Els shows rivals he means business

ERNIE ELS fired a warning to the pretenders to his Open title with a superb opening round in the disrupted Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Els carded a seven-under-par 64 to set the clubhouse target after four hours play was lost following torrential rain.

Darren Clarke carded a first-round 69 playing alongside Els but the third member of the group, defending champion Eduardo Romero, had to settle for a one-over 72.

Swindon's David Howell was two shots behind Els after a 66 which included seven birdies and a double bogey seven, while European Open winner Phil Price carried on where he left off last week with a 67.

Els, who teed off at 8.20am, had played three holes before the players were forced off the course.

The 33-year-old South African returned with a vengeance when play resumed, picking up birdies at his next three holes including driving the green on the 345-yard 14th and picked up four further shots to put himself in pole position to regain the title he won in 2000.

Els' only spot of trouble came on the par-five third, his 12th hole, when a wayward drive meant he was literally bent double under a tree to play his second shot, before holing a 15 foot putt for par.

Els of course is exempt for the Open as defending champion but the likes of Howell are trying to claim one of the 15 places available for Sandwich this week. Seven places go to the highest finishers in a mini Order of Merit from the Volvo PGA to this week, while eight go to the leading players in the Scottish Open not otherwise exempt.

Howell currently occupies seventh spot on the Order of Merit and is so focused on qualifying via that route he does not even know where he would have to qualify if he missed out.

He appears unlikely to do so now, and only those who either miss the cut or pull out before the third round draw are eligible to compete in final qualifying on Sunday and Monday.

Price enjoyed the biggest win of his career on Sunday at the K Club and admitted he was unsure how he would react this week.

US Amateur champion Ricky Barnes continued to impress amid the professionals with a one-under-par 70 despite having the head of his driver come off in his hands with three holes to play.

Barnes, who outscored playing partner Tiger Woods by seven shots in the opening round of this year's Masters at Augusta and finished 21st overall, plans to turn professional after the Open at Sandwich, where he could have older brother Andy for company as a player rather than caddie.

Andy has made it through regional qualifying and will give up his bag duties today to travel south and try and come through two rounds of final qualifying and join 22-year-old Ricky in the field at Sandwich.

Seve Ballesteros will miss next week's Open championship on medical advice, it was revealed yesterday.

The Spanish star's brother issued a statement saying that his absence from Royal St George's has nothing to do with the controversy earlier in the season which resulted in him being fined and severely reprimanded by the European tour.

Baldomero Ballesteros said: "I, as an authorised spokesman, hereby declare and confirm that my brother's absence from this great golf event is due only and exclusively to his physical condition, which is not at its best to take part with some minimum guarantee of success in such a demanding golf tournament.

"At the suggestion of his physician, Seve is enjoying a necessary rest to prevent his back spasms which he has been suffering lately with bigger intensity and to avoid him any further discomfort.

"Any misinterpretation, like connecting his non-participation with other matters like specific disagreements with the European Tour referees or else noting that he does not feel supported by his fellow golfers or friends in the tour deserves not only rejection, but total discredit to those who sign such mere speculations."

Ballesteros has not played since the Benson and Hedges International Open two months ago.