ASI Scottish Open Preview: TV Times, Betting Tips

The European Tour heads to The Renaissance Club this week for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open: Here’s how to watch, and who to back

Following on from the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the ASI Scottish Open is the third Rolex Series of the year – meaning there’s a bigger prize fund, and a strong field heading to North Berwick this week. 

Rory McIlroy, who boasts nine top 10s and two victories in 2019 alone, headlines the field as the highest ranked player, and is joined by three other top 15 players: Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler.

Last year, Brandon Stone fired a staggering 10-under-par 60 around Gullane to win his third European Tour title by four shots over Eddie Pepperell. 

Below, find out how to watch the action – which includes the Hero World Challenge event on Tuesday evening.

Course: The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland
Defending Champion: Brandon Stone
Prize Fund: $7,000,000
Race to Dubai Points: 7,000
Open Qualifying spots available: 3

TV Times 

• Tuesday: Hero World Challenge – Live European Tour, Sky Sports Golf (19:00)

• Wednesday: On the range – Live European Tour, Sky Sports Main Event (15:00), Sky Sports Golf (15:00)

• Thursday: Sky Sports Golf (10:30)

• Friday: Sky Sports Golf (10:30), Sky Sports Main Event (12:45), Sky Sports Main Event (15:50)

• Saturday: Sky Sports Golf (15:00), Sky Sports Main Event (18:45)

• Sunday: Sky Sports Golf (15:00), Sky Sports Main Event (19:00)

Scottish Open: Betting Tips 

Rory McIlroy: 6/1
One of the most consistent players on any tour this season, McIlroy tees up for the first time since he followed his RBC Canadian Open win with a T9 at the U.S. Open – his 11th top 10 of the year. He opted for here instead of the Irish Open as a warm-up for Portrush, and although he’s not played in a lot of Scottish Open’s (his last was a MC in 2017), a huge amount of links experience renders that irrelevant. Ranks 1st on the PGA Tour this season for SG: Off the tee and SG: Tee to green, 2nd for scoring average and sixth for both birdie average and SG: Approach. 

Rickie Fowler: 12/1
Fowler won the Scottish Open in Gullane back in 2015, and has finished inside the top 10 in both of the previous two editions (T9 at Dundonald, T6 at Gullane last year) – so he clearly feels confident in this event. He started off the year with a victory at the Phoenix Open but has finished T43-T46 in his past two starts on Tour – so will be looking to regain some of the form he had earlier in the season. Ranks 15th scoring average and 20th for SG: Putting.

Matt Kuchar: 14/1
In addition to two victories, Kuchar’s season includes five top 10s in his last eight starts, and he comes to Scotland for his first event since finishing T16 at the US Open – which was his worst finish in a major this year. MC in this tournament last year but was T4 in 2017 and was the runner-up to Rickie Fowler in 2015. Ranks 3rd for GIR, 5th for scoring average, 10th for both driving accuracy and SG: Around the green, and 13th for SG: Tee to green on the PGA Tour. 

Henrik Stenson: 18/1
Stenson comes to Renaissance having finished with back-to-back top 10s at the RBC Canadian Open and U.S. Open. Has a best finish at the Scottish Open of T3 in 2013, and hasn’t finished worse than T33 in seven starts in this event. Ranks 1st SG: Approach the green, 5th Driving accuracy and 23rd for scoring average this season. 

Justin Thomas: 18/1
Thomas returned from a wrist injury that saw him skip the PGA Championship to go T20 in Canada, miss the cut at the US Open and finish T36 in his last start at the Travelers Championship. And now with tournament rust gone, JT will be hoping to recapture the form that saw him put together four top 10s in five events at the start of 2019 while making his Scottish Open debut this week. Ranks 2nd on Tour for birdie average, SG: Tee to green and GIR, 3rd for SG: Approach and 9th for scoring average. 

Rafa Cabrera Bello: 22/1
Cabrera Bello set the early pace during the final round at the Irish Open but fell away to a T4 finish – which followed up a T3 at the BMW International Open before that. MC at the Scottish Open last year but was the champion in 2017. Ranks 1st putts per round, 8th SG: Around the green and 11th Scoring average on the European Tour this season.

Eddie Pepperell: 28/1
Pepperell returned from the injury that sidelined him from the U.S Open to finish up T4 at the Irish Open, which was his second top five in his last three starts. He finished 2nd in last year’s Scottish Open, with another top 10 in this event in 2015. Ranks 12th for scoring average on the European Tour. 

Andy Sullivan: 33/1
Followed up a T13 at the Andalucia Masters with a runner-up finish at last week’s Irish Open, and will be hoping to continue that form here. MC in the Scottish Open last year but was T7 in 2017 and T6 the year before. Ranks inside the top 36 on Tour for birdies, GIR, SG: Tee to green and SG: Approach. 

Martin Kaymer: 35/1
Kaymer has a lot on the line this week as he bids to continue a streak that has seen him qualify for every major for the last 11 years – but needs to be inside the top 10 to be in with a chance of grabbing one of the three qualifying spots available. He finished T9 last week in Ireland, which was his third top 10 of the year alongside a T3 at Memorial and T8 at the Betfred British Masters. Missed the cut in the last two Scottish Opens but won in 2009 and has been playing well of late (T9-T16-T35-T6 in his last four starts). Ranks inside the top 10 on the European Tour for GIR, Birdie average, scoring average, SG: Tee to green and SG: Approach. 

Bernd Wiesberger: 40/1
With a victory, a T8 and a runner-up at last week’s Irish Open in his last five starts, Wiesberger has been a consistent force on the European Tour following his comeback after a wrist injury sidelined him last season. He hasn’t typically performed well at the Scottish Open (T51 in his last start in ’17), but he does have multiple top 10s in the Alfred Dunhill Links – proving he can adapt to this style of play. Ranks 8th GIR and 22nd SG: Approach.

Mike Lorenzo Vera: 40/1
Still searching for his maiden European Tour title, but with four top 10s (including two runner-up finishes) in his last seven starts, a win feels like it could be close. T9 at the Irish Open last week, but will need to break a habit to do well here: In four Scottish Open starts he’s gone MC-MC-T33-T31. Ranks 17th scoring average. 

Jorge Campillo: 50/1
A T7 at last week’s Irish Open for Campillo was his sixth top 10 of the year (including a win at the Trophee Hassan II). He also has a steady record in the past three Scottish Open’s, having gone T8-T26-T32. Ranks 3rd SG: Putting, 7th GIR, 15th for birdies and18th for scoring average on the European Tour.