AFTER a three-year absence, the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open returns to East Lothian, and Gullane Golf Club, this morning (Thursday). 

The first group, of Austrian Matthias Schwab, South Korean teenager Hye-jin Choi and Scot Conor O'Neil, are due to begin their first rounds at 6.30am. 

Some of the world's best golfers are set to take part - including five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Patrick Reed and Olympic golf champion Justin Rose. 

They will be hoping to win the title that Rafa Cabrera Bello won at Dundonald Links 12 months ago, and that was won by American Rickie Fowler when the tournament debuted at Gullane in 2015. 

Mickelson, who won the 2013 Open at Muirfield, tees off alongside another Open champion Padraig Harrington and Kiradech Aphibarnrat at 8.50am.

Rose and Fowler have been paired together, and join Hideki Matsuyama as they begin at 9am. 

And Stephen Gallacher begins his first round at 1.20pm alongside Lee Westwood and Matt Kuchar. 

See this week's Courier - out now - for a full 12-page guide to the Scottish Open.