Mike Harwood must feel as though a drought-breaking second European Seniors Tour win is so close but yet so far in a season in which he has contended without ever truly threatening.

Runner up at the Scottish Senior Open at The Renaissance Club last year, Harwood returns for the 26th hosting of the tournament only this time at a new venue, the Craigielaw Golf Club in Longniddry after finishing tied for 22nd at the European Tour Properties Senior Classic last week.

Although he has had three top-20 finishes so far this year Harwood’s best result is a tie for 14th where he had to play second fiddle to fellow Australian and tournament winner Peter Fowler.

It’s been almost 10 years since Harwood’s sole victory on the Staysure Tour at the OKI Castellon Senior Tour Championship but his affinity with the Scottish Senior Open – where he has three top 10s in six starts – must bring with it an extra level of confidence.

Fowler’s win last month and his tie for fourth last week sees him placed fifth on the Order of Merit and one of the players to beat this week given he has finished 13th or better in seven of his eight Scottish Senior Open appearances.

The winner of the Scottish Open on the European Tour in 1992, Peter O’Malley is playing in his fourth Scottish Senior Open in a field that includes familiar names such as Ian Woosnam, Ronan Rafferty, Costantino Rocca and Jean-Francois Remesy.

Big names abound on the Champions Tour this week with a long list of former major winners teeing it up in The Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills in Michigan.

David McKenzie will fly the flag for Australia – Peter Lonard could be a late inclusion as an alternate – in a field that boasts Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, John Daly, Lee Janzen, Tom Lehman, Sandy Lyle and David Toms.