Ernie Els headed a list of four former British Open champions missing the halfway cut in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart near Inverness.

Next week’s defending champion continued to struggle on the greens recording 61 putts over his two rounds of 72 and 70 to miss the cut by two shots with a two under par tally.

Els’ second round was a mix of five birdies but also three bogeys.

The current World No. 13 is resisting the urge to head to Muirfield early and instead will remain at nearby Skibo Castle where he has been residing all week.

“I just didn’t get the bounces and even though I thought I played quite good today, I had no idea on these greens so I am glad I am leaving and get on some other greens,” said Els.

“But it was a nice time while being here and hopefully I brought something to the tournament.

“Of course, it is not always nice to leave halfway through but hopefully we brought something.

“Missing the cut is not great but then we’ve had a great time here and also staying at Skibo, and even though I was a late entry into the tournament, as I said hopefully I brought a couple more fans through the gates and I was a good playing partner for the other two guys.”

Els indicated he will work on his game over the weekend at the Skibo Castle course before heading south-east on Sunday night to Muirfield.

He will then meet with R & A CEO Peter Dawson mid-Monday morning next week for the handing back of the famed Claret Jug.

“I’ve been to Muirfield a couple of times already in the past few weeks so I will stick with going down there on Sunday night, as planned,” said Els.

“There’s nothing much really I need to work on as my game is where I want it.  It didn’t quite go my way these last two days in making a couple of silly errors especially yesterday with a couple of soft bogeys.

“So hopefully I’ve got all those silly mistakes out of the system.

“But this is not a blow in anyway to my preparations next week and besides Castle Stuart is a lot more different that Muirfield that is a more traditional links course.

“I just got a lot of awkward bounces this week and didn’t make any putts but I feel I can get it going next week.”

Joining Els with the weekend off was fellow former British Open winners Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Sandy Lyle.

Harrington, who posted a round of 72 to miss by one at three under par, intends heading straight to Muirfeild.

“I will now go down to Muirfield and play 18 holes the next two days and that means I can take it easier Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said the 2007 and 2008 British Open champion.

Scotland’s Chris Doak signed for a second straight 66 to head the field by a stroke on 12-under par and with four players, including American Peter Uihlein, who also carded a 66, in second place on 11-under par.

“It was fantastic to shoot a 66 in the first round and now to do it again today is tremendous,” said Doak.

Doak’s 36-hole tally matches a tournament low set 21 years ago by two players at the former host venue of the Kings Course at Gleneagles.

Doak will now be looking to secure one of the two remaining spots into next week’s (British) Open Championship by finishing first in Scotland, and with the final Muirfield tee time allocated to the winner of the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour.

American Phil Mickelson (70) remains well placed at eight under par.