PREVIEW: Barclays Scottish Open

One of the most picturesque layouts, Loch Lomond Golf Club, again plays host to the Barclays Scottish Open and plenty of big names will tee it up just a week before the Open Championship.

Following his runners-up finish last year Phil Mickelson returns to try and go one better and he will be joined by Ernie Els, third in 2007, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Angel Cabrera.

Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, first and second at Carnoustie in 2007, will again choose to do their Open preparations elsewhere - Harrington at the Irish PGA and Garcia at home in Spain.

From Pool A of the Fantasy Golf competition Els might be worth a shout given that he has won twice over the Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish designed course.

Otherwise the tournament has tended to throw up some surprise winners. Last year Frenchman Gregory Havret held his nerve beautifully to beat Mickelson in a play-off, before that Johan Edfors, Tim Clark and Thomas Levet were the most recent winners.

And if your favourite isn't near the top going into the final round do not be too alarmed as this tournament has a habit of some large final-day comebacks. Levet came from seven back to win by one from Michael Campbell and Edfors started six behind the third round leaders but came through to win by two strokes. On both occasions both players shot a last day 63 (-8), the largest comeback on the tour in those respective seasons.

Colin Montgomerie (Pool D), winner in 1999, will receive as much support as anyone as he strives to make the Ryder Cup side and it will be his second visit here this year following his marriage to Gaynor Knowles in April.

But the most in-form player in the field is NCG columnist Ross Fisher. The Englishman, who crushed everyone at the London Club by a whopping seven shots, has a bit of form at Loch Lomond having tied for 19th last year. Whether has has much left in the tank after leading the European Open from day one will be his biggest concern.

The following players have entered:

Pool A

Phil Mickelson
Ernie Els
Adam Scott
Henrik Stenson
Angel Cabrera
Lee Westwood
Darren Clarke
Paul McGinley
Oliver Wilson
Thomas Levet
Alexander Noren
Pablo Martin
Ignacio Garrido

Pool B

Niclas Fasth
Ian Poulter
Richard Sterne
Andres Romero
Soren Hansen
Rory McIlroy
Johan Edfors
David Howell

Pool C

Miguel Angel Jimenez
Richard Green
Nick Dougherty
Anders Hansen
Peter Hanson
Bradley Dredge
Damien McGrane
Peter Lawrie
Hennie Otto

Pool D

Colin Montgomerie
Daniel Chopra
Charl Schwartzel
Soren Kjeldsen
Simon Dyson
Steve Webster
Mikko Ilonen
Richard Finch
Graeme Storm

Pool E

Louis Oosthuizen
Jyoti Randhawa
Jeev Milkha Singh
James Kingston
Graeme McDowell
Ross Fisher
Ross McGowan
Raphael Jacquelin