Top 5 Players to Watch at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open

The Open Championship and the Scottish Open are the next two events on the PGA Tour’s return trip over the pond. Can Robert MacIntyre win back-to-back titles at The Renaissance Club and maintain his success at home? In advance of the 2025 Scottish Open, Matt MacKay analyzes the current champion’s position in his PGA Power Rankings.

PGA Power Rankings: Scottish Open 2025 Top 5 Players

The 2025 Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club this week marks the start of the PGA Tour’s two-week trip abroad. This 7,282-yard, par 70 links course with five par 3s and three par 5s is located in North Berwick, Scotland.

Last year’s champion, Robert MacIntyre, found himself in a thrilling showdown late in the final round against Adam Scott, ultimately securing a narrow victory by one stroke at 18-under-par. The Scotsman is currently listed at +3300 to defend his title, having previously finished as a runner-up behind Rory McIlroy at this event in 2023.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are back in the spotlight as the clear betting favorites. Scheffler is priced at +425 in the outright winner market, with McIlroy following closely at +800. There is a significant gap between these two elite golfers and the rest of the competitors, as Tommy Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele are both positioned at +2200 odds.

PGA expert Matt MacKay has compiled his PGA Power Rankings for the upcoming 2025 Scottish Open based on the latest odds available. Be sure to follow Matt’s X account for more insights on PGA betting and free picks.

2025 SCOTTISH OPEN DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH

Date: Thursday, July 10 – Sunday, July 13, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET
How to Watch: ESPN+, Golf Channel, CBS, Paramount+, Peacock

PGA Power Rankings: Scottish Open

1. Rory McIlroy (+800)

Rory McIlroy has performed admirably at the Renaissance Club, clinching the Scottish Open title with a score of 15-under-par in 2023, and achieving a T4 finish at 14-under-par the previous year. He hasn’t competed since finishing T6 at the Travelers Championship on June 22nd.

In 2025, McIlroy has secured three victories, along with six top 10 finishes across 12 tournaments. He ranks second in total strokes gained, with fourth in SG: Off-the-Tee, fifth in SG: Putting, and 25th in scrambling.

The power he generates off the tee is a hallmark of McIlroy’s skill set. Nevertheless, he has also significantly enhanced his short game this season.

Currently, McIlroy is seventh in putting average and 10th in one-putt percentage. This suggests he may have an advantage over the competition if this tournament turns into a putting duel with little wind.

2. Tommy Fleetwood (+2200)

Tommy Fleetwood experienced nothing short of heartbreak at the Travelers Championship, where he squandered a multi-stroke lead on Sunday, allowing Keegan Bradley to stage a successful comeback. The English golfer is still in search of his first outright win on the PGA Tour, despite a host of other achievements.

Fleetwood ranks third in total strokes gained. He stands eighth in SG: Approach, 33rd in SG: Putting, and 37th in driving accuracy. His putting has been particularly strong lately, placing him within the top 30 for putting average, putts per round, and one-putt percentage.

The struggle to secure a win might create some uncertainty for bettors considering Fleetwood this week. However, his current form is too impressive to overlook, with finishes of T4-T6-T34 at the Scottish Open since 2022.

3. Robert MacIntyre (+3300)

We can’t overlook Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open. It simply doesn’t feel right to do so, especially considering he has nearly clinched this event in consecutive years.

MacIntyre has delivered some impressive rounds on the PGA Tour in 2025, yet he is still in pursuit of his first outright victory. He ranks 20th in total strokes gained, with 24th in SG: Off-the-Tee, 30th in SG: Approach, and 23rd in greens in regulation.

He stands 33rd in scoring average (69.9), 21st on par 4s, and 36th in sand save percentage. Although MacIntyre missed the cut here in 2022, the Scotsman has been on fire at this course for the past two years.

A recent second-place finish and a T17 result at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship are promising indicators to support MacIntyre as we head into Round 1 on Thursday.

4. Viktor Hovland (+4000)

Even though Viktor Hovland has only finished T25 or better once in his last three appearances, his game should adapt well to the Renaissance Club. He hasn’t participated in a round on the PGA Tour since withdrawing from the Travelers Championship in Round 3 a few weeks back.

Hovland is a powerful hitter off the tee and on approach, and he also has a natural flair for putting. He ranks fourth in SG: Approach, 18th in proximity, and 10th for approach shots from over 200 yards.

The Norwegian golfer is also in the top 20 for birdie average in 2025. I anticipate a significantly improved performance from Hovland at the Renaissance Club this year.

5. Sam Burns (+4000)

Sam Burns stands out as one of the leading putters on the PGA Tour this season, making him a strong candidate in the outright winner market for the Scottish Open. Although the Louisiana native did not participate in this event in 2024, he achieved a T19 finish in 2023.

He ranks first in SG: Putting, 32nd in total driving, seventh in sand save percentage, and 10th in birdie average. While Burns’ approach play may be lacking, his driver and putter are proficient enough to compensate for his inconsistent irons.

A playoff defeat to Ryan Fox at the RBC Canadian Open saw Burns miss a crucial five-foot birdie putt that could have secured the win. Following that event, Burns finished T7 at the U.S. Open and T17 at the Travelers Championship.

Currently, Burns is on an upward trend, having recorded five consecutive top 20 finishes on the PGA Tour. With his driver and putter performing well, he could easily contend at the Renaissance Club this week, making the 40-1 odds quite appealing.