Rumour has it, the oracle was forced to hire his own security team after his sports almanac struck again with Russell Knox flying home last week and Andy Sullivan T6. Thank you sir, may I have another?
Favourite Discussion:
After a brilliant week in Ireland, the (also rotating) Scottish Open returns to Gullane which last hosted in 2015. Winner then Rickie Fowler tops the betting at 10/1 alongside Justin Rose, with last week’s champion Russell Know now 20/1. Winning does take a mental toll but Knox still looks the value bet in the win-only market given his putting performance last week and the need to perform especially well with the flat-stick to contend at Gullane. As always however my strategy is Each-Way betting.
Doc’s Top 5 Scottish Open Each Way Bets
Raphael Jacquelin 125/1
Not every course suits the smooth swinging Frenchman so he has to make hay while the sun shines during this links stretch. Really impressed me at Ballyliffin last week with a cerebral approach to hitting 56 greens in regulation to score a T10. That’s two Top-10’s in his last four starts and Rapha has a rich Scottish Open pedigree including a T2 at this venue Gullane in 2015.
Tyrrell Hatton 20/1
What a turnaround in form it has been for Tyrell. After some early season scores in Dubai and Mexico he went through the horrors before class prevailed with a T6 at the US Open and T16 in France last time out. T4 in this event and 2nd at Castle Stuart in 2016 and given Hatton has won the last two stagings of the Alfred Dunhill Links this is a no brainer for a man in form.
Andy Sullivan 22/1
Got to stick with Andy after he again scored a place reduction at the Irish Open with another T6 finish. The anatomy of last week was a T2 in fairways hit and T5 in Greens In Regulation and while a hot putter might be more needed at Gullane I still think Sully has a chance. That’s now Dubai, Morocco, Sicily, Italy, Germany AND Ireland where Andy has had top-10’s so keep the faith. T9 last year at Dundonald and T6 in 2016 at Castle Stuart.
Ryan Fox 50/1
Was absolutely sick that I left him off my betslip last week but the bludgeoning Kiwi gets the nod to come into the team for Scotland. Foxy’s tactic is clear; batter the ball as far as possible on links and see what happens. It worked in Ireland now two years in a row (lost a playoff to Russell Knox last week) and he’ll have fond memories of a T4 at Dundonald last year also.
Dylan Fritteli 66/1
Erik Van Rooyen grabbed all the headlines at the Irish Open last week but it was another South African Dylan Fritteli that really impressed me. A T14 there added to his T12 in France and I’m sure he’ll give you a run for your money this week if backed.
Long Odds Glory Shots
Joakim Lagergren 100/1
Didn’t happen for Joakim in Ireland last week and maybe playing in the final group on Sunday took its toll as he slipped to a T12 finish. However, for his first week back on links I was super impressed with the Swede and given he’s been right up there also at the last three Dunhill Links Championships, he can continue to do well in Scotland this week. Won in Sicily this year and could come good again.
Danny Willett 100/1
I simply cannot believe that the bookies have Danny at 100/1 this week after he added to his T8 in Italy with a T6 in Ballyliffin last week. The comeback is complete; belief is there. 100/1 are some mighty odds.
Mathieu Pavon 150/1
Cameos at the Irish Open with an opening pair of 68’s but slipped to T10 by the finish. Third at Dundonald last year and well worth plotting his progression this week.
David Drysdale (250/1) and Marc Warren (200/1) are among the home players this week and are crazy long odds. David battled his way to a T28 at Ballyliffin and Marc was T4 at Gullane the last time it staged in 2015
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