Scottish Open 2019 Preview
The Renaissance Club in North Berwick hosts the prestigious Scottish Open this week. It’s a relatively new course and it is making its debut on the European Tour. Taking the star turn is Rory McIlroy. McIlroy is one of four Top 15 players in contention. Next week comes the Open Championship from Royal Portrush, and players will be keen to get their eye in and dip into some form on the links ahead of that.
Scottish Open 2019 Winner Odds*
Rory McIlroy 6/1
Rickie Fowler 14/1
Matt Kuchar 18/1
Justin Thomas 18/1
Henrik Stenson 18/1
Matt Wallace 25/1
Rafa Cabrera Bello 25/1
Eddie Pepperell 28/1
Martin Kaymer 30/1
Tyrrell Hatton 33/1
Bernd Wiesberger 35/1
Andy Sullivan 40/1
Kevin Kisner 45/1
50/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm)
Can McIlroy win as outright favourite?
McIlroy skipped the Irish Open last week in favour of this one. That may end up being a smart move as this is a big primer ahead of the next major. McIlroy is in some decent form at the moment with a couple of titles having been collected in his last eight outings. If you look back over the course of the 2019 calendar year he has banked a top ten finish in all but three of his outings. He is the outright favourite to win the Open Championship and streaks ahead of anyone else to win this one too. McIlroy goes as 6/1 favourite* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
Can links expert Rickie Fowler win Scottish Open?
America’s Rickie Fowler will be an interesting proposition for punters this week. He is one of the better links players around. He does need a bit of a lift in the form at the moment though, as he really has not shown up since a T4 back at the Wells Fargo in early May. But again, there is his stronger touch when it comes to links play which would see him raise his game. He is 14/1 second-favourite behind McIlroy* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
Can Matt Kuchar put things together in Edinburgh?
The steady hand of Kuchar may play a part at the head of the market this week at the Scottish Open. You only have to look back a couple of years to his second-place finish at The Open and not to forget his second-place finish at this event in 2015. Kuchar is actually in better form than his compatriot Fowler at the moment as well. Kuchar as secured four top-ten finishes in this last seven outings. That sounds good enough to get himself in contention.
Other contenders on the links
Eddie Pepperell is a good links player and he will be running to the Scottish Open after a strong performance at the Irish Open. He was tied for fourth in County Clare over the weekend and that makes him a nice bit of each-way value at 28/1 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
Rafa Cabrera-Bello is at 25/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm) and the Spaniard is carrying some form. He did win the Scottish Open a couple of years ago too. What is putting him in good stead is that he has had back to back top-five finishes on the European PGA, first at the BMW International and the Irish Open. So the man is trending.
Another of the strong performers from the Irish Open was Bernd Wiesberger who was joint runner up on the weekend. That was a big swing of form from him and if he gets his putter going this week, he could be unstoppable. There is a very nice price of 35/1 outright on him* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm) which looks very generous given the strong showing in Ireland.
2019 Scottish Open 2019 Predictions
It is hard to look past Rory McIlroy in this field. He is at home on the links and his form for the season has been pretty much impeccable. Even though at such a short price he is worth a flutter as the 6/1 outright favourite* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
But there is more value to be found in shopping around. That will be on Cabrero-Bello who has hit peak form at the moment. Then there is Bernd Wiesberger who looks a really good fit with his game going so well at the moment. He can’t be ignored so heftily undervalued at 35/1 each-way* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
