Andrew Oldcorn is a doubtful starter for next week's Open Championship after having already pulled out of the Barclays Scottish Open.

The 42-year-old Scot, winner of the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth last year, has not played since withdrawing from the Great North Open three weeks ago with flu at a time when he was lying joint fourth at the halfway stage.

Oldcorn has had a wretched time with illness in his career.

He contracted the energy-sapping ME virus at the end of the 1980s and fought a two-year battle with that before re-establishing himself on the European tour.

His Wentworth victory was his big breakthrough, but he was unable to play in the World Cup last November because of back problems.

And, after missing the first two months of this year, he has now been laid low again.

He also had stomach trouble on the eve of his defence of the Volvo PGA title but managed 34th place.

Oldcorn's return from the flu he suffered at Slaley Hall was due to be in the European Open in Ireland last week, but he pulled out before the start.