The PGA Tour heads overseas to the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open. Last year’s champion, Rory McIlroy, headlines a deep field of golfers taking a tough course to tune up for next week’s Open Championship .

The Rennaissance Club is not your typical links course. Trees line many holes and heavy rough awaits golfers who miss the undulating fairways. That said, golfers will still be dealing with shoreline wind, pot bunkers and greens that require precision from approach shots at short and long distances. With an elite combination of distance off the tee, proximity to the flag and three-foot avoidance, players can hit low scores and compete in one of golf’s best non-major tournaments.

Scottish Open 2024 betting odds – McIlroy leads the pack

Xander Schauffele (7-under in 2022) and Rory McIlroy (15-under in 2023) have won the Scottish Open since it was sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in 2022. So it’s no surprise that both stars lead the field with the best odds to win this year’s tournament.

McIlroy, who has not played since collapsing at the US Open last month, is the betting favorite at every major sportsbook. The Irishman won the 2023 Scottish Open with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18, giving him a one-shot lead over Robert McIntyre. The Renaissance Club could be the perfect place for Rory to regain his confidence and become the first back-to-back winner in Scottish Open history.

There are a number of exciting challengers for McIlroy to face this week. According to the oddsmakers, Schauffele is bullish on the defending champion as the PGA Championship winner looks to continue his impressive season. Ludwig Aberg is chasing his first win of the year despite six top-ten finishes, while Victor Hovland boasts an all-round game that is playing well at North Berwick.

Some honors contested this week include Sungjae Im (+4000), Robert MacIntyre (+5000), Wyndham Clark (+5000) and 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman (+6000).

Top 5 Scottish Open picks to win

Several skills should be prioritized when betting on the Scottish Open. The greens are huge and undulating, so players with accurate approach shots will benefit. Additionally, the distance off the tee will give players shorter, more playable iron shots. And, as with any link class, getting out of deep caches is a must.

Weather is always a factor at the Renaissance Club. However, this week’s forecast looks mild, with scattered showers and wind rarely exceeding ten mph. If there is any weather-related advantage, the forecast for Thursday afternoon and Friday morning golfers is better than the weather for golfers who start early Thursday and finish late Friday.

Here are five of my favorite betting picks to win the Genesis Scottish Open:

Ludvig Aberg +1500 (bet365)

When healthy, Aberg has proven to be a player who elevates his game in major tournaments. The Swede finished second at the Masters in April, fifth at the Memorial in June and 12th at the US Open. However, he has qualities outside of moxie that make him an interesting bet to win the Scottish Open.

Aberg is eighth on the PGA Tour in Total Strokes Gained (SG), third in Total Driving and ninth in SG: Approach. Over the past six months, Aberg has won three or more strokes off the tee and approach shots in nearly 28 percent of his rounds, more than anyone in this week’s field. The 24-year-old’s superior ball-striking will help him on a course where distance and accuracy are crucial to success.

Collin Morikawa +1700 (bet365)

Morikawa has had five top-10 finishes since his T3 finish at Augusta and no worse than T23. That momentum, along with his track record on the links courses and favorable tee time, will help the 2021 Open champion challenge in Scotland.

Morikawa is one of the best all-around players on the PGA Tour. The 27-year-old is sixth in SG: Total, 13th in SG: Off-the-Tee and first in driving accuracy. At his best, he’s in the conversation with one of golf’s best iron players. Additionally, Morikawa has won 2+ shots from the tee to the green in 18 of his last 36 rounds, tied with McIlroy for the best in the field.

Tommy Fleetwood +2200 (DraftKings)

Aside from McIlroy and Schauffele, Fleetwood has the best record at the Renaissance Club. The Englishman finished fourth in 2022 and sixth in 2023 as he enters this year’s tournament hungry for his first PGA Tour victory.

Fleetwood, 33, has not finished lower than T26 since April. He ranks 25th in SG: Around-the-Green and 10th in scrambling this season, which comes into play for short hit-and-run shots. While he doesn’t have an elite distance off the tee or an iron game like Morikawa, his performance on this course makes him a threat.

Wyndham Clark +5000 (FanDuel)

We leave the board with a player who is much better than his odds. Clark enters the Scottish Open with a T9 finish in the Travelers Championship and should be in contention this weekend.

Clarke, 30, is hitting bombs off the tee, entering the tournament fifth in average driving distance. His total approach numbers aren’t great, but he’s second on tour in approaches inside 100 yards, giving himself shots just 12 feet on average. Clark, who won the US Open in 2023, is also seventh in strokes gained from the bunker.

Byeong Hun An +7000 (ESPN BET)

Like Fleetwood, An is another long-time pro looking for his first win. The 32-year-old has five top-10 finishes in 2024 and shot 10-under at the Renaissance Club in 2023 to finish third.

An is one of golf’s best drivers off the tee, ranking fourth in the middle distance. This allows him to take advantage of the par 4 and par 5 holes, which comprise 13 of the course’s 18 holes. There is a boom-or-bust with his betting, but after seeing his performance here last season, An offers decent value for punters aiming for a long-distance winner.

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