Alastair Forsyth is relishing the prospect of a return to the big time after securing a tee-time for this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

The Paisley ace, a two-time winner on the European Tour, finished in a share of second in the 36-hole qualifying event at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth and grabbed one of the five spots on offer for this week’s lucrative domestic showpiece at Castle Stuart.

Forsyth, 40, lost his playing rights on the main European circuit after a few seasons of toil and has gone back to his roots on the Tartan Tour.

The former Scottish PGA champ has found the home comforts to his liking and he will now head to Castle Stuart with a spring in his step.

Forsyth, who has missed just one Scottish Open since 2000, said: “It’s the first time in a long time that I’m actually enjoying playing golf.

“The Scottish Open is up there with the best events on tour and it’s brilliant to be back.

“My short game need sharpening up but it’s slowly getting there. When you’re not playing full-time those areas of the game are obviously going to be affected but it’s getting tighter again.

“As well as competing on the Tartan Tour I’m doing plenty of other things and my coaching is keeping me busy. I’ve got my enthusiasm back and that’s helping my own golf.”

Forsyth’s closing one-under 70 left him with a three-under 139, a shot behind qualifying winner Jack Doherty.

Kilmarnock-based Doherty, 34, narrowly missed out on a play-off for a spot in the Open Championship during the qualifying competition at Gailes Links last Tuesday.

He needed a birdie on the last there to force a sudden-death shoot-out with Colin Montgomerie but after coming up just short he made sure there was no double disappointment last night as he sealed a debut in the Scottish Open.

The former Australian Amateur champ signed off with a one-under 70 for a four-under 138 and earned the first prize of £7,500.

He said: “Funnily enough I was more nervous coming down the 18th today than I was on Tuesday night. I’m just delighted to get through but I’ll now need to get my caddie to change his plans because he’d booked up to go to Slovakia for a Challenge Tour event. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

Gareth Wright, Peter Whiteford and Kris Nicol were the other qualifiers but local hopefuls Graham Fox (Clydeway) and Glasgow man Paul McKechnie narrowly failed to make the grade.

Craig Lawrie, the son of former Open champ Paul, also came up short despite a hole-in-one on the 15th hole.

Meanwhile, on the domestic amateur front, Lanarkshire’s Ed Wood won the prestigious Cameron Corbett Vase at Haggs Castle on Glasgow’s southside.

The Crow Wood golfer hit closing day rounds of 70 and 71 for a seven-under 281 and won by a shot from Lawrence Allan and host club ace Barry Hume, the former Scottish Amateur champion.