GULLANE, Scotland — For nearly 40 years, the best golfers in the world have gathered in Scotland the week before the British Open to achieve two objectives. First, win a National Open in the home of golf, and second, to prepare for the game’s oldest major championship.
Which objective is the primary one differs perhaps depending on who you ask, but it has become accepted that the best preparation for the Open Championship comes in the form of playing the Genesis Scottish Open.
Having been contested on inland courses early in history, notably Loch Lomond Golf Club, which hosted the event for 15 consecutive years until 2010, the Scottish Open is now played on links turf, designed to help players acclimate to what they will face the following week.
After stints at Castle Stuart, Dundonald, Gullane and a one-off edition at Royal Aberdeen, the tournament has settled at The Renaissance Club. The 7,300-yard, Tom Doak layout sits between North Berwick and Muirfield on Scotland’s “Golf Coast” and has been tweaked in recent years by Padraig Harrington to dial it up as a true links test, a mandate clearly supported by the players.
Scottie Scheffler is one of the top Americans who now regularly plays in the Scottish Open.
Ross Parker – SNS Group
Starting in 2022, the event became co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour. The new status has opened the door for the best-of-the-best to make the early trip without losing out on FedEx Cup points. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and Collin Morikawa are among the notable players who have traveled to Renaissance ahead of The Open in recent years.
And it would seem to be worth the effort considering the recent history. In the three years since the Scottish Open became co-sanctioned, the three Open champions finished in the top-15 at Renaissance the week prior to lifting the claret jug: Cam Smith tied for 10th before winning the 150th Open at St Andrews. Brian Harman was in the penultimate group on Sunday in 2023 before finishing 12th ahead of his dominant performance at Royal Liverpool. And Xander Schauffele finished T-15 last year before claiming a second major in 2024 at Royal Troon.
So what is it, exactly, that players find or learn the week before The Open?
“It’s important for me to get acclimated to the time,” Schauffele, who won the Scottish Open in 2022, told media on Tuesday. “Important to get used to the grass, the way the ball rolling, all those good things. It’s definitely become a staple in my schedule.”
But does this week of preparation vary from normal PGA Tour events?
Xander Schauffele says adjusting to the time change and the different conditions found in links golf, makes playing the Scottish Open the best preparation for competing in the British Open a week later.
Andrew Redington
“I’d say flight is a big thing,” Schauffele responded. “A lot of it’s just feeling comfortable with the window, maybe playing the ball a little bit further back. Wedge grind, a little bit less bounce on a wedge.
“And then turf conditions, I think the clubs, depending on how much it rains, the club is going through the ground a little bit differently than maybe back home. Other than that, and then green speeds are a bit slower. So other than those few things I’d say that would be it.”
The last line he said with a big grin on his face, suggesting he’s well aware of the kind of changing challenge links golf can present.
With that in mind and the forecast suggesting low scores this weekend at Renaissance, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on the top of the leaderboard before players head over to Portrush. There’s a good chance the champion golfer of the year may feature on the first page of the leaderboard at Renaissance.
