World No.1 Luke Donald will be hoping for Scottish Open recognition this week after going unnoticed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue at Wimbledon.

Donald is defending his Scottish Open title after winning the rain-reduced event by four strokes last year at Castle Stuart near Inverness in northern Scotland.

Last week Donald was invited to Wimbledon and the Royal Box for the Men’s semi-finals where the Chicago-based Brit sat beside Minogue.

However, the 44-year singer was oblivious Donald was a professional golfer.

“She actually wasn’t aware that I was a golfer,” said Donald.

“So I had to mention that to her, but her boyfriend is a keen golfer and she turned that around, and said he’s a professional golfer. And he turned around and goes, yes, I know (laughing).

“But it was the first time I had been to the Royal Box and Kylie was a sweet girl, actually. A really genuine nice girl, down to earth, and I enjoyed chatting to her.

“I got to watch two great matches, and it was fun day out.”

Donald is this week celebrating his 52nd week as World No.1 and looking also to capture his second European Tour title in three events since retaining his BMW PGA Championship crown at Wentworth.

As well, Donald will be striving to become the first back-to-back winner of the prestigious Scottish event since it came under the European Tour banner in 1972.

However he returns after missing the cut in last month’s US Open with shock opening rounds of 79 and 72 for an 11-over par Olympic Golf Club tally.

“I’ve had three weeks away from competition given it’s a very long season and I’ve got a busy period coming up playing 10 out of the next 13 weeks,” he said.

“I have spent a lot of time working more diligently on my swing rather than I usually do.

“I tend to practice a little bit on the range, but a lot more on the short game, and I kind of turned it around a little bit.

“I wasn’t very happy with how I hit the ball at the US Open, and that was the result of a little bit of left-to-right cuts.”