In a new series of columns for the Rolex Series, former professional golfer and leading commentator Alison Whitaker previews the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open, which features 14 of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and marks the first co-sanctioned tournament for the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR.
The thing that strikes me the most about the Scottish Open and its identity, especially on the Rolex Series in recent events, is that it tends to see outliers play very well. Usually, you see a lot of the top players coming into the week dominating. There is a massive opportunity for someone to really change their life, especially for some of the DP World Tour members due to the co-sanctioning of the tournament by the PGA TOUR.
The Renaissance Club is a course that has seen close finishes, provided thrilling finishes down the stretch. We've seen a history of people coming from behind on Sunday here, which is again, not normally what you see with Rolex Series events. That lends itself to making for an exciting golf tournament. Whoever wins here this week, it's not going to be a fluke for any of them because this is the best of the best. It is great to see the calibre of player from both sides of the Atlantic.
The new changes on the course look absolutely brilliant. The changes that Pádraig Harrington has come and done in the last 12 months have just bedded in really nicely. Everything that he has done has made an immediate impact, especially like the two added bunkers on the first and fourth. They look like they were meant to be there. The Renaissance Club is starting to grow as a championship golf course, which is something that I know that they were keen to do.
To win in Scotland is something that every golfer wants to do. It's high on their list.
The alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR provides a massive platform for bringing world golf together at events like this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. These partnerships are an important way of growing the game globally. Having 14 of the 15 best players in the world here for the kids to watch as well will help inspire the next generation which is such a luxury.
The tournament holds a very special place on the schedule, being staged the week before The Open Championship. This is the 40th edition, and it is great to see the history of the game being paid its dues. To win in Scotland is something that every golfer wants to do. It's high on their list.
There is such a nuance to Scottish golf, that is just so cherished by golfers in general. The style of play is something that doesn't always come naturally, especially if they’ve grown up in in areas of the world with warmer climates, it's very different. You have to imagine how many shots you could actually play from each position. That kind of variety in shot selection doesn't always spring to mind and so that's what the practice rounds are for. Part of the signature of Scottish golf is that you have to take what you're given by mother nature on every single hole and get that working for you rather than against you.
The summer of golf in the UK and Ireland is just the best, everyone gets so excited for it. It doesn't really matter where you're from, I used to stay up until 3-4am and watch this back home. It's so intrinsic to golf in general and I think this week, but also next week, there's going to be a real sense of Homecoming. I think whenever golfers come to Scotland, they feel like they belong which is really special to this country in particular.
My top three players as favourites going into the week are Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele. I think Rahm is a proven winner and has proven himself to be good in so many different types of weather. Thomas has already won a Major already this year, but also his driving is just such a strength. And then Xander is coming into form quite simply.
If you're happy and comfortable on links, and it's a first language to you, then that is such a string to your bow on a week like this. That makes me believe Harrington is a player to watch out for this week. He played well on Tuesday at the JP McManus Pro-Am, but he also played really well on the Sunday morning at Mount Juliet Estate. He raced his way through the field with a front nine of 30. He's obviously playing on a bit of a high post his victory at the U.S. Senior Open Championship. These events are aligning well for him, and he would be a dark horse for me. He's also had two top 20s in Abu Dhabi and Dubai at the start of the year in the Rolex Series events.
