World number one Luke Donald denied expectation weighed heavily on him as he crashed out of the Open but admitted he is still trying to find a way to compete in majors.

The 33-year-old, whose victory at Sunday's Scottish Open was his third of the year, has a poor record in the sport's premier events.

In 10 Opens he has registered just one top-10 - fifth at Turnberry two years ago - having missed the cut in his first five.

He has five top-10s in 33 majors and only two in the last 16 but he arrived at Royal St George's full of confidence after a win over the links course at Castle Stuart strengthened his grip on the world number one position.

However, a second-round 75 - which included a quartet of bogeys in the final four holes, featuring an almost impossible lie in a bunker at the 17th - took him to six over and on his way home.

"I will keep searching and keep trying to put myself in position but the last two majors [he finished 45th at last month's US Open] have been disappointing," he said.

"I believe in my ability but for whatever reason it is not happening.

"I feel like I have tried everything; I've been playing 10 years and played countless majors and come close a couple of times but I have to figure out a way to contend a bit more.

"I have to figure out a better way to play the Open. I have to do a better job of adapting to conditions on the day."

Donald, who will play at next week's Canadian Open as it is sponsored by one of his backers RBC, rejected suggestions the combination of a gruelling rain-affected 72 holes in Scotland and the expectation on him as the top-ranked player in the world had contributed to his downfall.

"I felt I had enough energy and felt good out there and for the most part controlled the ball," added the America-based Englishman.

"I was two over after 13 and was only six shots off the lead.

"I was not concentrating on my ranking - I didn't think about it - and it felt like I was playing well after my win last week."

World number two Lee Westwood fared little better. The Worksop golfer, with five top-three finishes in his last seven majors, shot a 73 to drop to four over, just outside the cut.