Scottish Open betting tips: Strong field ahead of The Open
Odds and preview for this week’s European Tour event
The European Tour’s Race to Dubai returns to The Renaissance Club this week as we pick out some Scottish Open betting tips.
Aaron Rai won last year’s title after a play-off with Tommy Fleetwood and is part of a star-studded line-up hoping to defend his title at the North Berwick course, ahead of next week’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s.
The Renaissance lies next to Muirfield. Designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2008, it is a par-71 links course that measures 7,293 yards, and with rain forecast for the final three rounds, conditions may get tricky.
Market leaders
US Open champion Jon Rahm captured his first Major at Torrey Pines last month and the two-time Irish Open winner (2017 and 2019) is not averse to playing in windy conditions, having spent his formative years on the north coast of Spain.
In imperious form and atop the world rankings, Rahm leads the Scottish Open betting at 13/2.
Recently married Xander Schauffele has been consistent without success this season. He was third at The Masters, seventh at the US Open and had three early-season second-place finishes, including the Farmers Insurance Open and Phoenix Open.
He owns nine top-10s in majors, including a T2 at the 2018 Open at Carnoustie, and his Scottish Open odds of 12/1 denote he has the game for this course.
Collin Morikawa leads the strokes gained category in approach to the green, which will be a huge asset on this course.
He is also ninth in driving accuracy, so with seven top-10s and a win at the World Golf Championships, the Californian native must be considered at 12/1.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is making his seventh appearance at the Scottish Open and his first since 2019.
Though he failed to take advantage of being in a four-way tie for the lead early in the final round at the US Open, there have been some encouraging signs, including landing the Wells Fargo Championship in May. McIlroy is a 12/1 chance here.
Players Championship winner Justin Thomas was in prime early-season form but missed the cut in the PGA Championship and only finished 19th at the US Open.
The 28-year-old will hope to use this event to regain his form before he heads to Royal St George’s and can be backed in Scottish Open betting tips at 16/1.
Alfred Dunhill Links champion in 2016 and 2017, Tyrrell Hatton will relish this course and his T2 at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree and T3 at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek means he will go on plenty of short-lists at 18/1.
Value picks
Texan Scottie Scheffler is yet to break his PGA Tour duck but a maiden victory cannot be too far away, given that he has posted 14 top-10 finishes on the Tour.
He owns a game that should suit links golf perfectly, as he can shape his shots and play well in tough conditions. This will be the 2020 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year’s first visit to Scotland and he is 25/1 to make a winning debut.
Five-time European Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood loves links courses. He finished second at The Open in 2019 and has a couple of runner-up finishes at the Dunhill Links.
Fleetwood showed flashes of good form at the Irish Open to suggest his odds of 30/1 may be generous, as he has all the shots required to cope with these raised, sloping greens.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, a six-time European Tour winner, is not over-long off the tee, but his putting has always been the envy of many and that will be a useful weapon in his armoury as he bids to belie his 25/1 odds.
Best of the rest
Ian Poulter has had a couple of inglorious finishes in both the US Open and the Travelers Championship after some solid early rounds.
“I feel my game is good,” the 12-time European Tour winner insists. If he can find a little more consistency, he is an interesting candidate at 40/1.
Martin Kaymer (above) shot an eight-under 64 in the final round of the BMW International Open, but the two-time Major winner had to settle for second place behind Viktor Hovland.
There is no doubt Kaymer is getting close to another victory and he is a 50/1 chance.
Francesco Molinari, who won the 2018 Open Championship, has battled back from injuries and a loss of form.
Although missing the cut at The Travelers Championship, his T13 at the US Open and three top-10 finishes this term means the Italian may be worth including in Scottish Open betting tips at 66/1.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
