Eddie Pepperell has revealed he withdrew from the French Open with a back problem – but it will not jeopardise his participation in The Open next week.

The Abingdon ace did not play in Sunday’s final round at Le Golf National, near Paris, where he was well down the field at seven-over-par for 54 holes.

A bad back has been troubling the 24-year-old for a couple of weeks, but he is confident changes to his routine will allow him to play on.

Pepperell intends to travel north to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open today, ahead of his Open Championship debut at St Andrews next week.

He said: “I wanted to get back and refresh before going up to Scotland.

“I do feel it in my back now and again, but it’s not debilitating and it doesn’t affect me during the swing.

“It would have to be horrendous to stop me going to The Open – I would play in that if I could barely walk.”