After a top-25 performance at the European Tour’s Lyoness Open two weeks ago Ryan McCarthy returns to the Challenge Tour this week no doubt feeling confident about his game.

The 27-year-old played some of his best golf of the year in Austria and after a difficult run to start his 2017 campaign has shown improvement in recent weeks.

He was also top-25 in his last Challenge Tour appearance three weeks ago, the turnaround coming at an ideal time with some of the Tour’s biggest purses on offer in coming weeks.

McCarthy is one of six Australians to make the journey to Scotland for the SSE Hydro Scottish Challenge, Ben Eccles Nick Cullen and Jordan Zunic all returning after taking time off while Daniel Fox looks to back up from his season best finish last week.

Scott Arnold is also in this week’s field, making just his third appearance of 2017 as he plays the season on a medical exemption.