The 2023 Genesis Scottish Open will send the PGA Tour overseas this week. PGA handicapper Matt MacKay is here with his latest power rankings ahead of Round 1 on Thursday from North Berwick, Scotland.
PGA Power Rankings: Top 5 Golfers For 2023 Genesis Scottish Open
The PGA Tour will spend the next two events competing at links courses over in the United Kingdom, starting with the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
While there have been numerous Scottish Open events played across the years, this will be the second annual event with the PGA Tour co-sanctioning this event, sending an even number of PGA Tour members and DP World Tour professionals into the field. We did not see low scoring at this event during Xander Schauffele's -7-under-par winning scorecard in 2022, which was the first time in over 20 years that the outright winner had a final score in the single digits. Previous winners before the PGA Tour helped co-sanction this event include Min Woo Lee (-18) and Aaron Rai (-11), both of whom will compete in the field at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open.
Links courses are wide open, with tall fescue, deep sand bunkers, and big greens forming the biggest obstacles. Trees and water hazards fall by the wayside, but staying accurate with ball striking remains a priority at a par 70 course that runs over 7,200 yards. The wind off of the coast will form another massive obstacle for golfers to conquer while maintaining quality hole proximity on these bigger-than-average greens.
This slate has some of the biggest names in golf returning to compete, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, defending champion Xander Schauffele, and Rickie Fowler. Let's find out when the opening tee times will begin and how to watch the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open before diving into an in-depth course layout. Then, we'll take a look at the top of the current outright betting odds, followed by my favorite golfers to target when wagering on outright winners this weekend at the Renaissance Club golf links.
Click here to read Niall Lyons' Scottish Open tips and preview.
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Scottish Open Course Preview
Renaissance Club is a par 70 that runs over 7,200 yards with all of the signature designs of a British golf links course. Designed by Tom Doak and opened only 16 years ago in 2007, the Renaissance Club kept a few trees, separating itself from most other links courses, forcing players to be strategic with their tee shots and approach shots.
The greens are much bigger than the average surface area competed on stateside, which is part of every links course. Greens in regulation is still an important stat to focus on from an outright betting perspective. Still, hole proximity needs to be factored in, as landing it on the green 80 feet away from the pin location won't be an easy par breaker.
The deep, sand bunkers are another staple of British golf links, punishing errant lies and the tall fescue serving as the primary rough. Golfers need to rely on their entire bag to win this event, but ball striking off the tee and approaching the green and a hot putter will be the best ways to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
2023 Scottish Open Odds
| Name | Best Price | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | 7/1 | 6/1 |
| Rory McIlory | 17/2 | 7/1 |
| Patrick Cantlay | 14/1 | 10/1 |
| Xander Schauffele | 14/1 | 10/1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 18/1 | 14/1 |
Scottish Open Power Rankings | Matt MacKay Outright Bets
Tommy Fleetwood
We're going all the way into the 20/1 outright odds to start with my favorite player on the Scottish Open slate. Tommy Fleetwood has been lighting up courses this season, still seeking his first outright win since joining the PGA Tour in 2010.
He's collected five T10 finishes this season while also finishing T4 at the 2022 Scottish Open. After going +3 in the opening round, Fleetwood bounced back, going -6-under-par in the final two rounds to climb into a T5 finish. The 32-year-old Englishman is an exceptional iron player, ranking seventh in total strokes gained, including seventh tee-to-green, 23rd approaching the green, seventh around the green, and 19th scrambling.
Plus, he's 29th in strokes gained putting. It feels like a week since we see Fleetwood finally put it together for four rounds en route to his first PGA Tour outright. Grab it at 22/1 at DraftKings before the odds shorten.
Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry is certainly worth sprinkling on ahead of Thursday's opening round. The 36-year-old Irishman has only one T10 finish this season, but we've seen him produce super low rounds. Lowry ranks 16th in strokes gained tee-to-green, 13th approaching the green, and ninth in total driving.
His putter is a weakness, which is why we're only sprinkling, but he ranks 23rd in hole proximity, which could put Lowry in a spot early on to build and be a contender come Sunday. At 35/1, let's sprinkle on Lowry's outright odds, as he's solid when it comes to going for the green, ranking 29th on the PGA Tour.
Ludvig Aberg
Taking the PGA Tour by storm, Swedish golfer, Ludvig Aberg, has already had a couple of opportunities to produce an outright win. Yes, most of these came during lighter fields. However, the 23-year-old Swede has great irons and a strong driver, allowing him to avoid errant lies.
His putter is inconsistent, but Aberg has shown the propensity to deliver clutch putts from 10 feet or further. I like investing in players who currently possess momentum, which Aberg has in spades, so at 40/1, let's sprinkle on his outright odds during his debut at the Renaissance Club.
Adam Scott
Adam Scott did not compete at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open, but he'll be attending this year, brandishing one of the best swings on the PGA Tour. The 42-year-old Aussie is a veteran with 14 career wins but is seeking his first outright victory since winning the Genesis Invitational in 2020. With that said, Scott is on fire, collecting five T30s, including three T10s and a T5, since the Wells Fargo Championship a couple of months ago.
He's ranked 14th in strokes gained off-the-tee, 33rd around the green, and 36th in strokes gained putting. Plus, Scott is savvy at saving shots out of sand traps, ranked 26th in sand save percentage, which is an underrated stat that could go a long way at the Renaissance Club links course this week. Let's bet on Scott to get it done in Scotland this weekend at a solid 45/1 value.
Click here for the best Scottish Open odds through oddschecker.
