The Open Prep
A lot of the world’s best players usually turn out for this event, and it boasts an impressive roll of honour. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Phil Mickelson, and Rickie Fowler have all won the Scottish Open in the last decade.
McIlroy The Master Of The Links
The favourite going into this year’s tournament is Rory McIlroy, who is currently 7/1 at the time of writing. He’s been in good form in 2024 and went very close when last seen in the US Open, where he should have got across the line. Coming back to a Links course shouldn’t do him any harm, and he won this event last year. Maybe a return to these shores might be enough to get him across the line, and he’s probably worth keeping on side.
Frustrating Fleetwood
Every time I write a golf preview, I always look at Tommy Fleetwood. He is so frustrating as there is usually one round that costs him. He finished third at the Masters in the spring, and at the US Open, he finished 16th after coming back through the field on the final day. Last year, he was right in contention to win the Scottish Open after he carded a 63, which was the lowest score of the week. It was just the final round where he threw it away.
Fleetwood has also played well at this event in the past and finished runner-up in 2020, so it’s likely he’ll be in the mix. I’m sure his time is near, and at 18/1, I’m going to have a small saver on him.
Mark Up Manassero
Elsewhere, one player that could be worth a punt at huge odds is Matteo Manassero. It’s fair to say that he has been in the wilderness for a few years. Back in 2009, when he was 16, he won the Silver Medal at the 2009 Open Championship before going on to win his first European tour event in 2010. He was seen as the big hope for Italian golf, but in the late 2010s, he failed to kick on.
However, this year there have been indications that he’s coming back to form. In March he won the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa. Though he hasn’t won since then, he’s been in and around the Top 10 on a few occasions, which included a decent tenth at the Italian Open last month.
He’s played well around Links courses before and has finished in the Top 5 twice at the Scottish Open in the past. To me at 250/1, he looks like a lively outsider, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to put up a bold show.
Scottish Open Shortlist
Rory McIlroy (7/1)
Tommy Fleetwood EW (18/1)
Matteo Manassero EW (250/1)