PREVIEW: 2024 DP World Tour – Genesis Scottish Open

2024 DP World Tour – Rolex Series
Genesis Scottish Open
The Renaissance Club
11 – 14 July 2024

It felt like big-time golf took a little breather last week, with both the John Deere Classic and BMW International Open failing to attract star-studded lineups.

The highlight of the week certainly belonged to Hayden Springer, who shot a 59 during an incredibly low-scoring edition of the John Deere Classic.

This week, the two grand tours join forces to host two concurrent events: The Scottish Open and Isco Championship. The Scottish Open is essentially an appetizer for next week’s Open Championship, with many of the US PGA Tour’s biggest stars accompanying the European elite in a quest to sharpen their collective links skillset.

Rory McIlroy returns to action this week for the first time since that heartbreaking capitulation at Pinehurst No.2. The Northern Irishman was widely castigated for his lack of sportsmanship, speeding away from the scene of the crime without so much as a nod of acknowledgement towards champion Bryson DeChambeau.

He also happens to be the defending champion of this event and it should be interesting to see how he carries himself this week.

Genesis Scottish Open

The first two editions of the Scottish Open were staged in 1935 and 1936. The third edition was only played in 1972 and two years later the tournament vanished from the roster.

It was reintroduced to the DP World Tour in 1986 and has been an ever-present on the tour since. This event was elevated to Rolex Series status in 2017.

The tournament received another significant upgrade in 2022, with the US PGA Tour stepping up to co-sanction alongside the DP World Tour (in what was essentially a sign of solidarity against the rise of LIV).

The top US PGA Tour players are not only using this as preparation for Royal Troon next week: there are FedEx Cup points at stake.

The Scottish Open has been the Open Championship precursor for many years and it has been staged on a traditional links layout since 2011. This will be the sixth consecutive Scottish Open hosted at the jaw-dropping Renaissance Club.

Renaissance Club

Designed by Tom Doak and opened as recently as 2008, the Renaissance Club is within spitting distance of iconic Open venue Muirfield. Significant changes were made just five years after its opening, with the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers organising a land swap resulting in three new holes.

It has lent to some dramatic holes that connect to the coastline, showcasing some dramatic vistas of the Firth of Forth. The Renaissance Club was a par 70 but changes were made to the layout prior to the 2022 renewal.

The 7th hole played as a 561-yard par 5 and was transformed into a beastly 505-yard par 4. This certainly led to some significantly higher scoring (Schauffele won with a score of 7-under-par).

This is a true coastal links that will be at the mercy of prevailing weather conditions. it was quite benign last year and McIlroy managed to win in 15-under-par.

Look for players with strong links form and the ability to control the trajectory of their irons.

The Contenders

Defending champion Rory McIlroy is an understandable favourite given his exceptional links record. But I’m still a little concerned about lingering scar tissue from that US Open meltdown.

Xander Schauffele has probably been the second most consistent golfer in the world this year, winning his maiden Major Championship title at Valhalla.

He has shown himself to be a natural on the links and he should be in amongst it this week. Former Open champion Collin Morikawa has been in fine form of late while Ludvig Aberg continues to impress in his first season of Major Championship golf.

Viktor Hovland has been scratchy this season and I don’t think I would be in a hurry to back him this week. I think I may be inclined to look at links specialists such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth.

Past Winners

2023: Rory McIlroy (-15)
2022: Xander Schauffele (-7)
2021: Min Woo Lee (-18) *playoff
2020: Aaron Rai (-11) *playoff
2019: Bernd Wiesberger (-22) *playoff

To Win Outright:

Rory McIlroy 15/2 | Xander Schauffele 8/1 | Collin Morikawa 12/1 | Ludvig Aberg 16/1 | Viktor Hovland 20/1

Value Bets

Tom Kim – To Win 28/1 | To Place 6/1

Tom Kim missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic but he has been playing some incredibly strong golf of late, losing to Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the recent Travelers Championship.

Kim also has brilliant course form, finishing third and T6 in his last two outings at the Renaissance Club. He ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total in his past eight rounds here and he also ranks third in Strokes Gained in the UK and Ireland over his past 36 rounds.

He ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach in his past 24 rounds and he just perfectly fits the bill this week.

Aaron Rai – To Win 50/1 | To Place 11/1

2020 champion Aaron Rai has that delicious combination of course and current form. The Englishman has been in excellent touch over the last few months, finishing in the top 20 in five of his last seven PGA Tour events.

He came agonisingly close to a maiden PGA Tour victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, finishing a shot behind Cam Davies in a four-way tie for 2nd. He finished in a tie for seventh at last week’s John Deere Classic and I think he will do well with the harsh transition to links golf.

He enjoyed a top 20 finish at the 2021 Open Championship and he was also the 54-hole leader at the 2020 Irish Open.

The Man to Beat – Tommy Fleetwood – To Win 22/1 | To Place 48/10

Wouldn’t it be fitting if Tommy Fleetwood’s first US PGA Tour victory came outside of the US? The Englishman almost seems to be cursed in the US but he is a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour.

He has been in solid form of late, reaching the weekend in each of his last ten outings (including a T3 at the Masters).

He also understands the demands of this course, finishing 6th last year and 4th in 2022. He is a highly accomplished links operator, fishing in the top ten at the Open in three of the last five seasons.