Preview

Genesis Scottish Open Course Info

Designer: Tom Doak
Type of Course: Modern links
Used Since: 2019
Fairways: Wide
Rough: Thick in places
Greens: Fescue
Par 5's: 3rd,10th and 16th.
Premium on: Approach play/Links ability

Significant Info To Be Aware Of 

This is a co-sanctioned event with the PGA Tour and as such, attracts a stellar field this year.

The weather in 2020 was bad and many players struggled. Conditions were dry and firm in 2022 and 2023.

Many players will be using this week as a warm up for next week's Open Championship.

Genesis Scottish Open Weather Forecast 

Pleasant weather by Scottish Open standards. 

Thursday
Light rain. Wind 6-10mph 

Friday
Cloudy. Wind 6-8mph 

Saturday
Sunny Intervals. Wind 6-8mph 

Sunday 
Sunny Intervals. Wind 7-10mph 

Genesis Scottish Open Trends 

Winning score 
Winning scores the past five years have been hugely different due to weather conditions.  Aaron Rai won with -11 in 2020 after horrendous weather on the Saturday.  Bernd Wiesberger won with -22 in 2019, Min Woo Lee won with a score of -22 in 2021 however Xander Schauffele won with -7 in 2022 with the course playing firm and fast.  Rory McIlroy won with -15 last year.

Winning Profile 
Since this event has been staged at Renaissance Club, the five winners have been 240th, 183rd, 83rd, 11th and 3rd in the world rankings.  With the field stronger than ever, it is likely we will see a top player win again.

Correlating Courses  
Although different courses have been used, past winners have a solid bank of Irish Open performances.  Not something to hang your hat on but of interest.

Course form 
McIlroy had poor course form prior to his win. Schauffele was 10th the year before his win but Rai had missed the cut in 2019 and Min Woo Lee had finished 30th in his only previous course appearance.  Preferred but not essential.

Recent form 
McIlroy arrived with FIVE top 10's on the bounce. Schauffele had won the Travelers Championship in his start prior. Min Woo Lee was 17th on his last start before winning.  Both winners prior to him had been runner up in their last start.  Recent form appears to be a huge bonus.

Genesis Scottish Open Stats Analysis 

We will analyse the stats of the previous five winners. 

SG: Off The Tee
5-30-58-17-50.  A solid driver is preferred but not essential.

Driving Distance 
1-25-26-62-29. Distance is preferred over accuracy.

Driving Accuracy 
81-88-99-29-48. Driving Accuracy isn't perceived as essential.

SG: Approach
2-8-28-26-3.  Strong iron play is important. 

Greens in Regulation
6-36-5-30. Confirms the importance of strong iron play.

SG: Around The Green
46-29-4-12-81. A tidy short game is helpful but not essential.

SG: Putting
38-43-20-36-32. Not been a key stat.

Genesis Scottish Open In-Play Tips 

Tough Holes 
The 18th hole played as the toughest last year.  The 8th and 9th have featured in the top 5 hardest holes the past three years.

Birdie Holes 
The par 5s all played under par and the short par 4 5th hole played the easiest last year.

Fast or Slow Start 

McIlroy was three back after round one last year and led from halfway onwards.

The previous four champions at The Renaissance have been inside the top 26 after Round 1 - Xander Schauffele was ELEVEN shots back after round in 2022.  Schauffele led after 54 holes whilst Bernd Wiesberger led from halfway onwards in 2019. Aaron Rai was 28th after 36 holes and 10th after 54 holes.  However, conditions in Round 3 in 2020 were awful so we should remember that the results that year should be treated with a degree of caution. 

2024 Genesis Scottish Open Tips