2023 Scottish Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

THE Scottish Open takes place at The Renaissance Club this week boasting what is surely the strongest field assembled in this country apart from The Open Championship.

The star attraction is Rory McIlroy who next week will return to Royal Liverpool, where he won The Open in 2014, hoping that the stars will align for him to finally end his major drought. He will be happy enough to put on a good show this week without winning.

McIlroy will make his eighth appearance in Scotland’s national open in a field that includes world number one Scottie Scheffler, fellow major champions Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Justin Thomas, defending champion Xander Schauffele, European Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, PGA Tiour winners Sam Burns, Max Homa, Im Sungjae and Seamus Power and Scotland’s number one, Robert MacIntyre.

McIlroy won the CJ Cup at the end of last year and added the Dubai Desert Classic title to his collection. He missed the cut at The Masters but had a top-10 finish at the US PGA despite struggling with his game and finished a stroke behind Wyndham Clark at the US Open.

He said: “I’m pleased to be able to add the Scottish Open to my schedule again this season. The Scottish fans have always been very supportive of me and it would be great to win a title in the home of golf.”

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will return for his second appearance after a tied tenth finish on his debut in East Lothian last season led to another top ten at the 150th Open in St Andrews the following week.

Spieth said: “I love the opportunity to play links golf and enjoyed the two weeks in Scotland last summer. I’m looking forward to getting back to the Renaissance Club and competing.”

Shane Lowry will be aiming for a third Rolex Series win, to add to his titles in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and Wentworth last season and will be joined by Adam Scott, of Australia, who said: “It’s been a few years since I played this event, but I always enjoy coming back to Scotland. I’ve heard a lot about Renaissance Club and it will be great to tee it up.”

Former European number one Tommy Fleetwood is aiming to go one better than his runner-up finish in 2020. The six-time DP World Tour winner’s T4 finish at last year’s Scottish Open was one of five top fives in the 2022 season, including both The Open and US PGA Championship, and his successful Nedbank Golf Challenge title defence. He has continued that sparkling form this year, coming within touching distance of a maiden PGA Tour success.

Fleetwood said: “I always enjoy playing the Scottish Open, and it’s an event I would love to win, particularly after coming so close a couple of times in recent years. It’s always a great event to play in the week before The Open as well, and I’m looking forward to an exciting couple of weeks in East Lothian and Merseyside.”

Last year Schauffele had to dig deep for victory. He fired his approach from the middle of the first fairway in to five feet and settled the nerves by sinking the birdie putt. He holed another one from 18 feet at the second and had a four-shot cushion to play with.

He then went bunker to bunker at the par-three sixth on the way to his first bogey of the day and made it two in a row at the seventh after landing in trouble with his tee shot and a bunker short of the green with his second.

He dropped another shot at the ninth and turned one behind Kitayama, while 15 players were separated by four shots at the top of the leaderboard.

Fleetwood was within a couple of after three birdies on the bounce from the 13th. He then gave the hole a scare with birdie putts on 16 and 17 but his chance disappeared with his only bogey of the day when he missed a six-footer for par on the last.

Schauffele started the back nine with four straight pars, two-putting from more than 70 feet at the 11th and 12th, before regaining the lead with a birdie at the short 14th. He used the bank to feed the ball down towards the hole and made no mistake with the putt from 15 feet.

The 16th offers up a birdie opportunity and Schauffele took it to ease the pressure as he played the closing two holes.

It was Schauffele's first win in Scotland and he said: "It's special. It's different playing over here. You've got to play golf differently. The fans are incredible. They pushed me long all day and this is definitely a nice win for my team and myself.”

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2015 by Rickie Fowler, in 2016 by Alex Noren, in 2017 by Rafa Cabrera Bello, in 2018 by Brandon Stone, in 2019 by Bernd Wiesberger, in 2020 by Aaron Rai, in 2021 by Min Woo Lee and last year by Xander Schauffele.

The Course

The Renaissance Club is located not far from North Berwick, next to Muirfield. A par 71, it measures 7,303 yards and is a true links course, featuring plenty of thick rough. It was designed by Tom Doak and features stunning views over the Firth of Forth. If the weather is good expect to see some very low scoring. If the wind blows it will be a very different story.

Form Guide

Rory McIlroy is the obvious favourite. He finished tied seventh at both the US PGA and the Memorial, tied ninth at the Canadian Open, second at the US Open and tied seventh at the Travelers Championship. But will he want to win the week before The Open? Tommy Fleetwood loves links golf and is in fine form, losing the Canadian Open in a playoff and then finishing tied fifth at the US Open. He is due a win.

To Win:

Tommy Fleetwood. Great links golfer

Each Way:

Rory McIlroy. Will settle for a top-five finish this week

Each Way:

Scottie Scheffler. There or thereabouts every time he plays

Five to Follow:

Tommy Fleetwood. One of the best iron players in the game

Rory McIlroy. It’s all about next week for Rory

Scottie Scheffler. Incredibly consistent

Tyrrell Hatton. In fine form

Rickie Fowler. He’s back!

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Tom McKibbin. Chance to test himself against the big boys

Oliver Wilson. Played some inspired stuff at The Belfry

Harry Hall. Holding his own on the PGA Tour

Connor Syme. Looking to do it for home fans

Gavin Green. Hugely underrated