Scottish Open Odds & Picks: Value on the Board as Golfers Prepare for Open Championship

The PGA Tour has the John Deere Classic this week, but the field is one of the weakest we’ll see all year. The reason being is the majority of the top players in the world, including the top American golfers, jumped across the pond to play in this week’s European Tour event, the Scottish Open.

With the Open Championship set to take place next week, many golfers like to head to Europe a week early to not only get used to the time zone difference, but also get the chance to play on a true links style course as a warmup for next week’s Major Championship.

The Scottish Open has served as the precursor to The Open every year since 1987, excluding last season when the Open was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phil Mickelson is the only player to win both events in back-to-back weeks when he pulled it off in 2013.

Odds to win the Scottish Open

Here are the top 10 golfers on the odds list at WynnBET to finish in the Top 5 at the Scottish Open.

• John Rahm +135
• Xander Schauffele +240
• Collin Morikawa +250
• Rory McIlroy +325
• Justin Thomas +325
• Tyrrell Hatton +375
• Matthew Fitzpatrick +425
• Scottie Scheffler +425
• Tommy Fleetwood +475
• Corey Conners +550

Fresh off his US Open victory, Jon Rahm is the sizable favorite to capture his eighth win on the PGA Tour. Three Americans are included in the top five on the odds list including Xander Schauffele, Collin Moikawa, and Justin Thomas. An American hasn’t won the event since Rickie Fowler in 2015.

Picks to win the Scottish Open

Justin Thomas +325

The Scottish Open is set to be hosted at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland for the third consecutive year. While no Americans from the PGA Tour competed in the event in 2020 due to COVID protocol, Justin Thomas had a great showing here in 2019 when he finished T9. He was second in the event among all Americans next to Andrew Putnam.

Another advantage Thomas will have this week as well as next, is his style of play fits well with links style courses. He may not have the results to show it, but he’s one of the best players in the world at hitting shots with low ball flight, which is key at links style courses that almost always feature heavy winds. With the weather in Scotland this week expected to be treacherous, Thomas will have an advantage on his fellow American competitors who hit a high-flying shot.

Martin Kaymer +1100

The German golfer is seeking his first professional win since the 2014 US Open, but this week’s event could be the perfect spot for him to break the unfortunate streak.

Kaymer has been rounding into form as he enters the event. He had a T26 finish at the US Open last month, and followed it up with a solo 2nd at the BMW International Open and a T41 at last week’s Irish Open.

Kaymer is also one of the best ball strikers on the European Tour this season. He ranks 6th in strokes gained: approach, which is always a key stat at the Renaissance Club. He had a T20 finish at the event in 2019.

Sam Horsfield +1400

Sam Horsfield is one of the top young golfers on the European Tour and he enters this week’s Scottish Open with some momentum after a T5 finish at the BMW International Open two weeks ago. He also ranks second on the European Tour in strokes gained: total heading into this week, as well as second in strokes gained: approach, which will prove to be invaluable this week.

He falls under the category of being underrated due to his lack of experience competing on the PGA Tour, but he’s done more than enough on the European circuit to be worth a bet at his current price this week.

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