Golf Scottish Open Preview

The Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, is the main attraction this week, with a star-studded cast teeing it up at Renaissance Club in North Berwick (live on Sky Sports Golf). Held at this venue since 2019, this par-70 course measures 7,237 yards and boasts three par-fives, 10 par-fours and five par-threes, with the winning score over the last six editions ranging from -7 to -22.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre delighted the home crowd last year to claim the spoils in thrilling fashion, finishing one stroke ahead of Australian Adam Scott, and the reigning champion will be aiming to become the first player to successfully retain the title. With the 153rd Open Championship taking place at Royal Portrush next week, a number of the world’s leading players have opted to feature in the Scottish Open as preparation for the final Major of the season. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will both be in attendance, along with the likes of Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.

Tip 1: Aaron Rai to win and each-way @ 50/1 with Bet365

An established player on the PGA Tour, Englishman Aaron Rai has had some solid results this season, notably finishing tied-19th at the PGA Championship and T4 at the Mexico Open, and a fourth title at this level could be coming his way. The 30-year-old won this event in 2020, beating Fleetwood in a play-off, while he was tied-fourth last year and took a share of ninth in 2018 at Gullane, which is just three miles down the road from Renaissance. 

Reliable from tee-to-green, Rai’s putting is the area of his game that has shown the most improvement over the last couple of years and he has the all-round game to challenge for a second Scottish Open title.

Tip 2: Max Greyserman to win and each-way @ 55/1 with bet365

There has been just one American winner of this tournament in the last nine editions – that being Schauffele in 2022 – but another US player, Max Greyserman, could add his name to the roll of honour. Still chasing his maiden professional win, the 30-year-old has been knocking on the door and was desperately close to breaking his duck when losing in a three-man play-off at last month’s Rocket Classic.

Sitting at a career-high 32nd in the world, Greyserman is one of the sharpest putters on the US circuit, as he ranks 17th in putting average and 24th in strokes gained putting. He was tied-21st on his Scottish Open debut last year and it would be no surprise to see him improve on that effort.

Tip 3: Martin Couvra to win and each-way @ 250/1 with bet365

Frenchman Martin Couvra is making his Scottish Open debut this week and he arrives north of the border in fine form, with his last six results reading 5-1-MC-T8-2-MC. The 22-year-old’s maiden DP World Tour title came at the Turkish Airlines Open and his fantastic run of results have brought him into the Ryder Cup conversation.

Couvra has been stellar from tee-to-green this season, ranking eighth in that department on the DP World Tour, while he is also a dab hand on the greens with a putts per green in regulation standing of 17th.