PGA 2022: Scottish Open betting preview

This is an interesting week on the PGA Tour, as we actually have a couple of different events. There is the Scottish Open (below) and the Barbasol Championship.

The Scottish Open has a nice field headlined by Jon Rahm at the top of the odds table. With The Open Championship next week many are using it to acclimate to being "across the pond." Plus, it is the last chance to qualify for that event. 

For an event in Europe, there is always a question as to whether that is an advantage for Europeans or Americans on the Tour. Some say it is, because there is a little more comfort with the elements, but it is still hard to make a case that that is enough to swing the tide. 

Either way, nine of the top 10 in the world rankings are competing for the title this week, which should make for an interesting event. Rahm may be at the top of the odds table, but we have not seen his best golf in a while. 

Of note, last year Matt Fitzpatrick finished tied for second after a playoff. That and the fact that he is coming off a U.S. Open win makes him a player you have to look at this week. 

Event Info

Dates: July 7 -10
Course: The Renaissance Club, North Berwick Scotland
Purse: $8,000,000

Top Odds

• Jon Rahm +1100
• Justin Thomas +1200
• Scottie Scheffler +1200
• Xander Schauffele +1800
• Matt Fitzpatrick +1800
• Patrick Cantlay +2200
• Cameron Smith +2500
• Collin Morikawa +2500
• Sam Burns +2800
• Will Zalatoris +2800
• Jordan Spieth +3000
• Hideki Matsuyama +3000
• Viktor Hovland +3500
• Sungjae Im +3500
• Joaquin Niemann +4000
• Billy Horschel +4000

Bets to Consider

Cam Smith +2500

This is a guy you want to shop around with as you might be able to get +3000 at some books. He is not always the best off the tee but on this course that is not going to matter as much. He was not good at the U.S. Open so we are probably getting him at a discounted price. 

Johannes Veerman +20000

This one is a definite longshot but he has some course success (an eighth place finish) and comes into this event in pretty good form. You can't bet big on those odds but he is worth having in your portfolio this weekend. 

Jordan Spieth +3000

He has a history of playing well in the events before the big ones. Some players just go through the motions, but Spieth seems to like the idea of building positive momentum. They have been at the Open, but some of the best rounds of his career have been in Europe. 

Alex Noren Top 20 (+350)

Dipping into the location pool again with this pick. Almost all of the Swede's best results have come at European events. I love the fact that we just need him to be relevant in this spot and we can still get that very positive payoff. He has lots of experience playing in Scotland. 

Tommy Fleetwood Top Ten (+400)

He might have missed the cut at the U.S. Open, but Fleetwood has three Top 10s in his last seven events. Some of his best results have been when the Tour hits Europe too. Similar to Noren above, this is a very nice payoff for a result where we don't need him in the hunt on the back nine. He also has had some recent success at this course (lost in a playoff in 2020).