open in a bid to get fit for next week's British Open.
The 31-year-old South African, who finished joint runner-up to Tiger Woods at last year's British Open, has been struggling with a recurrence of an old back injury.
"To be honest I was very tempted to travel to Scotland and play simply because it was Loch Lomond but my doctor advised me not to," Els, twice U.S. Open champion said.
"Obviously I have one eye on Lytham next week, but at this moment I am confident I will be playing in the Open if the progress I have made over the last 10 days carries on."
The Scottish Open begins at Loch Lomond tomorrow , while the British Open starts on July 19th at Royal Lytham and St Annes in north-west England.