The PGA Tour departs from the states for a two-week stint in the U.K., starting with this week’s 2026 Genesis Scottish Open. Hosted at The Renaissance Club, a par 70 located just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland, defending champion Chris Gotterup will look to defend his title against a loaded field.
Gotterup just secured his third win of the 2026 PGA Tour calendar at the John Deere Classic on Sunday. Now, he’ll look to become the first golfer to successfully record back-to-back wins at the Scottish Open. Gotterup is currently available to bet in the outright winner market at +2700 odds.
Other notable betting favorites include Scottie Scheffler (+550), Rory McIlroy (+1000), Jon Rahm (+1500), Xander Schauffele (+1800) and Matt Fitzpatrick (+2000) this week. Schauffele and McIlroy each have a win at this event, going back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
Links golf is a different challenge. Staying steady on approach and finding fairways is paramount, while avoiding numerous bunkers and battling coastal winds. The fescue-Poa annua greens are large, making it tough to rack up birdies even when finding greens in regulation. Tee-to-green accuracy or an elite short game can help golfers climb the leaderboard this week.
My 2026 John Deere Classic Picks & Predictions: Best PGA Bets flopped with an 0-3 result. Keegan Bradley (T26), J.T. Poston (T51) and Eric Cole (T39) all failed to log a top-20 finish at TPC Deere Run. Gotterup’s sizzling -9-under-par finish in Round 4 was just enough to post his fifth career win on the PGA Tour.
I’e got three new best bets to tail, each worth one unit, before the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open tees off at The Renaissance Club at 2 .am. ET on Thursday morning. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more free picks and analysis for the rest of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
2026 Genesis Scottish Open Picks: Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Top 20 Finishing Position
Wyndham Clark has been stringing together impressive results since The Masters. He’s recorded four top 5 finishes in his last five starts, while the other result was a T11 at the RBC Canadian Open.
Clark’s putting the lights out of the golf ball right now. That should translate well at The Renaissance Club, where he’s posted three top 20 finishes in four trips to North Berwick.
Also ranks 16th in SG: Approach and 38th in proximity. Clark warrants respect with his current form, so let’s back him in the Top 20 Finishing Position market at +125 odds.
Pick: Wyndham Clark (+125)
Top 20 Finishing Position
Let’s roll out Alex Fitzpatrick for our next Top 20 play at +170 odds. The Englishman is well-versed in links golf and has been a steady force since earning his PGA Tour card with a win alongside his brother, Matt Fitzpatrick, at the Zurich Classic.
Fitzpatrick has five top 10 finishes in eight starts. He’s gaining +1.6 in SG: Approach, 1.4 in driving accuracy, and is also in the green for around-the-green and putting this season.
It feels like he’ll finally make the cut and climb into a top 20 finish in his third trip to The Renaissance Club this week. Lock in Alex Fitzpatrick for a Top 20 finish at +170 odds.
Pick: Alex Fitzpatrick (+170)
Top 20 Finishing Position
Aaron Rai is clearly playing with more confidence following his dominant major win at the 2026 PGA Championship. The Englishman is another golfer who should be able to navigate a links golf course well due to his familiarity.
Rai has three top 20 finishes in his last five starts, including the win at Aronimink Golf Club in May. He’s posted a T4 finish, his only top 20 result back in 2024, in four appearances at the Scottish Open.
Ranks 26th in SG: Approach, second in driving accuracy, 11th at finding greens in regulation, and 45th on par 4s. Putting woes aside, Rai’s tee-to-green game is enough to justify one final unit on a Top 20 Finishing Position prop at +250 odds this week.
Pick: Aaron Rai (+250)
