To be or not to be at The Open.  That was the question surrounding world No.3 Lee Westwood this week.

Lee suffered a small tear to a muscle near a calf during the French Open and speculation has been spreading among the media as to his chances of teeing up at St.Andrews in the hunt for golf’s greatest prize. My prediction is that he will be there, fit and ready to make his bid for a first major championship when the home of golf welcomes the world’s best golfers next week.

Lee has been advised to have complete rest for a few days and then head to Scotland early next week. It was a top effort for Lee to complete the course in France despite the deterioration of the problem although the greater surprise these days is if he finishes outside the top 20 rather than it.

Just ahead of Lee in a tie for 16th was Jeev Milkha Singh, another who knows what it is like to be sidelined by injury this season.  The shoulder problems which have plagued Jeev are rapidly diminishing and he will be looking forward to a long and rewarding stretch throughout the rest of the summer.

Top of the ISM leaderboard last week was Rory McIlroy, who was particularly impressive over the weekend in Paris.  Rory has been a little quiet since his breakthrough win in America, but is coming into top form at exactly the right time.  He will definitely be one to watch at St. Andrews.

Now I’m off to a different part of Scotland, but an equally special place.  The Barclays Scottish Open is always a particular favourite of mine and for more reasons than it is set in one of the world’s most beautiful places.

Barclays are magnificent sponsors and put on a great show.  Their support of Darren Clarke over the years has been outstanding and he will be keen to repay them and help himself this week.   A top 5 finish on the bonny, bonny banks could be enough to secure him the last available place in The Open.

We wish him well and all our other contenders for one of the European Tour’s most prestigious titles.