Two of Ireland's leading amateurs will tee it up at this week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, which starts today.

Recently crowned British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney of the North West club in Buncrana, Co Donegal, who was the only Irishman named this week in the Walker Cup side to face the Americans in Chicago in September, gets the chance to test his skills against the professionals a week ahead of his debut in the British Open at St Andrews.

He is joined by Rory McIlroy, the 16-year-old Holywood, Co Down, sensation who will, remarkably, be making his third appearance in a full European Tour event this season.

Also playing at Loch Lomond are Darren Clarke, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie.

Ernie Els, after making a last-minute decision to play this week, has his sights set on a record third title at Loch Lomond. The twice US Open champion had considered pulling out of one of his favourite events to practise links golf for the British Open.

"I love this tournament and really enjoy the Loch Lomond golf course," the 35-year-old said yesterday. "Having won it twice before, I'm really looking forward to playing and hoping for a good performance this week," said Els, who won in 2000 and 2003.

Els, who tied for 15th in last month's US Open, leads one of the strongest European Tour fields of the year, with eight of the world's top 20 in action.

World number four Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen (five), Australia's Adam Scott (seven), Britain's Luke Donald (13), Argentina's Angel Cabrera (15), Clarke (17) and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (20) are also in the field.

Frenchman Thomas Levet, who came from seven strokes behind with a closing 63 to win last year by a shot, is back to defend.