With just one week to go until the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, a strong field has assembled at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the Scottish Open, which starts on Thursday.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is among their number as is Rory McIlroy, who returns to the scene of his 2014 Open triumph at Hoylake next week.
However, there are still plenty of others who will not only be looking for the best preparation for the final Major of the year, but also trying to emulate last year’s winner Xander Schauffele at one of Europe’s most prestigious events.
- Tyrrell Hatton to win the Scottish Open
- Shane Lowry to win the Scottish Open
- Alexander Bjork to win the Scottish Open
Hatton In Great Form
With the exception of the Open, it’s difficult to find a stronger field for a European event than the one heading to North Berwick this week, but that shouldn’t affect Tyrrell Hatton’s confidence one iota.
Hatton has his temperament issues but there is little doubt that he can consider himself one of the world’s best players and he has proved that in recent weeks.
He was 17th in his last appearance in June’s US Open, but in his five PGA Tour events prior to that he posted finishes of 3-5-15-12-3.
While many of his rivals in the market may understandably have one eye on next week’s Major, Hatton can still excel in this company.
He has three top-20 finishes at the venue but has won the Alfred Dunhill Links twice so should have a greater knowledge of the challenge ahead, especially compared to some of the visitors from America.
TYRRELL HATTON TO WIN THE SCOTTISH OPEN
Lowry expected to challenge
Lowry Should Feel At Home
It’s three years since Ireland’s Shane Lowry stormed to victory in the Open at Royal Portrush, but there has been evidence that he has been flying under the radar just lately.
The man from Offaly will make his course debut at the Renaissance, but he has the short-game skills to ensure the test is to his liking and his recent results have been strong, even though he hasn’t made a notable challenge for glory.
Lowry was 12th at the US PGA, 16th at the Memorial, 20th at the US Open and 19th at the Travelers Championship, so the consistency is there and this could be the week when the Irishman turns it up a notch.
SHANE LOWRY TO WIN THE SCOTTISH OPEN
Bjork in fine form
Bjork’s Results Deserve Respect
The market suggests it could be difficult for some of the regular DP World Tour players to get much of a look-in this week in a tournament co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour.
However, it’s difficult to ignore Alexander Bjork’s fine form and the Swede can make an impression at a big price at a venue where he was 19th in 2020.
The field he faces is a lot stronger than a typical European get-together but he hasn’t missed the Renaissance cut in four visits and it will be interesting to see how he gets on after recent finishes of 4-4-29-6-9-8-4.
ALEXANDER BJORK TO WIN THE SCOTTISH OPEN
