This week's Genesis Scottish Open brings together one of the strongest fields of the 2025 Race to Dubai as the Rolex Series returns to the Renaissance Club.
Inside the ropes we have the best talent from both sides of the Atlantic and around the globe in the PGA TOUR co-sanctioned event but we have some serious firepower in the commentary box as well.
Here, Dom Holyer, Andrew Coltart and Jamie Spence pick their favourite, their dark horse and the players they are most excited to see.
The Favourites
Robert MacIntyre
The man known by the locals and the golfing world alike as Bob arrives as defending champion and much will be expected of him again. His steady rise from the amateur ranks to the HotelPlanner Tour to becoming a DP World Tour winner was accelerated by his winning Ryder Cup appearance in 2023 and last month he hit a career-high of 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking after finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open. Last season's victory came after a second-placed finish in 2023 and with two other top 20s at Renaissance, it's easy to see why he's fancied to do well.
Dom: Bob MacIntyre to become the first player in Genesis Scottish Open history to successfully defend the title. He seems to rise to the biggest occasions (witness his recent U.S. Open near miss), and let’s not forget that as well as winning at Renaissance last year, he was runner up to Rory (and that wonder shot to the 72nd hole) two years ago as well.
Scottie Scheffler
The bookmakers' favourite and for good reason, what more can we say about the imperious World Number One? He claimed his third Major title at the US PGA Championship in May, one of three victories in a 2025 that has seen him finish in the top ten 11 times in 14 starts with no missed cuts. The American has been on top of the world since May 2023 - the year he finished third at Renaissance - and it is not a position he looks likely to give up anytime soon.
Andrew: Scottie Scheffler for Genesis Scottish Open because he’s the best in the world by some margin.
Ludvig Åberg
The Swede barely had time to be a rising star, such was the speed at which he was catapulted to prominence in 2023. After a stellar collegiate career that saw him become the top ranked amateur in the world, he claimed a first DP World Tour victory and was selected for the Ryder Cup within four months of joining the paid ranks. Europe's victory in Rome was quickly followed by his first PGA TOUR win and he took another step up the ladder by winning his first PGA TOUR Signature Event - the Gensis Invitational - in February. ranked ninth on the Official World Golf Ranking, there would be little surprise if he did the Genesis double and became a Rolex Series champion this week.
Jamie: This year's Genesis Invitational winner on the PGA TOUR - maybe he loves the cars! Led by two going into last year’s final round at the Renaissance Club, however he had a disappointing day to finish tied for fourth. I expect a strong showing from the World Number Nine this week on a course that suits his game ideally.
The Dark Horses
Harry Hall
Perhaps better known to our PGA TOUR contingent this week, the Englishman announced himself on the DP World Tour with his victory at the ISCO Championship 12 months ago. Hall enjoyed a good amateur career while attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and still makes his home in Sin City. A two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, his first DP World Tour victory was also his first PGA TOUR win and he is seeking double glory again this week in his second appearance in Scotland's national open.
Dom: I’ll go with Harry Hall. Since hooking up with Butch Harmon, the Cornishman’s form has been super steady and having grown up on the links of West Cornwall, overlooking St Ives Bay, he’ll be no stranger to this type of course and the likely weather.
Jamie: The Cornishman qualified for The Open last Tuesday at Burnham and Berrow and showed his love for seaside golf. Made his last 11 cuts in the States and not outside the top 24 in his last six events. Solid play from Hall who remains under the radar, and it would come as no surprise to see a top ten this week.
Maverick McNealy
A stand-out amateur, the American is now beginning to make waves in the paid ranks after his breakthrough PGA TOUR victory at last season's RSM Classic. He reached Number One in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, played in two victorious Walker Cup teams and won the Haskins Award as the best collegiate player in the United States. Having maintained a steady trajectory since turning professional, he entered the top ten in the world for the first time this year and has registered four top fives on the PGA TOUR in 2025 while excelling in Signature Events. The son of a Silicon Valley billionaire, he is a licensed pilot.
Andrew: I’ll go Maverick McNealy. 16th in the world, made the cut in every Major so far this year and finished top 40 in all three as well as six PGA TOUR top tens. Multiple Walker Cupper with experience of links.
Excited to see.....
Rory McIlroy
A man who needs no introduction, McIlroy looks to be the man most likely to threaten Scheffler's world domination. No matter what he achieves this week, his season will be remembered for his victory at the Masters Tournament which saw him join the golfing immortals by completing the career Grand Slam. That win came off the back of victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and PLAYERS Championship. A failure to challenge in the last two Majors and a missed cut in Canada can be considered a major dip by his stratospheric standards but the 2023 champion is likely to be there or thereabouts come Sunday.
Dom: I’m most excited to watch Rory and a possible upturn in form (it’s only a matter of time). But to be honest, the field is so strong, it’s just going to be an exciting week full stop!
Jamie: This one’s obvious for me. I’m working Featured Groups on-course commentary in Scotland this week and in those groups will be Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler! To be walking the fairways with the Numbers One and Two in the world right now and to watch the different ball flights, the sound of the strike, the buzz of the gallery will be extra special! Can’t wait.
Martin Couvra
After an amateur career that saw him become the first player to win both the South African Stroke Play Championship and South African Amateur Championship, the Frenchman's rise through the game has been swift. While still an amateur he beat Andrea Pavan and Dermot McElroy in a play-off at the Challenge de España in 2023 on the HotelPlanner Tour, graduating to the DP World Tour the following season. He then won in just his 15th start in May at the Turkish Airlines Open and now prepares to tee it up in his biggest event to date.
Andrew: Continental Europe's answer to Rory McIlroy. One win and seven top tens in his rookie season is nothing short of sensational. He looks like he has what it takes to go to the top.
