Scottish Open 2026 Betting Tips: Gotterup for the challenge north of the border

Men’s major season reaches its climax with The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next week, but before an elite group of contenders descends on Southport, a strong field will first head to the Scottish Open for some vital preparation at The Renaissance Club this week.

Star golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with his usual long-read preview of the event. He's picked out five players he likes to follow, so check out Jamie's thoughts and his Scottish Open 2026 Betting Tips below...

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*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest Scottish Open Odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Scottish Open was first held on the DP World Tour (DPWT) in 1972 but was cancelled two years later before returning in 1986. It has been a mainstay ever since, with its stature growing significantly after becoming co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour in 2022.

Only two players have won this title more than once, with Ian Woosnam on three wins (1987, 1990, 1996) and Ernie Els on two (2000, 2003).

Esteemed names such as Lee Westwood (1998), Justin Rose (2014), and Rory McIlroy (2023) have also walked away with the trophy. Meanwhile, there have been just two Scottish winners: Colin Montgomerie (1999) and Robert MacIntyre (2024).

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Chris Gotterup (-15)

Runners-up: Marco Penge, Rory McIlroy (-13)

• 2024

Winner: Robert MacIntyre (-18)

Runner-up: Adam Scott (-17)

• 2023

Winner: Rory McIlroy (-15)

Runner-up: Robert MacIntyre (-14)

• 2022

Winner: Xander Schauffele (-7)

Runner-up: Kurt Kitayama (-6)

• 2021

Winner: Min Woo Lee (-18, playoff)

Runner-up: Matt Fitzpatrick, Thomas Detry (-18)

Chris Gotterup produced a fine performance to claim the title last year. He took the solo lead after 36 holes – equalling the course record with a superb nine-under 61 in round two – and maintained a share of the lead alongside Rory McIlroy going into Sunday.

Pulling clear of Rory and the rest of this world-class field in the final round, Gotterup secured the biggest win of his career. That victory set him up for a tilt at The Open a week later, as he finished 3^rd behind Scottie Scheffler at Royal Portrush.

THE COURSE

The Renaissance Club

• Original architect / Year opened: Tom Doak / 2008
• Latest renovation: Doak returned in 2014 to undertake an extensive renovation of the layout
• Par / Yardage: Par 70 / 7,282 yards (45 yards longer than 2025)
• Hole breakdown:
  • 5x par 3s (147-218 yards)
  • 10x par 4s (347-505 yards)
  • 3x par 5s (576-600 yards)
• Course style: An exposed, modern links-style venue, beginning on flat terrain before becoming more undulating as it progresses
• Fairways:
  • The firm, sloping fairways are reasonably generous
  • Yet, with several placed at an awkward angle to the tee box, they are difficult to hit
  • Strategic bunkering offers some protection, but the fescue rough is typically non-penal
• Greens:
  • The large greens are the toughest aspect of play at the course, ranking inside the top eight for putting difficulty on the PGA Tour in the last four years
  • These often multi-tiered and severely contoured surfaces are surrounded by tricky pot bunkers and slick run-offs
• Defences: Wind can always be a factor around here, but those greens provide the primary defence at the course, especially if firm
• Average winning score: -15.15 (seven editions since 2019)

Located on Scotland's golf-rich east coast, The Renaissance Club may not have the history of many clubs in the area but certainly doesn't look out of place.

Due to the five par 3s, it's a deceptively lengthy layout, possessing five par 4s at 480 yards or longer (including two over 500 yards), while two of the par 5s measure in at around 600 yards.

As with any links/links-like course, the difficulty is dictated by conditions. That said, it has predominantly delivered a solid test and provides important preparation for next week's Open Championship.

THE WEATHER

With temperatures of around 18-21°C and just a few spots of rain, it's forecast to be a relatively warm, bright week in Scotland.

Friday is predicted to be the windiest day, with sustained winds of around 15mph. Meanwhile, gusts of up to 20mph are expected throughout.

KEY STATS

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Distance

The driver continues to be the most important club at The Renaissance Club, where the forgiving nature off the tee plays into the hands of the biggest hitters.

• 2025
  • Chris Gotterup (Winner): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 3^rd in Driving Distance
  • Marco Penge (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 1^st in Driving Distance
  • Rory McIlroy (2^nd): 2^nd in Driving Distance
  • Nicolai Hojgaard (4^th): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 6^th in Driving Distance
• 2024
  • Robert MacIntyre (Winner): 8^th in SG: OTT
  • Adam Scott (2^nd): 4^th in SG: OTT / 14^th in Driving Distance
  • Rory McIlroy (4^th): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 1^st in Driving Distance
• 2023
  • Rory McIlroy (Winner): 1^st in SG: OTT / 1^st in Driving Distance
  • Byeong Hun An (3^rd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 3^rd in Driving Distance
  • Scottie Scheffler (3^rd): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 7^th in Driving Distance
• 2022
  • Xander Schauffele (Winner): 15^th in SG: OTT
  • Kurt Kitayama (2^nd): 5^th in Driving Distance
  • Tommy Fleetwood (4^th): 4^th in SG: OTT
  • Matt Fitzpatrick (6^th): 10^th in SG: OTT / 10^th in Driving Distance
• 2021
  • Min Woo Lee (Winner): 16^th in Driving Distance
  • Lucas Herbert (4^th): 6^th in SG: OTT / 3^rd in Driving Distance
  • Ryan Palmer (4^th): 7^th in SG: OTT / 14^th in Driving Distance

SG: Putting

Boasting those large, heavily undulating, and challenging greens, it's no surprise that the putter carries significant weight here.

• 2025
  • Chris Gotterup (Winner): 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • Rory McIlroy (2^nd): 5^th in SG: Putting
  • Marco Penge (2^nd): 14^th in SG: Putting
  • Matt Fitzpatrick (4^th): 6^th in SG: Putting
  • Nicolai Hojgaard (4^th): 11^th in SG: Putting
• 2024
  • Robert McIntyre (Winner): 16^th in SG: Putting
  • Adam Scott (2^nd): 10^th in SG: Putting
  • Romain Langasque (3^rd): 2^nd in SG: Putting
  • Aaron Rai (4^th): 7^th in SG: Putting
  • Seven of the top nine ranked inside the top 20 in SG: Putting
• 2023
  • Robert MacIntyre (2^nd): 6^th in SG: Putting
  • David Lingmerth (3^rd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • T. Poston (6^th): 3^rd in SG: Putting
• 2022
  • Kurt Kitayama (2^nd): 7^th in SG: Putting
  • Eight of the top nine ranked inside the top 20 in SG: Putting
• 2021
  • Matt Fitzpatrick (2^nd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Thomas Detry (2^nd): 11^th in SG: Putting
  • Ian Poulter (4^th): 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • Ryan Palmer (4^th): 4^th in SG: Putting
  • Lucas Herbert (4^th): 5^th in SG: Putting

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR) / Proximity from 175 yards+

Although top-class iron play hasn't proven as vital at this event as elsewhere, strength in approach is still a positive, particularly for those that excel with the long irons.

• 2025
  • Each of the top 10 gained strokes in approach
• 2024
  • Robert MacIntyre (Winner): 5^th in SG: Approach / 18^th in GIR
  • Adam Scott (2^nd): 7^th in GIR
  • Romain Langasque (3^rd): 10^th in SG: Approach
• 2023
  • Rory McIlroy (Winner): 8^th in SG: Approach
  • Scottie Scheffler (3^rd): 4^th in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Nicolai Hojgaard (6^th): 1^st in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
• 2022
  • Xander Schauffele (Winner): 7^th in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Seven of the top nine ranked inside the top 25 in SG: Approach
• 2021
  • Thomas Detry (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: Approach
  • Ian Poulter (4^th): 3^rd in GIR
  • Ryan Palmer (4^th): 3^rd in GIR

CORRELATING EVENTS

Form on those historied links venues used at The Open Championship is an obvious plus, whilst we can look at the 2011-2019 editions of this event, which were all contested on links/links-like layouts. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is played on three iconic links courses just north of here, and it's also worth checking out the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024 editions of the Irish Open, as well as last year's Nexo Championship on the DPWT.

Away from the traditional links courses of the UK and Ireland, it's the Middle East that could offer the best way into the event. The exposed, firm, sandy nature of courses there has been a happy hunting ground for links performers. Therefore, anyone who has gone well at the Qatar Masters, Abu Dhabi Championship, Bahrain Championship or the Ras Al Khaimah Championship are of interest.

In addition, the KLM (Dutch) Open is another event on the tour that typically takes place on links-style courses.

The Scottish Open's co-sanctioned status means we need to also focus on events stateside, and though direct comparisons are tough to find, one stands out.

PGA National, host of the Cognizant Classic, is an exposed course on the east coast of the U.S. that is often subject to challenging, windy conditions. Open Championship winners such as Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington have each won there, whilst Shane Lowry has twice finished 2^nd.

Other exposed setups to consider include recent U.S. Open host Shinnecock Hills, as well as the coastal Pebble Beach and the RSM Classic's Seaside Course. Furthermore, if you want to explore the architect angle, Tom Doak designed Memorial Park Golf Course, home of the Houston Open, a tournament won by 2021 Scottish Open champion Min Woo Lee in 2025.

THE FIELD

This year's world-class field includes six of the top 10 players in the world and 19 of the top 25. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy still lead the way as No. 1 and No. 2, Matt Fitzpatrick comes next at No. 4, and it's a welcome return to the event for Jon Rahm, who tees it up at The Renaissance Club for the first time since 2022.

Chris Gotterup is the reigning champion and is back inside the top 10 after last week's victory at the John Deere Classic. He's joined by seven other Scottish Open winners: Robert MacIntyre (2024), Rory McIlroy (2023), Xander Schauffele (2022), Min Woo Lee (2021), Aaron Rai (2020), Bernd Wiesberger (2019), and Alex Noren (2016).

SELECTIONS

Market leaders (1/4, 5 places): Scottie Scheffler 5/1, Rory McIlroy 9/1, Jon Rahm 11/1, Matt Fitzpatrick 18/1, Xander Schauffele 20/1

2 pts Chris Gotterup each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 25/1

Winning here before finishing 3^rd at Royal Portrush, Chris Gotterup showed an impressive liking for the links in 2025. Following his victory last week, he returns in even better form and looks an attractive price to become the first player to successfully defend the title.

Gotterup began the year in blistering fashion, securing wins at the Sony Open and Phoenix Open across his first three appearances. He's performed solidly since, going notably well when 6^th at the Houston Open and 10^th at the PGA Championship, before flying home with a sensational nine-under 62 to win his third title of the campaign at TPC Deere Run.

Quality with the driver and putter engineered that success, as he ranked 1^st in SG: OTT, 1^st in driving distance and 6^th in SG: Putting. Indeed it's in these areas he's excelled throughout the year, sitting 10^th in SG: OTT, 5^th in driving distance and 28^th in SG: Putting overall.

Combined with his much improved iron displays – ranking 44^th in SG: Approach compared to being outside the top 100 in the previous two seasons – he's now operating on an entirely different level.

Gotterup was completely out of form when missing the cut on his Scottish Open debut in 2024, but he put that right last year, taking down a star-studded field by two shots. With his 3^rd at The Open accompanied by 6^th and 18^th-place finishes at the Tom Doak-designed Memorial Park, he can prove that triumph was no fluke this week.

1.75 pts Robert MacIntyre each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 30/1

I’m going to go with another former winner of this event next, with 2024 champion Robert MacIntyre. His form is beginning to pick up again after a difficult period and, driving and putting better than ever in 2026, he’s primed to make a bold attempt at regaining the Scottish Open title.

MacIntyre was playing exceptionally well at the beginning of the campaign, recording finishes of 2^nd at the Texas Open, 4^th at THE PLAYERS Championship, and 4^th at the Sony Open across his first seven outings. However, he then suffered a neck injury prior to The Masters and failed to hit the top 40 in his following six starts.

The Scot arrested his slide with a 15^th-place finish at the Canadian Open, backing that up with a commendable 39^th at the U.S. Open, and he was 10^th at the Travelers Championship last time out.

His iron play caught the eye at TPC River Highlands two weeks ago, as he ranked 10^th in SG: Approach and GIR. This represented a major upgrade on recent performances and, when considered alongside season-long rankings of 11^th in SG: Putting and 18^th in SG: OTT, his game is bubbling up nicely.

An unsurprising suitability to elite-level links golf has been evident throughout his pro career, as he finished 6^th (2019) and 8^th (2021) on his first two Open Championship appearances. With that, it was only a matter of time before he produced a winning display on one of these layouts, which duly came at The Renaissance Club in 2024, 12 months on from his agonising runner-up finish to Rory McIlroy.

MacIntyre stamped his authority as one of the best at this brand of golf when winning last year’s Dunhill Links, and if able to build on recent improvements, he’s sure to be among the frontrunners in Scotland.

1 pts Harris English each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 50/1

Harris English claimed his highest ever finish at The Renaissance Club in 2025 before then going on to finish an excellent career-best 2^nd at The Open. That suggests he may have finally got the hang of links golf, and with the driver looking better than ever in 2026, this fantastic putter could be a leading contender this week.

Sixteen appearances have yielded nine top-25s for English this season, going best when 4^th at the RBC Heritage. He did miss a second cut of the campaign at the U.S. Open two starts ago, though there was promise to be found at the Travelers Championship, finishing 38^th.

The American was solid from tee-to-green there but, for a player who ranks 6^th in SG: Putting, he was surprisingly underwhelming on the greens. He can quickly rectify that here and, with his ranking of 37^th in SG: OTT another plus, his profile stacks up to this challenge.

English has played this layout on three occasions and improved with each visit, finishing 42^nd in 2022, 34^th in 2024, and 22^nd in 2025. That runner-up finish at Royal Portrush also bodes well, and while alternate comp form is thin on the ground, I do think his most recent win at Torrey Pines last year could be a positive pointer – a lengthy, exposed layout requiring plenty of approaches with the long irons.

1 pt Kristoffer Reitan each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 55/1

I put Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan up for this last year and he performed admirably, finishing 13^th. He’s since continued his swift rise up the world rankings, winning as a PGA Tour rookie in 2026, and as a player very much at home on links courses, I’m keen to have him onside once again.

Reitan understandably took a little time to find his feet on the PGA Tour, though he has looked a different prospect since finishing 10^th at the Texas Open back in April. He was 2^nd alongside compatriot Kris Ventura at the Zurich Classic and just two starts later, he produced a cool final-round display to win the Truist Championship at the imposing Quail Hollow.

A fourth top-10 finish of the campaign arrived at the Memorial Tournament thanks to a superb approach performance. Meanwhile, he putted better than he has all year when 22^nd at the Travelers Championship on his latest start.

He’s barely put a foot wrong with the driver all season, ranking 13^th in SG: OTT, and he is also a handy 26^th in driving distance. The putter has been closer to the standard he showed in 2025 of late, and with his iron play also more reliable, gaining strokes in six of his last seven outings in approach, he looks poised to contend.

Reitan actually played this course during his amateur days, as he topped the stroke-play section of the 2016 Boy’s Amateur – an event co-hosted by The Renaissance Club and nearby Muirfield.

That vital experience helped him finish 13^th here 12 months ago and, having finished inside the top five at the Nexo Championship and Dunhill Links in Scotland later in the year, this is a part of the world where the Norwegian clearly thrives.

1 pt Jesper Svensson each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 150/1

Jesper Svensson is a perfect fit for this test, and with two top-10s in two starts, he could just be coming into form at the right time. He’s made the cut on both attempts at The Renaissance Club, and with a top-20 at last year’s Open Championship highlighting his ability on these setups, he’s worth chancing at huge odds.

Svensson only made two of his first nine cuts on the PGA Tour this season, though one of them did result in an 8^th-place finish at the Puerto Rico Open. He made it two top-10s for 2026 at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson two starts ago, finishing 9^th, before stepping it up a notch on his next appearance, firing four rounds in the 60s to place 4^th at the Canadian Open – his standout result on the PGA Tour.

The Swede is one of the five longest hitters on tour, and the driver has been especially good of late, ranking 17^th in this field in SG: OTT across the last three months. His irons took a step in the right direction in Canada and, also making significant gains with the putter, sitting 13^th, encouraging signs are easy to find.

Svensson shot three under-par rounds on his way to finishing 34^th here on his 2024 debut and was just as comfortable in these surrounds last year, ending the week in 43^rd place. He was the third-best tee-to-green performer at Royal Portrush in 2025, helping him to a 16^th-place finish and, having also gone close in the Middle East when runner-up at the 2024 Bahrain Championship, there’s every reason to expect another strong showing in Scotland.

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