Host of PGA Tour pros FORCED OUT of Scottish Open

A host of PGA Tour players have withdrawn from this week's Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour for the second year running at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. 

The three leading players at the Scottish Open who are not already exempt in The Open will receive a place into the final major championship of the season at Royal Liverpool next week. 

Harry Higgs and Mark Hubbard are the two most notable names to WD from the co-sanctioned tournament this week, especially as they are not already exempt for The Open. 

Other players to have pulled out of the event include Vincent Norrman, Paul Haley II, MJ Daffue and George Coetzee. 

Five players on the reserve list have taken up spots with Doug Ghim, Dylan Frittelli, Alexander Bjork, Erik van Rooyen and Troy Merritt all coming in. 

This week's Scottish Open includes a star-studded field with eight of the world's top 10 players taking part including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay and defending champion Xander Schauffele.

Merritt took to Twitter earlier today to reveal his last-minute news while travelling over to the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship, which is also taking place this week. 

Golf is a strange game, and you have to be willing to adjust your schedule on the fly. As I was traveling to the @BarbasolChamp, I received word that I got into the field for the @ScottishOpen. I made the tough decision to change my itinerary, and will be headed East.

— Troy Merritt (@TROYMERRITT_PGA) July 11, 2023

The two-time PGA Tour winner tweeted:

Merritt's diversion East to Scotland did not interfere with his plans to visit his favoured Waffle House though.

I am taking advantage of having at least one meal at the @WaffleHouse before I depart!

— Troy Merritt (@TROYMERRITT_PGA) July 11, 2023

The Scottish Open takes place just a week before the final major of the season, the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. 

GolfMagic has teamed up with @ScottsdaleGolf to bring a celebration of golf to one of Liverpool's most iconic landmarks during Open Championship week



https://t.co/Y1pD1vrkgB pic.twitter.com/P9Vox0FCPE

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) July 11, 2023

LIV Golf's Cameron Smith will bid to defend The Open next week. 

Fellow LIV Golf pro Dustin Johnson's Open prep has involved him backflipping off a boat with his wife Paulina Gretzky.

Next Page: Smith says Tour pros are still "p****d off" with LIV European players