Scottish Open 2023 – Event Overview
Ladies and gents, grab your tartan trousers and your best golf claps because it’s time for the Genesis Scottish Open 2023! The world’s golfing elite are descending on The Renaissance Club, as they gear up for the right to be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year next week at The Open Championship.
Nestled in the heart of North Berwick, The Renaissance Club is a modern marvel of golfing architecture. It’s as Scottish as haggis and bagpipes but with a few more sand traps. The course is a bit like the local weather – unpredictable, changeable, and with a high chance of causing a few tantrums. One minute it’s a gentle breeze, the next it’s a gale-force wind that could blow away your hopes of victory. The weather will dictate the scoring as in the cases at most links tracks around the world.
The line-up this year is more star-studded than a clear night in the Highlands. We’ve got the world’s number one, Scottie Scheffler, who’s been hitting balls further than most of us can see. Rory McIlroy is also in the mix, a man who needs no introduction, but we’ll give him one anyway because he’s just that good. And let’s not forget last year’s champion, Xander Schauffele, who’s back to defend his title and prove that lightning can indeed strike twice.
But it’s not all about the big names. The Genesis Scottish Open is also a last-chance saloon for those looking to book their ticket to the Open Championship in Liverpool. So, expect to see a few wild swings and desperate dashes as players chase that golden ticket.
So, buckle up, golf fans. The Genesis Scottish Open 2023 is set to be a rollercoaster ride.
Scottish Open 2023 – Event & Course Details
| Course: | The Renaissance Club |
| Location: | North Berwick, Scotland |
| Date: | 13th – 16th July 2023 |
| Par: | 71 |
| Yardage: | 7,303 |
| Purse: | — |
| Fairways/Rough: | — |
| Greens: | Fescue |
| Defending Champion: | Xander Schauffele 2022 |
Key Skill Sets Required
01. SG T2G
The foundation of good golf starts with T2G performance. In these low-scoring events, I want player onside who are dialled in across every club in the bag and are bringing their T2G with them rather than looking to find it.
02. SG Approach
Approach play is the most significant stat of all the strokes gained categories. One of the only defenses this course poses is the undulating greens. Hitting the correct segments of the greens and opening up scoring opportunities will be crucial to making birdies.
03. Par 5 Scoring
With the four par 5’s on show this week the winner will be required to take advantage of them shooting 6-8 under par over the week. 3 of them will be reachable by the majority of the field in two strokes. I want players onside who have demonstrated they take advantage of Par’5 as a regular occurrence.
04. Birdies or Better
Attacking golf is the order of the day this week. Players will need to make over 20 birdies in the week to have any chance of lifting this trophy especially if the weather remains calm. Bernd Wiesberger made 30 birdies or better on their way to victory in 2019 so that gives you an insight into what’s required this week.
05. SG Putting
One of the few defenses this course puts up is the undulating greens that the players face this week. We want players on the side to have been gaining strokes with the Flatstick consistently over the last 6 to 8 weeks.
Best Outsider to consider
01. Alex Smalley 80/1
- A solid finish last week year at this event finishing in the Top 10
- A proven performer over the past few weeks who arrives here with 2 top-10 finishes in his last 3 events
- An accurate player off the tee, which should set up plenty of birdie opportunities this week when playing from the fairways
- He has gained strokes with his approach play in each of his last 8 events, this will be key this week with low scoring expected
02. Alexander Bjork 200/1
- Arrives on the back of a top-10 finish last week, showing his game is still thriving
- 5 top 10 finishes in the last 6 events
- Top 20 finish in 2020 and Top 30 in 2021, shows he can handle the track this week
- An accurate driver of the ball which should set up lots of birdie opportunities from the fairways
- Ranked in the top 25 for SG Putting, a key factor this week
Top 20
- Alexander Bjork
- Gavin Green
- Ross Fisher
Scottish Open 2023 – Best Outright Picks
01. Scottie Scheffler 8/1
- World’s number one and most consistent golfer on the planet
- Arrives here on the back of 6 top 5 finishes in a row, tiger-like consistency
- 12th here on his first visit to the track, proven on the links layout
- Top 10 at The Open Championship in 2021 and 21st in 2022, shows he can handle these conditions
- Has a low ball flight off the tee and a natural fade which should help hold the fast and firm fairways
- He can control his ball flight with iron in hand and shapes the ball both ways with comfort
- The one they all have to beat for sure!
02. Min Woo Lee 45/1
- A recent winner here in 2021 where he announced himself on the world stage
- 4 top 20 finishes in his last 5 events show where his game is at present
- A superb driver of the ball, who can move it both ways off the tee, and has a tremendous length which can be advantageous on these links tracks
- Top 10 in Bogey Avoidance & Sand saves over the past 50 rounds on tour, sure to be helpful this week especially if the win blows
- Has the length to dominate the par 5 hole which is key to success
03. Jordan Smith 150/1
- Two top 20 finishes in his last 3 events, demonstrating his game is in good order if not in peak condition
- Leads the DP World Tour for GIR gained this week, which shows his iron game is dialed in
- He has the ability to shoot super low rounds which is something I like from a player at 100/1+
- Dominates par 5 scoring, 3rd on the European tour over the last 12 months
- Experience in these conditions will suit and I expect him to outrun his odds
