Five of the world’s top nine golfers have joined the field for the Scottish Open, the traditional lead up event to the British Open next week. There is plenty on line too as Luke Donald defends his number one ranking from Lee Westward. These two look set to battle it out for the number one spot for the rest of the year.

In Scotland, they won’t have it all their own way with the field including last year’s US Open champion Graeme McDowell, three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose, and former Open and US Open champion Ernie Els.

Colin Montgomerie will be hoping for a top five finish in order to get an invite into next week’s Open. He has played in every Open since 1989, however, his form over the last 12 months is such that without a top five finish this weekend, he won’t be appearing this year.

Bookmakers have made Westwood favourite at 9/1 ahead of Donald at 10/1 and McDowell the next best at 22/1. There’s some real value down the list. Matt Kuchar is at 24/1 while Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen are at 25/1 – both good each way chances. While Harrington’s form hasn’t been great, he should do well on this traditional links course, and at 35/1 he is very good value, even each way.

We’re ignoring all of them and selecting Justin Rose at 30/1. His form has been fairly ordinary across the board, however, he has been putting it together for two or three days of late, and if he can put it all together for four days, he’ll come very close to taking the title. He’s our tip from Westwood and Harrington.