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Luke Donald has said winning the Scottish Open was an ideal way to prepare for this week's Open, which starts at Sandwich on Thursday.

Donald won the rain-shortened event by four shots and told ���˿��� Sport: "This is perfect preparation, it doesn't get better than winning the week before.

"It was only three rounds and I'm not tired by any means.

"I played Royal St George's last week and I like the way it's set up so I'm looking forward to the challenge."

No player has won the Scottish Open and then won the Open the following week and Donald added: "From an energy standpoint I'm in a good place and hopefully I can change that record and go on to give myself a good chance of winning this week."

The title was the world number one's third of the year and he said: "I've worked hard and thought this was possible. Obviously I went through a really dry patch and the longer you go without winning the harder it becomes.

was very big for me and I was able to gain some momentum from that and gain a lot of confidence."

Donald is hoping to become the first English winner of the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992 and the first British champion since Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999.

With his rise to the top of the rankings he will be under more media scrutiny than in previous years but said the pressure will not affect his game.

Presumably referring to Rory McIlroy, Donald stated: "There is another certain guy who will have a lot of spotlight too, but that's fine. I'm playing well and had the spotlight this week and coped with it very nicely so I'm looking forward to it."