Justin Rose believes defending his title at this week’s Scottish Open will stand him in good stead heading into the upcoming Open Championship.

The Englishman fired a closing 65 a year ago at Royal Aberdeen to earn a two-stroke victory and will again be teeing it up when the event gets underway on Thursday down the coast at Gullane.

However, like many of his fellow competitors he will have one eye on next week’s Open Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews.

While some players have opted to skip the Scottish Open, the 2013 US Open winner sees it is as key to his Claret Jug preparations, especially as it affords him the rare chance to play four rounds on a links course.

The 13.00 favourite Rose will be joined in East Lothian by the likes of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler who are priced at 17.00 and 19.00 respectively.

Having tied for second at the Masters, the world number seven is looking for another strong performance which he feels could set him up nicely for St Andrews.

“You build your schedule with next week in mind,” Rose told BBC Scotland. “You think is it going to suit me or hurt me to play this tournament and I think it’s a big benefit to play here going into the Open Championship.

“I think the way they set up the tournament is a way we can all enjoy it, have fun, and once you get into contention it’s a very historic and well respected tournament that we all want to win.”