Chris Gotterup arrives in North Berwick as the man to beat: the defending champion at the Genesis Scottish Open and fresh off a dramatic final-round surge at the John Deere Classic. His closing 62 last weekend and a third victory this season make him the headline as the tournament gets underway Thursday at The Renaissance Club.
Gotterup’s late charge — a low, pressure-filled round that edged Max Homa by a single stroke — has shifted attention onto whether he can extend an already remarkable 2026. He will not have the course to himself: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy sit near the top of betting markets and are expected to be prominent through the weekend.
The course also hands local storylines gravity. Robert MacIntyre, who won here in 2024 and was runner-up in 2023, will be buoyed by home support and a strong record on links-style tracks. Aaron Rai, the 2020 champion, arrives with renewed confidence after his May victory at the PGA Championship.
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Heavyweights and form lines
Scottie Scheffler remains the market favorite and a perennial threat, but he’s searching for his next win after a long run without a title — a stretch that included a playoff loss to Viktor Hovland at The Travelers. Expect Scheffler to be in contention; his recent results suggest steady, if not dominant, form.
Rory McIlroy’s history at this event is notable: he won in 2023 and produced another top finish last year. While he added a major to his record again this spring, his season beyond that has been patchier, with only a couple of top-10s to date. Still, on a course that rewards precision and power, he’s likely to be in the mix on Sunday.
Matt Fitzpatrick has shown consistency this summer, with a pair of top-four results in June and a strong tied-fourth at this championship last year after firing a second-round 63. Early markets list him longer than the two favorites, but his recent play and familiarity with the layout make him a credible dark-horse contender.
- Gotterup’s momentum: defending champion + three wins this season and a closing 62 at the John Deere Classic.
- Scheffler’s search: still the top market pick but riding an extended winless run and coming off a playoff loss.
- McIlroy’s pedigree: past Scottish Open winner with a tendency to surface late in Sundays at major events.
- Home heat: Robert MacIntyre’s local form and course history could tilt the leaderboard.
- Confidence players: Aaron Rai and Matt Fitzpatrick bring recent strong results that can translate into a week-long charge.
What this week will decide is less about a single headline and more about momentum. For Gotterup, another strong showing would further validate a breakout season. For Scheffler and McIlroy, it’s an opportunity to reinforce their status as elite contenders ahead of the closing months of the campaign. For local favorites and in-form challengers, the Scottish Open is a chance to change narratives and build confidence on a traditional links test.
With unpredictable weather and a course that penalizes wayward shots, the leaderboard could be volatile; the key will be who handles the final-round pressure. Expect the tournament to tighten as the weekend approaches and the gallery grows, with several plausible contenders still capable of stealing the week.
