The PGA TOUR heads overseas for its mini-European swing with a stop first at the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.
This event joined the PGA schedule a year ago as it was first co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour.
The partnership now see’s 75 golfers from each the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour battling it out for supremacy in the birthplace of golf.
We saw a lack of star power a week ago at the John Deere Classic with many of the world’s best beginning their journey over the pond. Most of whom will be playing this week.
This will be a final tune up for next week’s The Open Championship as the PGA TOUR gets a chance to take on a links style course in preparation.
The Field
As previously mentioned, this week’s field consists of 75-golfers from each of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.
This plays out for a loaded field to take to The Renaissance Club.
Jon Rahm is the most notable name outside of the LIV golfers not playing this week, as he opted for an additional week off.
The field is highlighted by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler who is joined by a cast of nine other golfers who sit in the top 11 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR.) Other names joining Scheffler that meet the previously mentioned criteria are Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jordan Spieth and Wyndham Clark.
Of the top 30 players in the world, 20 will be featured this week, creating one of the most top-heavy fields on the season and the best field for a non-elevated event.
From the DP World Tour, the top names to mention include Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Adrian Meronk, Lucas Herbert, Pablo Larrazabal, Victor Perez, Thriston Lawrence, Adrian Otaegui, Thorbjorn Olesen and Jordan Smith who are the top-ten players from the DP World Tour in this field in terms of OWGR ranking.
Schauffele is back this year as the defending champion of the event. He is joined by Lee and Aaron Rai as past Scottish Open winners teeing it up this week.
This event serves as a final qualifying opportunity for The Open Championship as well.
The Ryder Cup too continues to be a governing storyline as the event offers an interesting mix talent looking for a chance to make either team. It allows for those in consideration on the DP World Tour to get a chance to compete with those of the PGA Tour. A strong performance in this week’s field will certainly grab European Captain, Luke Donald’s attention.
The Course
The Renaissance Club is described as a modern Scottish links course that was established in 2008.
As a modern links course set in the birthplace of golf, the course differs from the usual PGA TOUR tracks but offers a change of pace.
It plays as a par-71 at 7,293 yards and offers a unique mixture of four par-fives, five par-threes and nine par-fours.
The Renaissance Club is a Tom Doak design and has become the most notable achievement in his famed architectural career. Courses on TOUR that Doak designed include Memorial Park and St. George’s.
This course has become the home of the Scottish Open on the DP World Tour, the Scottish Senior Open on the European Senior Tour and the Ladies Scottish Open on the Ladies European Tour.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year that the Scottish Open has been played at The Renaissance Club.
Sitting just outside of Edinburgh and on the coastline, the course is exposed to the North Sea. That makes it susceptible to significant swings in weather conditions from day-to-day. Again, like what we see at The Open, making this event a perfect warm-up for golf’s final Major of the season.
The fairways here are wide and generous but do run firm and fast, as is the way of link style courses. Although the fairways are wide and generous, there is the presence of penal fescue and pot bunkers that will require correct positioning off the tee.
With the firm and fast conditions of the fairways, this style of course tempts golfers to use the ground more often for increased rollouts, especially when the winds are increased.
This, of course, will give an advantage to golfers who are familiar with playing in high winds and extreme weather conditions.
Although those with above-average distance off the tee should see an advantage this week, the roll-outs on the fairways have kept short hitters in contention over the last four years.
This course includes four reachable par-fives, a driveable par-four and five par-fours over 450 yards, which gives advantages to the long-bombers.
Subtle intricacies on the greens will cause fits to even the World’s best putters. Those intricacies of the greens were the design philosophy by Doak.
Due to this, short game and around-the-green work will be crucial this week.
The elements will dictate the difficulty of the course this week.
During calm weather, golfers can easily score low here, which was the case in 2019 with the winning score coming in at -22.
When the winds and weather are a factor, the winning mark can be cut in half or even a third. Schauffele won at just -7 a year ago.
Those of the DP World Tour can see an advantage this week as this serves as a unique test for the PGA TOUR golfers. These conditions that are possible are aspects that those of the DP World Tour are all too familiar with.
In all, this is a course and event that should be won by a golfer that is elite in ball-striking with plus distance off the tee.
The Weather
As of the time of writing this, the weather, of course, will be a factor this week. Currently, Friday holds a 70-percent chance for precipitation with Saturday and Sunday posting a 60-percent chance. Temperatures will stay around 80-degrees for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with Friday set for 75-degrees. Winds, at this point, are set to range from seven-to-nine miles-per-hour but sitting on the North Sea coastline, the chance of changing winds and gusts will be present. Humidity too will be a factor, ranking from 77-percent on Thursday and peaking at 89-percent on Friday with Saturday and Sunday in the low 80-percent.
Key Stats
Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)
Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (SG: BS)
Strokes Gained: Around the Green (SG: ATG)
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SG: TTG)
Par Three Average Scoring
Par Five Average Scoring
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (SG: OTT) / Average Driving Distance
Birdie or Better Percentage
Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT) / Three-Putt Avoidance
Scrambling
DFS Suggestions
$10,000+
It should come to no one’s surprise that Scottie Scheffler ($11,600) is my favorite this week. In these link style courses, Scottie has a massive leg up on the rest of the field. He’s currently first on TOUR in all of SG: APP, SG: BS, SG: TTG and SG: OTT. He is also third on Tour in all three of par three average scoring, par five average scoring and birdie or better percentage, fourth in scrambling, fifth in SG: ATG, seventh in three-putt avoidance and 18th in average driving distance. His downfall of course comes on the greens where he ranks 133th in SG: PUTT. However, in his last two outings, although slightly, he gained strokes on the green (0.665 at the Travelers Championship and 1.192 at the U.S. Open.) The rest of his game is as good as it gets and if he can remain even in terms of SG: PUTT, he’ll be there late on Sunday. Scheffler has placed in the top five in six consecutive events dating back to the AT&T Byron Nelson. He hasn't won since March but it’s only a matter of time. You’re spending up for Scottie this week, but it is almost inevitable that he’ll be the winner sometime soon. My only hope that Scottie won’t run away with this event is that he missed the cut here last year. His odds are too slim to find his way on my betting card. Also consider Patrick Cantlay ($10,200.) You’re saving $1,400 by playing Cantlay over Scheffler. Cantlay is currently the best on Tour when it comes to par five average scoring, in which there are four of this week. He is also second in birdie or better percentage, third in SG: BS, fourth in SG: OTT, fifth in SG: TTG, 20th in SG: PUTT, 23rd in SG: APP, 44th in scrambling, 45th in three-putt avoidance and 69th in SG: ATG. Cantlay’s downfall this week is a 140th placement in par three average scoring, in which there are five such holes this week. The rest of his game checks out and you’re getting a much better price on him at +1400. Cantly will be on my card this week. In terms of form, he’s fresh off a T4th at the Travelers Championship. He also went T9th at the PGA Championship and T14th at The U.S. Open recently. He also placed T4th last year at this event. It’s been over a year since Cantlay won on TOUR and his time is coming.
$9,000-$9,900
If we’re going to talk about recent form, we have to look at Rickie Fowler ($9,500.) Of course, the last time we saw Fowler, he won his first tournament in four years at the Rocket Mortgage Classic where he held off both Adam Hadwin and Collin Morikawa in a playoff. On top of that, he placed T13th at the Travelers Championship, T5th at the U.S. Open, T9th at The Memorial and T6th at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He made the cut here last year in this event, placing T47th. Fowler is currently third on Tour in par three average scoring, fourth in birdie or better percentage, seventh in SG: APP, eighth in both SG: TTG and par five average scoring, ninth in SG: BS, 17th in SG: ATG, 31st in both average driving distance and SG: PUTT, 45th in three-putt avoidance, 58th in scrambling and 65th in SG: OTT. In other words, he’s above average in each of the statistical categories we’re taking into consideration this week. Fowler is actually second in our model this week to just Scheffler. Also consider Wyndham Clark ($9,000.) We’re getting a very fair price on the defending U.S. Open Champion. On top of winning the U.S. Open, Clark also won the Wells Fargo Championship, an elevated event, this season. He also placed T12th at The Memorial. He had a good showing here a year ago as well, placing T16th. Clark is currently eighth on Tour in average driving distance, ninth in par five average scoring, 16th to birdie or better percentage, 18th in SG: TTG, 21st in SG: BS, 27th in SG: APP, 31st in SG: OTT, 37th in SG: ATG, 38th in both SG: PUTT and scrambling, 51st in par three average scoring and 52nd in three-putt avoidance. Like Fowler, he is above average in each of the statistical categories we’re taking into consideration this week. He is third in my model this week to Scheffler and Fowler. At $9,000 we’re getting a lot and he’s currently on the books at +4800 so you best believe I’ll have a unit riding there.
$8,000-$8,900
We talked about some good recent form with Fowler, but we’re looking at a buy low candidate here in Max Homa ($8,800.) Homa is currently second on Tour in par three average scoring, sixth in birdie or better percentage, tenth in SG: PUTT, 12th in SG: APP, 17th in SG: TTG, 37th in scrambling, 41st in SG: BS, 44th in three-putt avoidance, 48th in par five average scoring, 49th in SG: ATG, 61st in average driving distance and 66th in SG: OTT. Despite the poor form recently, he’s still above average in each of the statistical categories we’re taking into consideration this week. He played this event a year ago and placed T16th. Homa went T21st in his last outing at the Rocket Mortgage Clasic but missed two cuts prior at the Travelers Championship and U.S. Open. Prior to that however he did place T9th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and T8th at the Wells Fargo Championship. Again, this is a buy low candidate, getting someone of Homa’s caliber in this $8,000 price range. He too is at a discount on the books at +4200 and I will be placing a unit there as well. Also consider another buy-low candidate in Sungjae Im ($8,600.) Im is currently fourth on Tour in par five average scoring, 18th in birdie or better percentage, 21st in SG: OTT, 28th in SG: TTG, 30th in SG: ATG, 35th in SG: BS, 36th in scrambling, 48th in SG: PUTT, 68th in three-putt avoidance, 75th in SG: APP, 84th in par three average scoring and 106th in average driving distance. His SG: APP and SG:BS numbers don’t do him justice. When he’s on, he’s one of the best pure ball-strikers the Tour has to offer. He has made back-to-back cuts heading into this event after missing three-of-four between the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Prior to that he placed T8th at the Wells Fargo Championship, T7th at the RBC Heritage, T16th at The Masters and T6th at THE PLAYERS. You’re getting a premium for Im here due to his recent form but if he can catch form this week, you’re getting one heck of a bargain.
$7,000-$7,900
I’m really excited for Byeong Hun An ($7,200) this week. An has made 13-of-16 cuts this season, highlighted by a T6th at the Valero Texas Open, T12th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T14th at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Although this is a top heavy event, such as was the case a year ago, we saw some very long shots compete in the likes of Kurt Kitayama, Tom Kim, Jamie Donaldson and Cameron Triangle. Especially if the weather is to be a factor, anything can happen. An is currently third on Tour in SG: ATG, fourth in average driving distance, 11th in scrambling, 30th in SG: TTG, 31st in SG: OTT, 33rd in par three average scoring, 37th in birdie or better percentage, 59th in three-putt avoidance, 68th in par five average scoring, 94th in SG: APP and 117th in SG: BS. His downfall comes on the greens where he ranks 141st in SG: PUTT. He’ll need to catch a hot flat stick but in an event and course that can be anyone’s, I really like what he brings to the table. He’s currently on the books at +16000 and I’ll be placing a few dollars there. Also consider Adrian Meronk ($7,300.) Meronk spends most of his time on the DP World Tour but has made appearances state-side this season. Most recently he played at the U.S. Open and RBC Canadian Open where he missed the cut but did place T40th at the PGA Championship. He also placed T14th at the Honda Classic and T45th at the Genesis Invitational. On the DP World Tour, he last played at the Betfred British Masters where he placed T15th. He also placed T3rd at the BMW International Open and T5th at the KLM Open as well as winning the DS Automobiles Italian Open in early May. On the DP World Tour, Meronk is currently first in all of SG: TTG, par five average scoring and SG: OTT, 14th in birdie or better percentage, 17th in par three average scoring, 18th in SG: APP, 20th in SG: ATG, 31st in scrambling, 68th in three-putt avoidance, 81st in average driving distance and 90th in SG: APP. He’s one of the best golfers on the DP World Tour, which is evident in his inclusion in the past two Majors. Due to him playing on the DP World tour his ownership too should be a minimum.
$6,900-
Kevin Yu ($6,800) is becoming a standard in this series and rightfully so. He is currently second on Tour in SG: BS, third in both par three average scoring and SG: OTT, fifth in birdie or better percentage, 13th in both SG: TTG and par five average scoring, 33rd in average driving distance, 59th in SG: APP, 105th in SG: ATG and 120th in scrambling. His score is brought down by a 152nd placement in three-putt avoidance and 171st in SG: PUTT. He’ll have to catch a hot flat stick but he’s proven he can do that, as he led all of the John Deere Classic field last week by gaining 7.862 strokes on the field across four rounds. That led him to a T6th finish last week. With the rest of his game elite and proving he can be a darn good putter, Yu will get a few of my dollars at +25000. A year ago at this event I rode Kitayama at +21000 into Sunday before cashing out, proving a long shot of this caliber can get it done. Also consider Romain Langasque ($6,900.) Lansasque is another DP World Tour regular playing in this week’s field. On the DP World Tour he is currently fifth in par five average scoring, 15th in both SG: TTG and birdie or better percentage, 16th in scrambling, 19th in three-putt avoidance, 25th in SG: ATG, 29th in SG: OTT, 42nd in SG: APP, 63rd in SG: PUTT and 98th in par three average scoring. Lansasque has played one PGA TOUR event this season in the U.S. Open where he did make the cut, placing T54th, which is promising. He placed T8th two weeks back at the Betfred British Masters and T10th at the Porsche European Open in early June. He also placed second at the DS Automobiles Italian Open in early May. Like Meronk, Langasque’s ownership should be at a minimum due to him playing on th DP World Tour, but even more so than Meronk as a less notable name. He made the cut at the U.S. Open, deemed the toughest challenge in all of golf, so making the cut this week should not be out of the picture.
Betting Card
Patrick Cantlay (+1400) - 2u
Tyrell Hatton (+2000) - 2u
Max Homa (+4200) - 1u
Wyndham Clark (+4800) - 1u
Byeong Hun An (+16000) - 1u
Kevin Yu (+25000) - 1u
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