Strap in, folks. It’s perhaps the best two-week stretch on the golf schedule – the Genesis Scottish Open into the British Open. Make sure the coffee is hot.
We plan to stay hot, too. We’re just two weeks removed from a massive 125-1 hit by our Anonymous Tour Coach, who nailed Aldrich Potgieter’s win at the Rocket Mortgage. The John Deere wasn’t as kind to the panel, but we’re confident in a quick bounce back as the tour heads across the pond.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of a tour coach reporting anonymously from the grounds of TPC Deere Run, Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Brandon Gdula of numberFire/FanDuel, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line. Stewart, our newest member of the panel, is our new betting content partner as well.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open:
Genesis Scottish Open picks 2025: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Anonymous Swing Coach of the Week: Scottie Scheffler (+500, BetMGM) — We’ve been backing Scottie Scheffler all year and cashed a number of times, and I think you have to go right back to him. There are no signs of slowing down. Whereas other players might be using this week strictly for prep and not focusing on winning, Scheffler isn’t phased by competing in a big event the week before The Open.
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Viktor Hovland (40-1, FanDuel) — The neck is worrisome, but it’s giving us enough of a break on his price to gamble on the upside of the best short term iron player in the field. Hopefully, the different methods of attack with chipping this week will normalize his usual spotty short game.
Brandon Gdula, FanDuel/numberFire managing editor: Tommy Fleetwood (22-1, FanDuel) — I get it if you are done with Fleetwood, but his statistical ceiling is fourth-best of any golfer in the field over the last 50 rounds, and his putting has been a lot better since swapping equipment. Fleetwood also has the best overall form at Renaissance Club over the last five years, among those in the field, by total strokes-gained.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Collin Morikawa (25-1, BetRivers) — We all agree Collin Morikawa should be winning more. We also agree Morikawa must have too much going on in his competitive mind. A solid showing at the Rocket Classic, I think Collin’s game is ready to win. Morikawa is 11th off the tee and fourth in approach in this field. A shift across the Atlantic can be like a cleanse. A proven links champion, Collin can also benefit from a new direct influence on the bag. I fully expect some Morikawa magic this week.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Adam Scott (55-1, FanDuel) — The Aussie was painfully close at Oakmont, playing great until Sunday. That showed his game’s in a great place. He boasts the fourth-highest strokes gained/total number out of all players here at the Genesis Scottish Open, including the second-best putting numbers. Scott came very close last year when Robert MacIntyre won, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he contends again.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Sepp Straka (50-1, BetRivers) — A two-time winner already this year, this seems like an insane price. Straka has had a career year outside of the majors and is among the best drivers and approach players in this field. Two MCs in this event is obviously not what you want, but he’s had a solid track record across the pond with a T-2 and a T-22 in his last two Opens, one of which was in Scotland.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Matt Fitzpatrick (40-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Even with his betting number getting obliterated and the corresponding popularity, I have a high degree of confidence in Matt Fitzpatrick this week. The former U.S. Open champion has a runner-up and two other top-15 finishes in six appearances at the Renaissance Club, and he is coming off an eighth-place finish at the Rocket Mortgage where he gained 3.9 strokes off the tee and 5.5 strokes on approach.
Past results: We have a BIG winner! Our Anonymous Tour Coach hit on Aldrich Potgieter at 125-1 (!!) to win the Rocket Classic. That’s his fourth winner this season and by far his biggest odds. As a group, we now have 10 individual victories in 2025.
Listen to Golf Digest’s weekly betting podcast, “The Loop,” (below) where we interview the industry’s leading experts (and sometimes tour pros) to help you make your bets and pick your fantasy lineups. And be sure to subscribe to “The Loop” wherever you get your podcasts!
Genesis Scottish Open picks 2025: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Tour coach: Justin Rose (100-1, BetRivers) — It’s tough to believe oddsmakers are floating odds like this. Rose has been across the pond a couple weeks ago to prep for this stretch of golf. I love the work he and Mark Blackburn have put in, which has translated into contending a few times this year. And after last year’s run at The Open, he’ll have his A-game the next two weeks.
Mayo: Max Greyserman (90-1, FanDuel) — Fresh off his playoff loss in Detroit, Greyserman makes a second run in Scotland after his T-21 a year ago. Currently, the driving has been immaculate while the short game and putting seem to spike every other week; he simply needs to start hitting his irons a wee bit closer. Still, even with the average recent proximity he sits in the top 25 in this field in eagles, distance, and Par 4 scoring over the past two months.
Gdula: Maverick McNealy (80-1, FanDuel) — McNealy’s mathematical ceiling ranks sixth-highest over his last 50 rounds compared to the rest of the field, and when you need an outright winner, that’s appealing. He’s also finished T-16 here in 2022 in his only start.
Stewart: Matt Fitzpatrick (40-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Matt Fitzpatrick has the ball-striking back in order. Six successful cuts in a row, ending with a top 20 and a top 10 finish as he heads back across the pond, Fitzpatrick is positioned well to contend on a course where he has had success. In six starts at the Renaissance Club, Matt has two top 10s and another 14th-place finish. Watch the putter wake up when he gets back on fescue greens. Combined with his recent ball-striking makes Fitz a prime podium candidate.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Nicolai Hojgaard (100-1, FanDuel) — The big-hitting Dane finished sixth here in 2023 and rates out well with his elite distance and approach play. He’s top 20 in this field in SG/approach and specifically on long-iron proximity, per Betsperts’ Rabbit Hole. This number is strong for someone with this course history.
Powers, Golf Digest: Victor Perez (125-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — The Frenchman has quietly piled up five top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2025 and is just a few weeks removed from his second-best finish in a major at Oakmont (T-19). A former winner of the Alfred Dunhill, Perez is quite comfortable in Scotland, also finishing fourth in this event last year.
Lack: Maverick McNealy (80-1, FanDuel) — Maverick McNealy has had an incredibly impressive 2025, where he has found himself agonizingly to the winner’s circle. McNealy’s prowess off the tee and elite putting upside should pay dividends at the Renaissance Club, where he has already recorded a top-20 finish in his only appearance.
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Genesis Scottish Open picks 2025: Players We’re Fading
Tour coach: Rory McIlroy (+800, FanDuel) — If there ever was a lookahead spot … he gets a rare second chance at glory next week at Portrush. With someone who has admitted he’s had trouble focusing recently, this week might be a challenge if he doesn’t get off to a hot start.
Mayo: Ludvig Aberg (25-1, BetMGM) — Maybe everything switches for him back overseas, but the blow-up rounds and awful short game have made him a non-contender for the past four months.
Gdula: Rory McIlroy (+800, FanDuel) — Although his upside remains massive at a course where he’s played well and won in the past, I don’t think we’re getting enough of a discount at 8-1 for McIlroy, based on my model.
Stewart: Ludvig Aberg (25-1, BetMGM) — I love the kid, but Ludvig Åberg is hemorrhaging strokes with his short game. The Renaissance Club has a bunch of scoring opportunities from close range. Åberg is ranked 90th in the field for birdie or better percentage. With the forecast we have and a strong need to go low for four straight days, I just don’t see how Ludvig keeps up with the top of the leaderboard.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Justin Thomas (30-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — JT really hasn’t shown up for the big events this year, and his history at The Open is unimpressive.
Powers, Golf Digest: Ludvig Aberg (25-1, BetMGM) — Even with some solid approach numbers of late he’s been unable to crack the top 10. Yet he still gets priced like a top 10 lock.
Lack: Justin Thomas (30-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — I don’t hate this golf course for Justin Thomas in a vacuum, but I still have major questions about him on links golf courses. I worry the Renaissance Club will de-value his elite chipping ability and short to middle iron play. To his credit, Thomas has been putting well above his long-term baseline, but that will be put to the test on slow, fescue based greens.
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Genesis Scottish Open picks 2025: Matchups
Tour coach: Harris English (-111) over Max Greyserman (Bet365) — English is a great ball-striker and a great thinker, which should translate well to a links setup like this week. I think that’s a big advantage over a younger player playing in one of his first Scottish Opens.
Mayo: Rory McIlroy (+175) over Scottie Scheffler (Coolbet) — Look, it’s probably a bigger gap in price now with the way Rory’s been playing, but in two starts since this became a combo tour event, Rory’s never finished worse than T-4.
Gdula: Max Greyserman (-110) over Alex Noren (FanDuel) — Greyserman is long off the tee, has great putting splits, and owns a T-21 at Renaissance Club in his lone start. The recent form is really in Greyserman’s favor.
Stewart: Adam Scott (+100) over Justin Thomas (DraftKings) — I love it when I find a plus money line H2H bet. Justin Thomas has not finished inside the top 60 at the Scottish Open since 2021. The hard links turf has given Thomas trouble on approach. Adam Scott finished runner-up at the Renaissance Club last year and has been a strong links player throughout his career. Scott drives it great and can wield that broomstick effectively on the slow fescue greens. I’m grabbing Scott and the positive value at a venue where Thomas might take the weekend off.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Sam Burns (-120) over Justin Thomas (Bet365) — Burns is one of the best putters in this field and rates out as the best putter on all courses in the U.K. and Ireland over the past five years, per Betsperts’ Rabbit Hole. I’ll gladly fade JT.
Powers, Golf Digest: Robert MacIntyre (-120) over Justin Thomas (FanDuel) — JT’s best finish in this event in three tries is a 60th, and it’s tough to imagine that improving with his spotty tee-to-green play of late. Bob Mac, meanwhile, lives for this event and his coming off a second at Oakmont which he backed up with a top 20 at Travelers.
Lack: Robert MacIntyre (-120) over Viktor Hovland (Bet365) — Robert MacIntyre just feels like one of the safest plays in this field given his comfortability on this golf course and his recent form. I have far more questions about Viktor Hovland, who possesses far less encouraging course history, and is coming off a withdrawal at the Travelers Championship.
Matchup Results from the John Deere Classic: Lack: 1 for 1 (Glover (-110) over M. Kim); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Cauley (-120) over Gerard); Mayo: 1 for 1 (Thompson (+110) over Day); Gdula: 1 for 1 (McCarthy (-110) over Poston); Powers: PUSH (Cauley (-125) over Hubbard); Tour coach: 0 for 1; Stewart: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from this season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Tour coach: 13-9-2 (up 2.31 units); Lack: 14-11-1 (up 2.06 units); Powers: 14-12-1 (up 1.72 units); Hennessey: 13-13-1 (down 1.24 units); Mayo: 10-14-2 (down 4.13 units); Stewart: 11-15-1 (down 4.5 units); Gdula: 9-16-2 (down 8.17 units)
Genesis Scottish Open picks 2025: Top 10s
Tour coach: Sepp Straka (+550, Bet365) — We’re getting nice value on someone who has still been a top-10 player in the world, though we haven’t heard from his recently. He’s truly a top three or four ball-striker in the world and has flashed at The Open before, and we may see that same skill this week.
Mayo: Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (+700, FanDuel) — The Dane has been electric tee-to-green against all fields in 2025, while the putter has been consistently cold. A return to slower greens should (hopefully) lessen those issues. He posted a second on the velcro greens in Puerto Rico earlier this year and has been consistently good in Scotland in his two appearances at the Alfred Dunhill Links (T-4/T-22).
Gdula: Sam Burns (+400, FanDuel) — Sam Burns has some of the best putting splits in the world and has been gaining with distance and irons of late, too. Burns has been top 20 in two of three starts at the course, as well.
Stewart: Xander Schauffele (+270, BetRivers) — Xander Schauffele has a very strong track record at The Renaissance Club. The 2022 Scottish Open winner has yet to regain the form that won two majors in 2024. Schauffele’s well-rounded style was always best suited for the ground game in the United Kingdom. Xander can scramble and score, and I think a change in turf and scenery (lack of trees) is exactly what he needs to round back into form. I’m not sure if he’ll win this week, but I love him with 10 places.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (+700, FanDuel) — Insane distance, fabulous long iron player and great on par 5s. Neegaard-Peterson should be factor at the Scottish Open.
Powers, Golf Digest: Haotong Li (+1000, BetRivers) — Remember Haotong Li? There’s a good chance he’ll remind you who he is this week in Scotland. It’s been eight long, arduous years since his coming out party at the 2017 Open Championship, but the 29-year-old Chinese golfer has shown signs of his younger self in 2025. He’s already won on the DP World Tour in 2025 and has collected four other top 10s. Next week he’ll make his Open return for the first time since 2022.
Lack: Matti Schmid (+1200, Bet365) — I know that Matti Schmid is quite the long shot, but I am incredibly confident in his combination of power off the tee and elite putting, and how this may translate to a strong finish at the Renaissance Club. Schmid is also coming off a seventh-place finish at the BMW International Open where he gained 4.6 strokes off the tee and 5.9 strokes putting.
Top-10 results from the John Deere Classic: Everybody: 0 for 1
Top-10 results from this season: Gdula: 9 for 27 (up 13.3 units); Lack: 8 for 27 (up 11.3 units); Tour coach: 6 for 24 (up 10.8 units); Stewart: 7 for 27 (down 0.9 units); Mayo: 3 for 27 (down 2.33 units); Hennessey: 4 for 26 (down 4 units); Powers: 0 for 27 (down 27 units)
About our experts 
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Brandon Gdula, managing editor and analyst for numberFire, a FanDuel daily-fantasy analysis company, recently won the 2018 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year. Gdula also co-hosts the DFS Heat Check podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @gdula13.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
