PGA DFS Playbook: Genesis Scottish Open

Top 12 finishes in his last two starts at the U.S. Open and the Memorial.  He finished Top 8 in his first trip to the Scottish Open last year.  We all know how talented the Spaniard is but why should you roster him?  I believe in his motivation being higher than most.  He wants to shove it in the LIVs face and get ready for next week’s Open.

This will be the first time he’s teed it up since his amazing win at The Country Club in Brookline. The U.S. Open champion is looking to make it back to back majors and here’s where he prepares.  Prior to the victory, he finished Top 10 in three of his last four starts.  The man has the skill set to do it, without question.  Matthew finished in a tie for second at last year’s Scottish Open.  He made the cut in 2020 but didn’t do much over the weekend.  He’s 1st in Tee to Green, 3rd in Around the Green, 8th in Off the Tee and 22nd in Approach on the season.

The man is red hot coming into New Berwick this weekend.  Xander has finishes of 5th, 13th, 18th, 14th, and a win in his last start at the Travelers.  In his first trip to the Scottish last year he finished in a tie for 10th place.  He ranks 8th in both Tee to Green and Approach, also Top 40 in Off the Tee, Around the Green and Putting.  I love the value under 10K this weekend.

After an incredible start to the season, he’s cooled off but you had to expect it.  Cam hasn’t played since his missed cut at the U.S. Open which was probably a much needed rest.  He has not played at the Renaissance Club before but when you look at the history of Australians at this event, they are stellar.  They know how to play in these conditions.  He ranks 2nd in Approach, 14th in Putting, 24th in Tee to Green and 28th in Around the Green.  

While Viktor hasn’t had a Top 10 since the Players Championship since early March, I really like him this weekend.  He has not been to the Renaissance Club before but his skill set fits especially if the winds are down like expected.  10th in Approach and 17th in Off the Tee on the season and the surprising part of his stats are that he’s been better on putting than Tee to Green.  If he can show his typical ball striking, we could see something special.  The price is just too tempting to ignore this weekend.  

He might be the hottest player in the world without a victory.  Fox has 6 Top 10 finishes in his last 8 starts on the DP World Tour.  That includes a runner up last weekend at the Irish Open.  He is only behind Will Zalatoris, Rory McIlory and Matt Fitzpatrick in the Race to Dubai on the year.  He ranks 1st in Birdie Average, 2nd in Scoring Average, 3rd in Approach, 3rd in Tee to Green, 20th in Around the Green, 37th in Putting, and 41st in Greens in Regulation on the DP World Tour.  He also made the cut at this event for the first time in his third try last year. 

Tommy finished 26th in 2021 and runner up in his first trip to the Scottish Open in 2020.  Finished 5th at the PGA but pretty pedestrian results over his next three starts.  The Englishman knows how to play in these conditions and would actually prefer to see more winds.  While he hasn’t had a great season, he still ranks 9th in Around the Green, 15th in Scoring Average, 37th in Putting, and 41st in Tee to Green.  I feel like he’s a safe mid-tier play with weekend upside.

Max is having a career year and that’s why you’ve seen him as a regular in my playbooks this season.  He won the Fortinet during the Fall schedule and won at the Wells Fargo in early May.  The one thing he’s missing from taking that next step is a major victory.  This will be his first trip to the Scottish Open but his skill set fits the links-style.  He ranks 19th in Approach, 21st in Tee to Green, 27th in both Scoring Average and Birdie Average, and 28th in Off the Tee.  He continues to be a value play at this price point. 

The Georgia boy has back to back Top 10 finishes in his last two starts at the RBC Canadian and the Travelers.  This will be his first trip to the Scottish Open but I’m not concerned because of his current form.  He currently ranks 5th in Off the Tee, 12th in Birdie Average, 18th in Scoring Average, 33rd in Tee to Green, and 38th in Putting.  If the winds stay as predicted, he’ll put on a show for the crowds in Scotland.

We all saw what he is capable of at the PGA Championship and without a bad tee shot on the 72nd hole, he’d be a major winner.  The numbers speak for themselves; 11th in Greens in Regulation, 11th in Approach, 17th in Tee to Green, 25th in Off the Tee, and 26th in Scoring Average.  I know he’s missed the cut in his last two starts but had four straight finishes of 17th or better previous.  He’s proven to be one of the best ball strikers on tour

You have to tell by now that I’m a big fan of this young Scotsman.  He’s made various appearances in my playbook on the biggest of stages.  What isn’t there to like about this 25-year-old playing just three hours from where he grew up.  After missing the cut in his first trip here in 2019, he has back to back Top 20 finishes in his country’s championship.  He is not having a great year on the DP World Tour but is coming off of a 13th at the Irish Open.  Despite the struggles, he can still putt better than most ranking 25th in Putting and also 68th in Approach.  Take a shot on the local boy doing good in front of the home crowd. 

Rai will be a popular play this weekend and for good reason.  The 27-year-old Englishman won this event in 2020 under tough conditions.  He is also coming off of a Top 10 finish at the Irish Open last weekend.  That was his ninth cut made in his last 10 starts worldwide.  While he hasn’t made my playbook a lot this season, he’s played solid golf throughout.  He currently ranks 24th in Greens in Regulation, 25th in Driving Accuracy, 51st in Tee to Green and 52nd in Approach.  Being an Englishman should give him a leg up automatically being that he grew up playing in these conditions. 

We’ve got another young talented Englishman here.  This guy has been lighting it up on the DP World Tour scoring 5 Top 10 finishes and only one missed cut all season.  He also has six straight Top 25 finishes including last week at the Irish Open.  I talked about how being an Englishman gives you an added advantage in this tournament.  He is first on the European Tour in Greens in Regulation and Off the Tee, 4th in Tee to Green, 5th in Stroke Average, 15th in Approach, and 16th in Driving Accuracy.  All that sounds like perfection but he does struggle a bit on and around the greens.  I still like him a lot this weekend especially with how well he’s playing right now.

Victor will be another popular play this weekend especially at his price point.  He has made the cut at this event and at this course in all three previous editions including a Top 15 finish in 2020 under the toughest conditions.  He is a regular on the DP World Tour with a win this season at the Dutch Open and two other Top 10 finishes.  He ranks 6th in Greens in Regulation, 7th in Approach, 9th in Tee to Green, 23rd in Off the Tee, and 33rd in Birdie Average for the season.  Those alone are good enough for me to roster him comfortably this weekend.   

I’m going with another hometown Scotsman here.  He grew up just three hours north of the Renaissance Club.  He’s having a solid season on the DP World Tour making five straight cuts coming into this weekend including a third place at the British Masters.  He has made the cut in this event at this course in two of his three trips with a 15th place finish last year.  He ranks 7th in Greens in Regulation, 14th in Putting, 14th in Driving Accuracy, 34th in Off the Tee, 34th in Scoring Average for the season.

I will start by saying that I’m not starting him because of his results on the PGA Tour.  This is his first full season with a PGA Tour card and there has not been much to write home about.  He started his career playing over in Europe like Brooks Koepka did and scored two international victories.  The field is only half PGA Tour players, so he should be in better standing heading into this event.  He missed the cut in his one other trip to this course but I’ll chalk that up to experience.  I think he’s a good bet to make the weekend and at this price point, that’s what you are looking for.

Why not take a shot on the old man?  The 50 year old is playing good, confident golf right now.  The three time major champion has nothing to prove at this point in his career.  He just won the U.S. Senior Open Championship and finished Top 30 at the Irish Open against a stellar field.  The veteran still ranks 15th in Tee to Green, 16th in Off the Tee, 26th in Around the Green, 47th in Approach, 49th in Putting and 58th in Scoring Average on the DP World Tour this season.  Oh and did I mention that he’s made the cut in each of his last two trips (2020 & 2021) to the Renaissance Club with a Top 10 and Top 20 finish.