BlogScottish Open Preview and Picks

Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open

July 8th – July 10th, 2016

Castle Stuart Golf Links

Inverness, Scotland

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,193

Purse: $3.54 million

with $828,994 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Rickie Fowler

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 30 of those in the top 100 and 15 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with the highest rank player in the field being #6 Henrik Stenson.  Here are the other top-50 players in the field: #10 Branden Grace, #13 Patrick Reed, #20 J.B. Holmes, #21 Phil Mickelson, #24 Chris Wood, #26 Shane Lowry, #27 Russell Knox, #28 Rafael Cabrera Bello, #37 Thongchai Jaidee, #40 Andy Sullivan, #41 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #47 David Lingmerth, #48 Danny Lee and #49 Soren Kjeldsen.

Last year there were 44 top-100 players and 15 top-50 players so there a bit less probably since the far north location of Castle Stuart proves harder for players getting there..

The field includes 17 of the Top 25 on this year’s Race to Dubai money list.  Those players include #3 Rafael Cabrera Bello, #5 Chris Wood, #6 Henrik Stenson, #7 Branden Grace, #9 Thongchai Jaidee, #10 Joost Luiten, #11 Shane Lowry, #13 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #14 Andy Sullivan, #17 Martin Kaymer, #18 Soomin Lee, #19 Soren Kjeldsen, #20 Gregory Bourdy, #21 Andrew Johnston, #22 Thorbjorn Olesen, #23 Russell Knox and #24 Scott Hend.

The field includes 5 past champions: Phil Mickelson (2013),Jeev Milkha Singh (2012), Luke Donald (2011), Edoardo Molinari (2010), Martin Kaymer (2009), Graeme McDowell (2008), Gregory Havret (2007), Johan Edfors (2006) and Colin Motgomerie (1999).

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Scottish Open field is our performance chart listed by average finish. One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at Scottish Open in the last five years or check out our brand new and sortable 8-year glance at the Scottish Open.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

**NOTE**

One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ.  For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games.  You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament.  On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.

That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it

24/7 GOLF is no more.  We have retired the name and the app for a new and better app for golf.  So check out

GOLF IQ

Still get Total Golf Knowledge At Your Fingertips

with over 2.1 million records updated daily and available for your Iphone or Ipad.

We have improved the app to not only give you Golf History, results and records but GOLF IQ provides weekly tournament previews, Key Stats and and picks for Fantasy Golf!

So if you own a Iphone or a Ipad we have developed a perfect app called GOLF IQ.

 

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open

Player French Open WGC – Bridgestone Barracuda BMW Intern. Quick Loans U.S. Open Lyoness Open FedEx St. Jude Nordea Masters Memorial BMW PGA Dean & DeLuca Irish Open
Chris Wood
(265 pts)
T11
(39)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T23
(54)
T6
(40)
DNP DNP DNP Win
(132)
DNP T54
(0)
Shane Lowry
(220 pts)
DNP T36
(21)
DNP DNP DNP T2
(200)
DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T23
(9)
Branden Grace
(200 pts)
DNP T10
(60)
DNP DNP DNP T5
(140)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
David Lingmerth
(198.5 pts)
DNP T7
(82.5)
DNP DNP DNP 12
(76)
DNP DNP DNP T27
(15.33)
T22
(28)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Andy Sullivan
(177.67 pts)
T5
(70)
DNP DNP T21
(29)
DNP T23
(54)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T22
(28)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Gregory Bourdy
(177.33 pts)
T25
(25)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T18
(64)
T6
(40)
DNP DNP DNP T15
(35)
DNP T10
(13.33)
Henrik Stenson
(175.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP Win
(132)
DNP WD
(-10)
DNP DNP T4
(53.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Martin Kaymer
(174.33 pts)
T5
(70)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T37
(26)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T7
(55)
DNP T5
(23.33)
Rafael Cabrera-Bello
(160.67 pts)
4
(80)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T32
(36)
DNP DNP DNP T52
(0)
T22
(28)
DNP T8
(16.67)
Thongchai Jaidee
(150.33 pts)
Win
(132)
DNP DNP T38
(12)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T52
(0)
DNP T31
(6.33)
Joost Luiten
(138.67 pts)
T9
(45)
DNP DNP T16
(34)
DNP DNP T6
(40)
DNP DNP DNP T27
(23)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Julien Quesne
(117.33 pts)
T16
(34)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T25
(16.67)
DNP T4
(80)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Nicolas Colsaerts
(115 pts)
T22
(28)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP 3
(60)
DNP T22
(28)
DNP T23
(9)
Romain Wattel
(111.33 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP 63
(0)
DNP DNP T25
(16.67)
DNP T4
(80)
DNP T36
(4.67)
Tyrrell Hatton
(105.33 pts)
T33
(17)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T20
(20)
DNP T7
(55)
DNP T5
(23.33)
Robert Dinwiddie
(104.67 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP DNP T9
(45)
DNP DNP T10
(26.67)
DNP 64
(0)
DNP T37
(13)
DNP T63
(0)
Fabrizio Zanotti
(102.67 pts)
T33
(17)
DNP DNP T16
(34)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T74
(0)
DNP T7
(55)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Raphael Jacquelin
(102.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP 4
(80)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T8
(33.33)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T23
(9)
Phil Mickelson
(101.17 pts)
DNP T27
(34.5)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP T2
(66.67)
DNP T20
(20)
DNP DNP DNP
Johan Carlsson
(98 pts)
T16
(34)
DNP DNP T21
(29)
DNP DNP T38
(8)
DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP T33
(17)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Thorbjorn Olesen
(91.67 pts)
WD
(-5)
DNP DNP T2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T10
(13.33)
Adrian Otaegui
(84 pts)
T33
(17)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP 2
(66.67)
DNP T74
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T19
(10.33)
Ross Fisher
(80 pts)
T22
(28)
DNP DNP T28
(22)
DNP DNP DNP DNP 6
(40)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T54
(0)
Andrew Johnston
(79 pts)
DNP T42
(12)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T54
(0)
DNP DNP T12
(25.33)
DNP T7
(55)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Matthew Fitzpatrick
(77.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T54
(0)
DNP DNP Win
(88)
DNP T47
(3)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open

Player French Open WGC – Bridgestone Barracuda BMW Intern. Quick Loans U.S. Open Lyoness Open FedEx St. Jude Nordea Masters Memorial BMW PGA Dean & DeLuca Irish Open
Matthew Baldwin
(-63.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP WD
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Jeev Milkha Singh
(-53.33 pts)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP
Rhys Davies
(-46.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Morten Orum Madsen
(-46.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Edouard Espana
(-40 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Ben Evans
(-40 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T63
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Jason Scrivener
(-40 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP WD
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP
Jamie Mcleary
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Jens Fahrbring
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T67
(0)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
Simon Dyson
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T68
(0)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

For the first time in a while we will have a week off on the PGA Tour due to the devasting floods in West Virginia which damaged all three courses at the Greenbrier.

For those players that are doing well this will come as a welcome relief, but for those grinding it out to saving their PGA Tour cards it will be tough.

So does this elevate the Scottish Open?  Probably not, I don’t see any players that where going to participate in that event switch and play this event.

One thing that is too bad is that defending champion Rickie Fowler, citing a busy calendar with the Olympics isn’t defending his title.  It’s a shame, we are seeing a lot of that as the schedule is tough.  To think we had a the U.S. Open, a week off and then the WGC-Bridgestone, a week off and then the British Open, a week off and then the PGA Championship.  After that you have 8 weeks in which you will have the Olympics, four FedEx Cup playoffs and then the Ryder Cup.  So you can understand the reasoning of Fowler not playing.

Course information:

  • Castle Stuart Golf Links
  • Inverness, Scotland
  • 7,193 yards     Par 36-36–72

The Scottish Open returns to Castle Stuart, which held the 2011, ’12 and ’13 championship.  The course which sits on a hill overlooking the Moray Firth was designed by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen, it was finished in 2009.  It opened to great reviews as a great links course that looks like it’s been a course for a hundred years.  The course incorporated a “raised beach” philosophy in the design and the resulting panoramic views of the Moray Firth set Castle Stuart apart visually from other top links courses in Scotland. Castle Stuart has brought new terms into being for describing the Castle Stuart golf experience…”Rumpled” fairways, “Infinity” edges, “Landscape mosaics,” “Sleeper details,” and perhaps most importantly, the “MacKenzie perspective” which opines that the very best courses should be enjoyable for all, with many different ways to approach each holes, and should be admired in time as works of beauty.

The course is set on two levels with seven holes on the lower level bordering the Moray Firth.  The fairways and greens are all fescue grass and the greens are usually set to run fairly slowly at 10 on the stimpmeter.  In the last couple of years the course has undergone some major work, mostly to help the drainage and bunkers were added to holes 5th and 14th along with more yardage added.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Scottish Open:

Key stat for the winner:

A modern links course, the winner will have to be able to play all the shots in any conditions.  In looking at the stats from 2011, ’12 and ’13 the most important stat is hitting lot’s of fairways and to avoid the bunkers, especially off the tee.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

  • This isn’t a course that you can overpower, you have to make sure to keep it in the fairway due to the high, wispy rough and bunkers.  The greens are average length and have undulation in them, but they are very fair and aren’t as fast as many American courses.  The fairways at Oakmont could be almost as fast as the greens at Castle Stuart, but this isn’t to detract the course, with the weather conditions sometimes having fast greens could be unfair.
  • As of each week it’s important to look and see who is hot and playing well the weeks leading to the Scottish Open.
  • Weather looks like it will be a factor this week as it’s suppose to rain everyday.  With temperatures in the low 60s, it’s going to take a special person to win.  It’s a bit like in 2011 when Luke Donald won in similar conditions, wet, wet and more wetness.  Along with the rain expect winds of between 10 and 20 mph, with Thursday and Sunday being the worst.  So it’s going to be true links weather for the week up in Castle Stuart.

 

 

 

Who to watch for at the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open

Best Bets:

Branden Grace

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T17 CUT 2 T68

Finish 2nd at Castle Stuart in 2013, he is the perfect player for this course and the weather that will present the players with problems.

Henrik Stenson

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T3 T8 T33 T14 T21

Another player on a role coming into this week. He can also play in terrible conditions look for another good week from him.

Shane Lowry

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T31 T4 T31 T11 T14 7 T72

Didn’t play very good at Bridgestone, but this week could be a bit different. First he knows how to play in bad weather and showed it with some good finishes at Castle Stuart.

Best of the rest:

Russell Knox

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T10 T27

This could be a very good pick that people will miss. Played well last year at Gullane finishing 10th. He also is good in bad weather now he finished T-2nd at Heritage and Irish Open so he could be your man this week.

Chris Wood

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T31 CUT T57 T36 T66 CUT

Playing good since his win at the BMW PGA. Be interesting to see if he can also play well in terrible conditions.

Martin Kaymer

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T29 CUT Win CUT

His game has improved, he also knows how to play on links courses and in bad weather.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T41 T27 CUT T47 CUT CUT CUT

Watch him, his game seemed to come around at the French Open, look for him to play well the next two weeks.

Solid contenders

Joost Luiten

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T4 T51 CUT T61

Another of those players you can’t avoid, he finished T-4th last year at Gullane and could do very well this week.

Andy Sullivan

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T62 CUT CUT T16

Playing good but hasn’t shown us much in this event. The question for the better this week, do you trust him on a links course in poor weather.

Patrick Reed

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
First time playing in this event

Guess we can’t forgot about him, he has shown mixed results but his game could spark up anytime now.

David Lingmerth

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
First time playing in this event

Playing for the first time in this event, he has the game and does play well in bad weather.

Phil Mickelson

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T31 T11 Win T16 T58 CUT T38 2 T44 CUT

Yes he hasn’t shown us much in the last couple of months, but he did win at Castle Stuart and could find some magic. Only problem could be the weather.

Long shots that could come through:

Luke Donald

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T7 T16 T16 Win T4 T2 T5

He did win on this course, does play well in bad conditions.

Eddie Peperell

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
First time playing in this event

Plays well on links course and in bad weather, was T-12th the last time this was played at Castle Stuart and T-4th last year at Gullane.

Raphael Jacquelin

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T2 CUT T8 T16 T49 3 T2 CUT T32 T9 T68 CUT

Another player that could slip under the radar screen, has played well in this event and was 4th two weeks ago at BMW International.

Speak Your Mind

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.