Double Major winner Rory McIlroy returns to a first Scottish Open in five years to join Jamie Donaldson and Thailand’s in-form Thongchai Jaidee for the opening  two rounds here at Royal Aberdeen.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson has been grouped with England’s and former World No. 1 Luke Donald and Dutchman Joost Luiten,

In other grouping over the first two rounds of the £3m event Ian Poulter is out alongside Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and visiting American Jimmy Walker.

Top world-ranked Scot Stephen Gallacher finds himself grouped with Lee Westwood and former US Open winner Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler, who competed in the 2011 Walker Cup here at Royal Aberdeen will partner Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.

And Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello will find himself partnering both the present and immediate past European Ryder Cup captain’s in Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal.