INVERNESS, Scotland — Ernie Els will test his links game before defending the British Open title by playing in the Scottish Open, the traditional warm-up event for golf's oldest major.
The 43-year-old South African suggested after his victory at the BMW International Open last month that he wouldn't be part of the field next week at Castle Stuart in the Scottish Highlands.
Els says he has "very fond memories of my two wins in the Scottish Open, and if I can win it a third time next week, it would be the perfect platform for my defense of The Open."
The British Open will be staged in Scotland at Muirfield from July 18-21.
