For the final three years, the Genesis Scottish Open on the Renaissance Membership in North Berwick has been co-sanctioned between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Which means a few of the greatest names in world golf have been arriving in Scotland to not solely duke it out for the $9million purse but additionally hone their video games for the next week’s Open Championship.
Forward of the annual showdown over the Tom Doak-designed par 70, we pick 5 authentic contenders to raise the trophy and provides themselves the proper send-off for the Open at Royal Portrush.
Scottie Scheffler
Nationality: American
World Rating: 1
Course type: 3-MC-12
Present type (final six): 6-7-1-4-1-1
Scheffler is the person they need to beat in response to the bookies and the World No.1 hasn’t completed exterior the highest eight in any of his final 9 occasions.
He’s gained three of these together with the PGA Championship and it’s onerous to see him not contending right here, particularly because the climate forecast doesn’t counsel something dramatic.
Scheffler missed the occasion final yr however was twelfth on debut and shot a Friday 65 on the best way to a 3rd place in 2023. He was seventh within the Open at Royal Troon the final time he performed in Scotland in July 2024.
Rory McIlroy
Nationality: Northern Irish
World Rating: 2
Course type: 4-1-MC-34
Present type (final six): 6-19-MC-47-7-12
Rory produced a shocking birdie-birdie end on this occasion two years in the past to pinch the title by a shot and he made a daring defence when fourth final yr.
He’s had one thing of an existensial disaster since climbing his personal private Everest by lastly profitable the Masters and finishing the Grand Slam and hasn’t had a prime 5 since his wonderful Sunday at Augusta Nationwide.
However he’s displaying good indicators once more after following nineteenth within the US Open with sixth on the Vacationers Championship and he’ll wish to get his recreation in tip-top form earlier than taking part in the Open Championship on dwelling turf at Royal Portrush subsequent week.
Robert MacIntyre
Nationality: Scottish
World Rating: 14
Course type: 1-2-MC-18-14-MC
Present type (final six): 17-2-36-20-6-47
After a shocking method to the final arrange a closing birdie in 2023, MacIntyre seemed dwelling and hosed however a charging Rory McIlroy edged him out by a shot.
However there was redemption for the Scot final yr. A 3rd-round 63 arrange one other final-day problem and this time it was his flip as he eagled 16 after which holed a 20-foot birdie on 18 to beat Adam Scott by a shot.
MacIntyre continues to thrive and secured his finest ever end in a serious when runner-up on the US Open at fiendishly-difficult Oakmont two begins in the past. A daring defence could be anticipated.
Collin Morikawa
Nationality: American
World Rating: 5
Course type: 4-MC-71
Present type (final six): 8-42-23-20-50-17
After ending runner-up within the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tenth within the Gamers Championship in March, Morikawa was struggling to discover a change of drugs however eighth on the Rocket Traditional final time suggests one thing huge is coming.
As a former Open champion (Royal St George’s in 2021) he deserves respect on the hyperlinks and he confirmed his chops on this course final yr when firing 65-66-66-69 to complete fourth.
The ‘X’ issue for Morikawa this week is that he has caddie legend Billy Foster on the bag for the primary time and the Yorkshireman’s expertise of studying greens and hyperlinks circumstances might assist safe the two-time main winner his first victory for the reason that 2023 ZOZO Championship in Japan.
Tommy Fleetwood
Nationality: English
World Rating: 13
Course type: 34-6-4-26-2
Present type (final six): 2-MC-16-4-41-4
Fleetwood has nonetheless but to win a PGA Tour occasion and fluffed a golden likelihood to recover from the road when runner-up ultimately month’s Vacationers Championship the place a bogey to Keegan Bradley’s birdie noticed a one-shot lead after 71 holes flip right into a heartbreaking one-hole loss.
However with the PGA Tour visiting Scotland, a spot Fleetwood loves, maybe that is the week the place he lastly will get it achieved.
His first ever DP World Tour win got here in Scotland and he’s had quite a few prime fives and prime 10s at ‘the house of golf’ since. They embrace second, fourth and sixth on this course and third ultimately October’s Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship. Is it Tommy’s time? He’d be an extremely well-liked winner.
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