GOLF NEWS: The world number four Phil Mickelson will play at this year's Scottish Open, at Loch Lomond, along with fellow Americans Tom Lehman and Fred Funk.
The American trio, who will compete at Loch Lomond from July 10th to 13th, will use the event to prepare for the British Open, which takes place the following week at Royal St George's in Sandwich.
Left-handed Mickelson, who finished third at last month's US Masters for the third year running, will be visiting Loch Lomond for the second time. He finished seventh there in 2000.
"It is a fantastic golf course and a very enjoyable week for players and their families," Mickelson said in a statement.
Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion at Royal Lytham, won at Loch Lomond in 1997 and tied for sixth there last year after closing with a 67.
"It will be great to be back at Loch Lomond in July," said the 44-year-old American. "It is a wonderful event and I look forward to returning each year."
Funk, rated the most accurate driver on the PGA Tour for five of the last eight seasons, will be competing at Loch Lomond for the second year in a row.
World-ranked 33rd, the Florida-based professional has produced two top-10 placings in the United States this season, with a best finish of joint-third at the Nissan Open in February.
Argentina's Eduardo Romero will be defending his title at Loch Lomond in July, having become the third oldest winner in European Tour history last year by edging out Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson in a play-off.
Romero, then aged 47, clinched the eighth European triumph of his career at the first extra hole, rifling a pitching wedge from 120 yards to nine feet before sinking the birdie putt.
Meanwhile, Sam Torrance and 10 members of his victorious European Ryder Cup side return to The Belfry this week for the 33rd and final International Open.
All bar Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik are in action on the English midlands course which has staged so much drama over the years.
For many of the players teeing it up in the first round tomorrow, memories will be of past International Opens as much as past Ryder Cups.
The event, ending now because of a British government ban on most tobacco sponsorship, began at Fulford near York in 1971 with Tony Jacklin taking the inaugural title.
Jose Maria Olazabal is one of only three double winners of the trophy in its history - Australian Graham Marsh and Bernhard Langer are the others - and nobody has made a successful defence.
Argentina's Angel Cabrera has the opportunity to be the first now.
Torrance missed the event only twice, winning in 1984 at Fulford and recording a further four top 10 finishes. He was lying joint third at halfway two years ago, then injured himself on the practice ground and had to pull out.
