Graeme McDowell is looking to successfully defend his Scottish Open title on his way to a strong showing at next week's Open Championship.
A number of the world's top players are bringing their
golf clubs and
golf balls to Loch Lomond as a way of settling into the country ahead of the season's third major at Turnberry, which starts next Thursday.
Last year, McDowell won the Scottish Open by two strokes from James Kingston, but this time around he will be joined on the first tee by another 21 players from the world's top 50, as he bids to become the first player to ever successfully defend the event.
These include Geoff Ogilvy, South African pair Retief Goosen and Ernie Els and current Masters champion Angel Cabrera.
McDowell said: "I can't wait to get back to Loch Lomond to defend my title it is one of my favourite venues in the world and one of my favourite tournaments.
"I know I don't have a divine right to turn up and win again, but I feel very close to getting back to top form, and it would be great to repeat last year's result."
McDowell has been paired with Cabrera and Ross Fisher for the first two rounds of the event, while there are a number of other interesting threeballs to excite fans.
These include the British threesome of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, while recent French Open winner Martin Kaymer is joined by exciting Columbian Camilo Villegas and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie.
Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, Zach Johnson is not going to let the friendly faces around the course distract him during the John Deere Classic.
The tournament is played at the TPC at Deere Run in Illinois, with the 2007 Masters winner hailing from nearby Iowa.
Despite not witnessing the greatest success at the event in the past, Johnson is hoping for a change of fortunes and looking to add to the two PGA titles he has already gained this year.
He told the Des Moines Register: "It's difficult to play in front of friendly faces. I think I've gotten past that. I haven't had much success here. But it has nothing to do with the fact that I have friends and family here.
"I'm going to go out Thursday and see what happens."
Kenny Perry will return to attempt to defend his title despite the recent news that his mother is dying of cancer.
He is currently in form, particularly with his
TaylorMade R9 Driver, after recently clinching his 14th PGA Tour victory at the Travelers Championship in his last event.
However, US Open champion Lucas Glover is in the line-up, while David Toms may be expected to make a strong showing having finished second in two of his last three events.
For those still not qualified for the Open Championship, there is a spot up for grabs for the highest-placed finisher in the top five that is currently not guaranteed to be in the Turnberry field.
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