The Open 2016: Former world No 1 Luke Donald called-up after South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl withdraws

LUKE DONALD has secured his spot in the Open.

The former world No 1 was first alternate heading into this week’s Scottish Open.

But South African Jaco van Zyl withdrew from the field for the season’s third Major at Troon, meaning the Englishman got in.

Donald, 38, has twice finished in the top-five at the Open – in 2009 and 2012.

This will be the 14th appearance in the Major for the 83rd-ranked player in the world.

Donald, who was the best golfer on the planet four years ago, missed the cut the last time the Open was staged at Troon in 2004.

It was then that unheralded American Todd Hamilton pulled off one of golf’s all-time greatest upsets by beating South African Ernie Els in a play-off.

American Dustin Johnson heads to the Scottish coast as the form player in the world with two wins in his past two starts.

He shot up to second in the world rankings after overcoming a rules farce in the final round of last month’s US Open.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson said they had intention of following Rory McIlroy by ditching the Olympic Games.

Northern Ireland’s four-time Major champion said the threat of the Zika virus put him off going.

Garcia tweeted that “trying to make golf grow and becoming an Olympian are too important” to miss.

While Stenson said: “I’m not afraid of mosquitos. I’m more afraid of bears.”