This podcast episode provides a comprehensive preview of the Genesis Scottish Open. The hosts discuss storylines, betting strategies, and offer their picks for the tournament, covering various aspects like player performance, course characteristics, and weather conditions.
Mark picks Rory McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre because both have won the event in recent years, and he believes McIlroy will be well-prepared after some time off and MacIntyre is a strong performer in Scotland. Rick picks Collin Morikawa at +2500 odds, believing Billy Foster's experience as a caddie will benefit Morikawa's performance. Greg picks Viktor Hovland in the "without" market (excluding Scotty Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy) because of Hovland's strong recent iron play and adaptability to links golf. He also picks Nick Taylor in a similar "without" market for the same reasons, believing his shot-making skills and recent form make him a strong contender.
The hosts mention several longshot picks:
Aldrich Potgieter: Rick picks him for a Top 20 finish at +330 odds, citing his strong play before a poor performance at one tournament and believing the course suits his distance.
Kristoffer Reitan: Mentioned as a "sleeper" pick, though no specific odds or reasoning is given beyond his profile.
Francesco Laporta: Mentioned as a "sleeper" pick in the $6,800 range on DraftKings, with strong recent form on the DP World Tour, including top-30 finishes in several tournaments and significant strokes gained approaching the green.
Nick Taylor: Greg picks him in the "without" market (excluding Scheffler, Schauffele, and McIlroy) at 60-to-1 odds. His reasoning centers around Taylor's improving ball-striking and putting, and the belief that his skills are well-suited to links golf.
Ben An: Discussed as a potential value pick at an unspecified price point, due to his strong performance in past Open and Scottish Open events and current driving distance.
Note that specific odds are not provided for all picks, and the term "longshot" is subjective based on individual perception of odds.
The hosts discuss several DFS plays, focusing on DraftKings pricing:
Matt Fitzpatrick: Highly recommended due to his strong record at the Scottish Open, improved recent form, and expectation of being an unpopular pick, allowing for lineup construction advantages.
Scottie Scheffler: While they don't have him in their outright picks due to risk aversion, they acknowledge his overall skill and difficulty in fading him, making him a strong fantasy consideration.
Viktor Hovland: Favored due to his exceptional approach play and ability to perform well with long irons, a potential necessity at the Renaissance Club.
Collin Morikawa: They like him due to his past performance at the course and the potential positive impact of his new caddie, Billy Foster.
Robert MacIntyre: Highly recommended because of his excellent recent form, including several high-end finishes since the Masters, and his history at the Renaissance Club.
Adam Scott: They like him due to his improving driving and approach play, and strong past putting performance at the Scottish Open.
Jordan Smith: Suggested due to his strong recent ball-striking, consistent performance on the DP World Tour, and the belief he isn't intimidated by the higher-level competition.
Kristoffer Reitan: Mentioned as a sleeper pick, based on his recent wins and strong performance, particularly putting.
Francesco Laporta: Suggested as a sleeper pick, based on his consistency and recent success on the DP World Tour.
The hosts do not explicitly state pricing for all players, but they reference DraftKings pricing for several of them, particularly for Scheffler and Morikawa. They emphasize their reasoning is based on form, course fit, and potential value (unpopularity in the case of Fitzpatrick).
