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Golf: Scottish Open preview

3 minute read

The leading golfers in the world are gathering on the outskirts of Edinburgh this week for the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, the first of two massive weeks in Scotland.

Picture: bet365

The final Major of the year, The Open Championship, follows at Royal Troon next week.

The headlines will be dominated before tee-off in Scotland this week by Rory McIlroy as the Irishman goes back into action for the first time since the nightmare finish that cost him glory at the US Open in Pinehurst.

Ahead of the Scottish Open in North Berwick, we look at the hopes of McIlroy alongside the Aussies in contention for glory in the co-sanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour event.

 Rory on the rebound 

McIlroy looked set to end his decade-long Major drought in the US Open when he charged into a two-shot on the back nine at Pinehurst last month.

He appeared to have overnight leader Bryson DeChambeau cornered at that point and the glory was there for him to seize.

A short missed putt on the 16th hole contributed to a late collapse as McIlroy bogeyed three of the last four holes to come up one shot shy, with DeChambeau playing one of the best bunker shots the game has ever seen on the 72nd hole to ensure he got up and down for the par that won the US Open.

McIlroy has taken four weeks off since that major meltdown. He's 8.50 to defend the Scottish Open crown he won last year, firing a laser-like two iron into the final hole to set up a birdie that denied home favourite Robert MacIntyre by one shot.

The Scot, winner of last month's Canadian Open, is priced at 51.00 to go one better this time around.

 Lee back on happy hunting ground 

There are plenty of Aussie hopefuls in the mix this week and, arguably, none better placed than Min Woo Lee, the winner of this event in 2021.

That was a second DP World Tour win for the Perth-born star at the time and he has since added the Australian PGA Championship in 2023.

In his previous Scottish Open win, Lee outstayed the field in a playoff, beating Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Detry, after finishing four rounds on 18-under par, the second-best winning score in the six years the Scottish Open has called The Renaissance Club home.

The 25-year-old has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour this season – at the Cognizant Classic and the Rocket Mortgage Classic, with the latter his most recent start.

Lee starts the week in Scotland at odds of 31.00 to win for a second time.

 Scott on the prowl 

Adam Scott will head to Scotland feeling good about himself. The 43-year-old Adelaide native went to Pinehurst for last month's US Open and made his 92nd successive major championship appearance.

That is the longest active streak in men's majors and a consecutive streak that only the great Jack Nicklaus can better, the Golden Bear having played in 146 consecutive majors from 1962 to 1998.

Scott has won on five professional tours and his 14 PGA Tour victories include the 2013 Masters and the 2004 PLAYERS Championship.

Scott only claimed his spot at Pinehurst last month as an alternate after narrowly missing out in final qualifying. He is, though, assured of a place at Troon next week for his 93rd major on the trot and so can relax and attempt to go there on a high with a good showing at Renaissance Club. Scott is 71.00 to win the Scottish Open.

 Davis in the Renaissance mix 

Cam Davis, ranked 39th in the world, heads for the Genesis Scottish Open as a player of note.

A five-time professional winner, the 29-year-old should still be on a high following his win at the Rocket Mortgage in Detroit at the end of June.

Davis carded a fine round 70 thee, to finish on 18-under par and hold off a four-strong chasing posse that include Lee in second spot.

He's priced at 151.00 to add Scottish Open glory this week to his CV and he also posted a T12 finish at The Masters in April.