FOUR-TIME Major champion Rory McIlroy has been confirmed as among the entries at the Scottish Open next month.

Five of the top 10 players in the official world golf rankings will tee it up at The Renaissance Club from July 8-11.

McIlroy, who has never won the tournament, will be making his seventh appearance at Scotland’s national open.

The 32-year-old is returning to the competition, which he last took part in in 2019, and will be joined by a number of impressive names.

World number one and recent US Open champion Jon Rahm, and the third, fourth and fifth ranked players, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, are all confirmed as heading to the East Lothian course, which is hosting the event for the third consecutive year.

Rahm, the current Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex leader, will go in search of a fifth Rolex Series title when he makes his Scottish Open debut alongside fellow Major winner Morikawa and four-time PGA Tour winner Schauffele, while the 2017 US PGA Championship winner Thomas returns for a second appearance.

World number 11 Tyrrell Hatton will also look to add to his multiple Rolex Series titles when he tees it up alongside fellow 2018 Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Henrik Stenson, the current European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, and his newly-appointed vice-captains Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell.

Reigning Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood is also confirmed for this year’s event, alongside 12-time European Tour winner Ian Poulter, fellow Englishman and defending champion Aaron Rai and their compatriots Matt Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace and 2016 Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett, who have 17 European Tour titles between them.

Leading the home charge will be Robert MacIntyre, the highest-ranked Scotsman in the world at 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking, while East Lothian’s Grant Forrest and David Drysdale are also confirmed.

American stars Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris are among the players making their debuts as the second Rolex Series event of the 2021 Race to Dubai takes its traditional slot in the week before The Open.

A strictly limited number of tickets are on sale now for each of the four Scottish Open competition days.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available on site during the tournament.

To purchase your tickets, www.europeantour.com/european-tour