Stay-away stars will be the biggest losers

It’s a really big disappointment that many of Europe’s top names are skipping this week’s Scottish Open but they’re the ones missing out.

The tournament still has plenty of prestige and there’s lot of money at stake, but the likes of Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy have decided to take the week off.

I think they’re making a big mistake.

Unless you’re very tired after a long schedule, there’s no substitute for playing with a scorecard and pencil in your hand.

No matter how long you spend on the practice ground or in the gym, you only learn what needs working on out on the course.

With the Scottish Open now at Castle Stuart, players have the chance to test their game in links conditions the week before The Open.

The tournament had a successful venue in Loch Lomond, where it had developed its own identity.

The crowds were good and it looked spectacular on TV, but it was a soft parkland course.

The European Tour listened to what the players wanted so they moved it north. Of course, when you move an event like the Scottish Open to a new venue, it takes a while for everyone to adjust.

Castle Stuart got off to a bad start in 2011 when heavy rain nearly washed the course away. And there’s another move next year, when the sponsors shift the tournament to Royal Aberdeen.

Not surprisingly, The Scottish Open suffers because of its proximity to The Open. Whatever happens, there’s always one eye on the following week.

Disappointingly, only two of the world’s top 20 are playing in Inverness.

But look who IS in the field defending Open Champion Ernie Els, as well as former Champions Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie. They’ve won the ultimate prize and they understand that a competitive week in windy, bouncy conditions will do no harm at all.

One of the biggest regrets from my playing days was that I couldn’t spend the week before The Open playing links golf. We always had the French Open and I had to play it because I simply couldn’t afford to take the week off.

Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus made a point of visiting places like Ballybunion in Ireland or Royal Dornoch to prepare. That ensured they arrived at The Open match fit, and it’s no surprise they won eight Claret Jugs between them.

Tiger Woods used fly into Ireland for some links golf with his pal Mark O’Meara. The one year he didn’t, he missed the cut at Turnberry in 2009!

One man who will be in Inverness is Paul Casey. The Englishman came out of the doldrums in spectacular fashion last Sunday with his victory at the Irish Open.

He was No 3 in the world a few years ago, but personal problems and injuries really knocked him back.

Paul believes he should be up there challenging with the likes of Donald and Rose and this is a step in the right direction again.

He’s young enough to have a great career and last week will have felt almost as sweet as his first win.

And he showed he’s not lost any of a natural winner’s instinct because when the chance came, he grabbed it.