Steve Palmer's free Scottish Open predictions & golf betting tips

When to bet on the Scottish Open

By 7am on Thursday

Where can I watch the Scottish Open?

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 8.30am on Thursday

Steve Palmer's Scottish Open predictions

Robert MacIntyre
3.5pts each-way 30-1 Paddy Power

Harris English
1.5pts each-way 60-1 bet365

Harry Hall
1.5pts each-way 60-1 Paddy Power

Brian Harman
1pt each-way 90-1 bet365

Recommended

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

40/1 Mo Salah To Have 1 Shot On Target V Man City

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Great acca features, including the ability to edit a live accumulator

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

18+. New customers only. Min 1st deposit £10. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Bet £/€1 single on Salah to have 1+ shots on target for 8 x £/5 Free Bets (valid 4 days). Stake & winnings returned at original odds as cash on settlement. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

Bet £5 on golf with Ladbrokes and claim £25 in FREE BETS

Steve Palmer's Scottish Open preview

The top five players in the world have gathered at the Renaissance Club for the Scottish Open, an event that has become excellent preparation for the Open Championship, which takes place in Northern Ireland next week.

Scottie Scheffler, who has Renaissance form figures of 12-MC-3 and is never guaranteed to carry a hot putter in his bag, can be overlooked as favourite. Rory McIlroy will probably be seeing the Scottish Open as a gentle loosener for a massive Open in his homeland, while Collin Morikawa is adjusting to yet another new caddie having just recruited Billy Foster.

Former Renaissance champion Xander Schauffele is the most tempting of the top five, but the value lies deeper in the betting.

Robert MacIntyre would be a popular winner at The Renaissance ClubCredit: SNS Group via Getty Images

Steve Palmer's top tip

Robert MacIntyre 30-1

The Scottish galleries were thrilled to see Robert MacIntyre win his national Open last year and history could be about to repeat itself this week. The popular left-hander can confirm his status as Renaissance Club king.

MacIntyre was pipped by McIlroy at the Renaissance two years ago and relishes the dimensions of the layout. He has taken his game to a new level since making his Ryder Cup debut in 2023, making his PGA Tour breakthrough in the Canadian Open last year.

The three-time DP World Tour champion grew up playing links golf in Scotland, winning the Scottish Amateur title at Muirfield in 2015. He has developed into a member of the elite, becoming a serious threat in Majors, finishing eighth in last year's US PGA and second in last month's US Open.

While other market principals may see the Scottish Open as a relaxed warm-up for Royal Portrush, MacIntyre will probably be fully focused on defending his Renaissance crown. His short-game class can prove decisive again on and around this week's devilish dancefloors.

Next best bet

Harris English 60-1

Americans jetting over for links golf can be disrespected in the market – and that certainly seems to be the case with Harris English this week. The 35-year-old has played in nine Opens, finishing 15th in 2013, so knows how to handle links terrain. He has played the Renaissance twice before, with progressive form figures of 42-34.

English, who has won by the coast on the PGA Tour, has always had a dynamite short-game. And he has been swinging superbly this season, winning the Farmers Insurance Open at the end of January before sharing 12th place in the Masters, then 11th in the Truist Championship, second in the US PGA, 12th at Memorial and fourth last time out in the Travelers Championship.

This is a five-time PGA Tour champion who can enjoy the American-like weather this week and contend at juicy odds.

Other selections

Harry Hall 60-1
Brian Harman 90-1

A maiden PGA Tour title came this time last year for Harry Hall, who won the ISCO Championship, having twice triumphed on the Korn Ferry Tour. He has become a regular PGA Tour threat this season, opening his campaign with form figures of 8-10 on the Hawaiian coast in January.

This week Hall tees up on the North Berwick coast looking for a seventh consecutive top-25 finish. The improving Englishman was 19th in the US PGA in May, sixth at Colonial, ninth in the Travelers Championship last month despite falling ill during the event, then 13th in the Rocket Classic last time out. He also found time to finish second in an Open qualifier to book a place at Portrush.

Harry Hall has been impressively consistent this yearCredit: R&A via Getty Images

Hall has been hitting his ball with authority, has always had a mustard short-game, and is well suited to the Renaissance, where he played well for three rounds on his only previous visit in 2023.

Complete a four-pronged attack with Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, who led the field a merry dance at Royal Liverpool to claim the Claret Jug.

Harman's short-game class is such an asset on links terrain. He has finished 12th and 21st in the last two Scottish Opens and can be fancied to get into the thick of things this week. Harman showcased his short-game skill when winning the Texas Open in April the week before the Masters. Another pre-Major victory could be in the offing.

The four-time PGA Tour champion finished third in the Heritage in April and eighth in the Travelers last time out, excelling in Signature Event company.

Recommended

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

40/1 Mo Salah To Have 1 Shot On Target V Man City

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Great acca features, including the ability to edit a live accumulator

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

18+. New customers only. Min 1st deposit £10. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Bet £/€1 single on Salah to have 1+ shots on target for 8 x £/5 Free Bets (valid 4 days). Stake & winnings returned at original odds as cash on settlement. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

Bet £5 on golf with Ladbrokes and claim £25 in FREE BETS

Course guide for the Scottish Open

• Course The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
• Prize money $9m ($1.575m to the winner)
• Length 7,237 yards
• Par 70 – three par-fives; ten par-fours; five par-threes
• Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Rory McIlroy (2), Xander Schauffele (3), Justin Thomas (4), Collin Morikawa (5)
• Course records - 72 holes 262 Bernd Wiesberger (2019), Robert MacIntyre (2024) 18 holes 61 Bernd Wiesberger (2019), Cameron Tringale (2022), Byeong Hun An (2023), Richard Mansell (2024)
• Course winners taking part Bernd Wiesberger, Aaron Rai, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre
• When to bet By 7am on Thursday
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 8.30am on Thursday
• Last week – BMW International Open 1 D Brown (125-1), 2 J Smith (25-1), 3 K Kobori (125-1), T4 D Bryant (225-1), J Luiten (45-1), K Reitan (50-1), T7 L Canter (40-1), F Lacroix (80-1), F Laporta (40-1), M Schmid (30-1)
• Course type Links
• Course overview The Renaissance Club, which opened in 2008, was designed by Tom Doak. It made its Scottish Open debut in 2019, hosting every year since. Three holes run directly along the Firth of Forth, but this is not a pure links test, with some trees in strategic fairway and greenside positions. Heavily contoured greens are the main defence of the course
• Story of last year Robert MacIntyre bounced back from his near-miss in 2023 by winning his national title, enjoying a fortunate free drop at the 16th hole of the final round, finishing eagle, par, birdie to win by a shot
• Weather forecast Clear, calm and pleasant for the vast majority of the tournament
• Type of player suited to the challenge A strong short-game is a great asset on and around tricky greens
• Key attribute Touch/putting

Steve Palmer's Scottish Open key stat

Only one of the last 14 Scottish Open winners was a DP World Tour maiden

Read more from Steve Palmer ...

'He looks set to become one of the best players on the planet' - Steve Palmer has two selections for the ISCO Championship 

'The king of Valderrama can reign supreme again' - Steve Palmer has three selections for LIV Golf Andalucia 

'She is winless this year but recent signs are hugely encouraging' - Steve Palmer has one selection for the Evian Championship 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.

For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.