2024 Scottish Open Odds & Expert Picks: McIlroy Returns to Attempt Title Defense
Rory McIlroy makes his competitive return this week as the clear favorite in the Scottish Open odds at our top golf betting sites. While the defending champion is a strong contender, our expert picks are focused on finding value beyond the expected winner at The Renaissance Club.
McIlroy is the highest-ranked player in the Scottish Open lineup, holding the No. 2 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Following his defeat to Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Open in mid-June, McIlroy has been dedicating time to practicing 3-foot putts, despite not having competed since then.
Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship this year and the 2022 event, is closely following Rory on the oddsboard for the British Open. A strong performance this week could greatly reduce their odds of winning the tournament.
Scottie Scheffler is taking the week off, leaving Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Hideki Matsuyama to form the next tier of the strong field in North Berwick, Scotland.
Make sure to check out my analysis of the ISCO Championship odds for the upcoming alternate event in Kentucky.
Genesis Scottish Open odds 2024
Scottish Open odds from top sports betting sites as of Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET. | ⭐ = best available odds | ❄️ = worst available odds
| Name | DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy (NI) | +750 | +750 | +800 | +650 ❄️ | +850 |
| Xander Schauffele | +850 | +850 | +900 | +850 | +950 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +1400 | +1400 | +1200 ❄️ | +1400 | +1500 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1600 | +1600 | +1400 ❄️ | +1600 | +1700 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2200 | +2200 | +1800 | +1600 ❄️ | +2200 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 | +1800 ❄️ | +2200 |
| Min Woo Lee | +2500 | +2500 | +2800 | +2500 | +3000 |
| Tom Kim | +2800 | +2800 | +2500 | +2000 ❄️ | +3000 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +3500 | +3500 | +3000 ❄️ | +3500 | +3800 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +3500 | +3500 | +3300 | +2800 ❄️ | +3500 |
Scottish Open picks
Ryan Fox to finish top 10 (+650)
Fox, a four-time champion on the European/DP World Tour, has successfully made the cut in six consecutive PGA Tour events. He recently finished T-17 in the BMW International Open last week. I appreciate his decision to arrive early in Europe for this co-sanctioned event.
Starting the week ranked 63rd in the Official World Golf Ranking, the New Zealander’s top performance in 2024 was a tied-fourth finish at the Myrtle Beach Classic and a tied-seventh finish at the RBC Canadian Open against a tougher competition.
Last year, he achieved his best result in five visits to The Renaissance Club with a T-12 finish in this event. He is one of the longest drivers in the field, excluding McIlroy, and currently ranks second on the PGA Tour this season in birdie-or-better percentage from the key distance of 150-175 yards.
Bet365 is offering an additional $5 in profit on a $10 winning bet compared to the +600 odds offered elsewhere for a top-10 finish prop. I have also placed a bet on Fox to win outright at +7000.
Top odds: +650 on bet365 | Probability of winning: 13.33%
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My first click: Tom Kim to win (+3000)
Kim was defeated by Scottie Scheffler on the first hole of a playoff at the Travelers Championship. Following this loss, he failed to make the cut as the favorite in the Rocket Mortgage Classic the following week and decided to skip the John Deere Classic last week.
Ranked 17th in the Official World Golf Rankings, he is the 11th highest ranked player in this tournament. Despite having the eighth best odds to win this week, I am willing to pay more for a winning $10 bet that would still return a profit of $300 at the current +3000 odds. We originally placed a bet on Kim at +3000 on Monday morning, and bet365 has returned to that initial offering after his odds dropped as low as +2500 on Tuesday.
Kim made her debut in this event in 2022, finishing in third place. She then went on to secure a T-6 result the following year. With three PGA Tour wins under her belt, Kim also tied for second place in last year’s British Open, showcasing her strong ability in links-style golf and her impressive performance at this stage of the golf season.
Last year, his performance off the tee was a major flaw in this event, but it has since become a strong point in his game over his last 20 rounds.
Top odds: +3000 on bet365 | Probability of winning: 3.23%
Scottish Open favorite
Rory McIlroy (+850)
McIlroy took a break for several weeks, including skipping the Travelers Championship Signature Event after the U.S. Open. In the U.S. Open, he bogeyed three of his last four holes and missed two putts within five feet, allowing DeChambeau to win by one stroke.
During his time away from the game, he has undoubtedly focused on his putting skills in private practice. He is now returning to Scottish fescue greens where he has previously found success. However, McIlroy’s success at The Renaissance Club last year was a new experience for him. In previous appearances at this event, he missed the cut in 2021 and tied for 34th in 2019.
Despite having only one PGA Tour victory this year, the Northern Irishman is still a strong contender when playing on this side of the Atlantic. There are no statistical weaknesses in his game, and he will be aiming for a third consecutive top-six finish in the British Open next week.
At +800 odds, bet365 offered better value for McIlroy to win compared to DraftKings’ +650 opening line. The odds have since increased to +850 at bet365, making it a market-best offer as of Wednesday morning. This presents a good opportunity for investment.
It is challenging to win golf tournaments in consecutive years due to the increased media scrutiny that accompanies the second victory. However, Rory is one of the rare golfers who is unfazed by this attention, as he is constantly in the spotlight of the media.
Top odds: +850 at bet365 | Probability implied: 10.53%
Scottish Open info
- Where: The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland
- When: Thursday, July 11 – Sunday, July 14
- Field: 156
- Favorite: Rory McIlroy (+850 via bet365)
- 2023 champion: Rory McIlroy (-15)
- Purse: $9 million
- FedEx Cup points: 500
The Renaissance Club course info
- Par: 70
- Length: 7,237 yards
- Greens: Fescue
- Architect: Tom Doak and Don Placek
In 2008, Tom Doak’s inaugural Scottish course, The Renaissance Club, was unveiled. Distinguished by its undulating fairways and elevated greens, this course stands out from traditional links-style layouts while still incorporating classic British and Scottish golf characteristics.
The tournament was upgraded to a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in preparation for the 2022 tournament. Since then, it has attracted a more competitive field and is now considered the premier warm-up event for the British Open.
Past Scottish Open winners
| Year | Winner | Pre-tournament odds | Score to par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rory McIlroy | +700 | -15 |
| 2022 | Xander Schauffele | +1800 | -7 |
| 2021 | Min Woo Lee | +10000 | -18 (playoff) |
| 2020 | Aaron Rai | +5000 | -11 (playoff) |
| 2019 | Bernd Wiesberger | +4000 | -22 (playoff) |
| 2018 | Brandon Stone | Field (+450) | -20 |
| 2017 | Rafa Cabrera-Bello | +4000 | -13 (playoff) |
| 2016 | Alex Noren | +4000 | -14 |
| 2015 | Rickie Fowler | +2000 | -12 |
| 2014 | Justin Rose | +1400 | -16 |
Historical odds via golfodds.com
How to bet on golf
Understanding the different types of bets available in golf betting is crucial for effectively assessing player performance. Start by familiarizing yourself with common bet types like outright winners, each-way bets, head-to-head matchups, and proposition bets that focus on specific tournament events, such as hole-in-one occurrences or player performances on designated holes.
After deciding on your favorite bet types, make sure to thoroughly research players, course conditions, recent form, and other important factors that could affect the results. Analyze player statistics, recent tournament results, course history, and any injuries or changes in form that might impact a player’s chances of winning.
With this information at your disposal, you can make educated betting choices and improve your chances of winning in golf betting.
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