EDDIE Pepperell (pictured) slipped further down the world rankings after finishing joint 54th in the Scottish Open at Castle Stewart on Sunday.

Pepperell, who this time last year was preparing for his first Open Championship, has dropped to 162.

His prospects of claiming one of the four qualifying spots available for this week’s Open at Troon looked good after two rounds, when he was just one shot off the lead at seven-under par following scores of 70 and 67.

But his third round went into decline after two birdies, as three double-bogeys lifted him to a 76.

A final round of 74 saw him finish well down the field.