Gunn misses out on invite

Dornoch golfer Jimmy Gunn has been overlooked for the final invite to this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

The 34- year- old, who plays on the third tier eGolf Gateway Tour in America, hadhopeda top30finish at the recent US Open at Chambers Bay would have bolstered his chances of earning a spot in his national open.

It had been expected the final invite would go to either Gunn or Bradley Neil, who turned professional last month after a stellar amateur career.

But the ScottishOpenorganisers instead gave Glasgow go lf e r Andrew McArthur the final berth in the £3.25million event.

McArthur, 36, has enjoyed an excellent start to the Challenge Tour season, sitting 11th in the rankings.

Scotland’s Russell Knox, Martin Laird and Sandy Lyle as well as Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg and American pair David Duval and Cameron Tringale had already received invites to the Scottish Open.

McArthur’s inclusion means there will be 17 Scottish golfers in the field at Gullane, including Aberdeen’s Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay and Banchory’s Greig Hutcheon.

Swedish golfer Rikard Karlberg, meanwhile, was the primary beneficiary of Rory McIlroy’s injury.

The 28- year- old from Gothenburg was handed McIlroy’s place in this week’s Scottish Open at Gullane and intends to make the most of the unexpected start.

He said: “Thanks to Rory’s football game I got from first reserve to in the field. Hopefully he gets well soon and I can make up for his withdrawal – Scottish Open here I come.”

Jimmy Gunn