Phil Mickelson will be hoping to go one better than last year when he tees up in the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open to be played at Loch Lomond Golf Club on July 10 to 13.

Last year the World's No. 2 narrowly lost out in a sudden-death play-off to France's Gregory Havret but he is determined to put that reversal behind him and win the Barclays Scottish Open title for the first time.

"I would love to win the Barclays Scottish Open this year," said the American Ryder Cup star. "It's a wonderful event that I've always enjoyed coming to and I felt that I should have won it last year."

"I came close but not close enough," he added. "But Gregory played some fantastic golf so all credit to him.  You can be sure I'll be doing everything I can to win the tournament this time round."

Havret has also returned to the west of Scotland to defend his title and he has been joined by World No. 3 Adam Scott and World No. 6 Ernie Els. Also in the field are 2007 US Open champion Angel Cabrera, 2007 WGC-Accenture Match Play winner Henrik Stenson and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell while a strong British and Irish contingent is head by two former winners - Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and England's Lee Westwood - as well as Darren Clarke, David Howell, Ian Poulter, Graham McDowell, Nick Dougherty and 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie.

Westwood, 35, from Worksop is one of the in-form players coming into Scotland's national Championship having amassed six top-five place finishes in 12 European Tour starts this season including a fine third place in the US Open at Torrey Pines where he missed out on the play-off by just one shot.

The popular Englishman won at Loch Lomond in 1998 and is determined to replicate that feat this year.

"The Barclays Scottish Open is one of my favourite tournaments of the year and Loch Lomond is one of my favourite courses," he said.

"It meant a great deal to win here a decade ago so it would be great to add another Scottish Open title to my name this week."

Home hopes will rest with eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie who won the title back in 1999 and also has two further incentives for doing well this week.

The Scot dragged himself into the fringes of Ryder Cup selection with his recent second place finish at the Open de France Alstrom and will still be on an emotional high having celebrated his second marriage to Gaynor Knowles at Loch Lomond earlier this year.

"I'm really looking forward to this year's Barclays Scottish Open," said the Scot. "Not only does the tournament hold special memories for me having held the trophy high nine years ago but Loch Lomond was the setting for my wedding to Gaynor earlier this year so I'm very much looking forward to returning."

The 2008 Barclays Scottish Open begins at 07.30 on July 10^th with Simon Wakefield, David Lynn and Anton Haig starting from the first tee and S.S.P Chowrasia, Ignacio Garrido and Pablo Martin starting from the tenth. For more information on tee times click here.