Six Irish chase Open ticket

Seven Irish players contest this week’s Scottish Open but while Pádraig Harrington will tee up on the acclaimed Castle Stuart course to the east of Inverness with the comfort of a British Open tee time, it won’t be the same for six others.

Peter Lawrie, Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry, Gareth Maybin and Simon Thornton will be striving for that Open berth.

However, if past Scottish Open showings is any yardstick the odds of any of the six joining the likes of Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell next week is high.