SWINDON golfer David Howell will be hoping to shake away the effects of a shoulder injury this week as he prepares to compete at the Scottish Open.

The 43-year-old gets underway in Scotland at 2.50pm, alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen.

Just over a month ago the two-time Ryder Cup winner suffered a shoulder injury at a golf day which ruled him out of the Shot Clock Masters in Austria in early June.

Initially, the prognosis wasn’t good as Howell thought he may have to go under the knife to rectify the tear.

However, a tied-26th place at the BMW International Open in Germany cooled those concerns.

Since then, Howell has managed to avoid an operation as well as play in several European Tour events, despite the shoulder still not feeling up to scratch.

Last week, the 43-year-old missed the cut at the Irish Open after recording a tournament score of three over-par from his first two rounds at Ballyliffin.

While he should be able to play through the problem, the Swindon man added it was ‘nowhere near normal’ before carding 13 over-par at a tricky Open De France two weeks ago.

This week’s tournament at Gullane GC presents Howell with the chance of recording his third cut in seven weeks as he continues to struggle past with his shoulder problem.

More importantly, it is also his final opportunity to qualify for the Open Championship at Carnoustie in a week's time.

In addition to Howell, Wiltshire have further representation in the shape of Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter.

Smith, who already has a place in the Open Championship, is the first out on the course of the duo. He gets his tournament started with Italian Matteo Manassero and Belgium’s Nicholas Colsaerts at 7.30am, while it’s the opposite end of the spectrum for Cumberwell Park’s Canter.

He was handed a late invitation to the event and has been forced to wait until 3.30pm to tee off his bid as he also chases an Open place.

Both men go into the even with reasonable form. Smith heads into the competition with two top 30 finishes and two tied 109 finishes in his last four events.

Canter has missed the cut in his last three Tour events..