Rory McIlroy will be teeing it up this week in preparation for Portrush. The Northern Irish megastar will be desperate to make any final adjustments ahead of his final opportunity for Major glory. A strong American contingent heads to Scotland this week for some acclimatization, writes Damien Kayat.
The European Tour 2019
Rolex Series
Aberdeen Standard Inverness Scottish Open
The Renaissance Club, Dirleton, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
11th-14th July
Jon Rahm’s rousing victory at Lahinch was the perfect opening salvo to this three week celebration of links golf. The Scottish Open dates back all the way to 1935. Yet strangely, the event was only played for two years before fading into obscurity. It was resurrected in 1972 but only became a regular tour fixture again in 1986. The parkland style Loch Lomond course played host to the event from 1996 to 2010. It was always a somewhat bizarre decision to utilize a parkland style course prior to the Open Championship. The European Tour organizers eventually came to their senses and this year sees yet another prototypical coastal links test: The Renaissance. This will also be the 3rd consecutive season that this event will immediately follow the Irish Open.
Located on the blustery East Lothian coast, this course could be considered a sister course to neighbouring Muirfield Gullane- last year’s venue- is also located a mere two miles away. The Tom Doaks design was only opened as recently as 2008, though a 2013 expansion conducted by the Honoured Company of Edinburgh Golfers led to a far more dramatic course. It actually played host to the 2017 Senior Scottish Open. The designers attempted to lift as little soil as possible, desperate to be as faithful to the original landscape as possible. Clearly links experience will come in handy, especially if that notorious wind assails the course.
Rory McIlroy will be teeing it up this week in preparation for Portrush. The Northern Irish megastar will be desperate to make any final adjustments ahead of his final opportunity for Major glory. A strong American contingent heads to Scotland this week for some acclimatization. Ricky Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Justin Thomas will all be looking to come to terms with the vicissitudes of links golf. Elsewhere the likes of Henrik Stenson and Rafa Cabrera Bello lead a strong European charge. There was also still three Open Championship places up for grabs for top ten finishes. So there is much up for grabs in one of the most decorated events on the European schedule.
Past Winners
2018: Brandon Stone (-20)
2017: Rafa Cabrera Bello (-13)*playoff
2016: Alex Noren (-14)
2015: Ricky Fowler (=12)
2014: Justin Rose (-16)
Betting Favourites (To Win):
Rory McIlroy (6/1)
Ricky Fowler (14/1)
Henrik Stenson (18/1)
Matt Kuchar (18/1)
Justin Thomas (20/1)
Value Bets
Martin Kaymer- To Win (30/1), To Place (13/2)
Kaymer will be looking to seal his Open qualification this week and avoid missing his first Major Championship in 11 years. He played well in Lahrich, though a tie for 9th wasn’t quite enough to secure that Portrush spot. That was his 3rd top 10 of a decent comeback season- following a tie for 3rd at the Memorial and a tie for 8th at the British Masters. Kaymer may have missed the cut in his last two Scottish Opens, but the 2009 champion has what it takes to perform on these courses. He sits inside the top 10 on the European tour for a host of key statistics, including shots gained approach and greens in regulation.
Jorge Campillo- To Win (55/1), To Place (12/1)
This has been a real breakthrough season for the Spaniard and at 55/1 he makes a lot more sense than many above him in the markets. He has a victory this season and two runner-up finishes. He has also finished 3rd on two occasions. He finished 7th in the Irish Open, underling both his form and potential links efficacy. He has a 3rd place finish at Ballyliffin as well as a 8th at Castle Stuart. That 2nd in Qatar also came in links-style conditions that were highly susceptible to wind.
The Man to Beat- Henrik Stenson- To Win (18/1), To Place (39/10)
This one may seem slightly off-kilter when you consider Kuchar is sitting at 18/1. But the 43 year-old Swede has been looking back to his best of late. Though he hasn’t won since that epic duel with Mickelson at Royal Troon, Stenson has started to eke out some good results. Consecutive top 10 finishes at the US Open and Canadian Open bear testament to that. Stenson has the ability with his unerring 3-wood to avoid trouble off the tees. He is also able to hit the ball at much lower trajectories when the wind arises. He currently tops the PGA Tour in shots gained approach. I just have a feeling that Stenson is peaking at the right time leading up to Portrush.
