Genesis Scottish Open: Practice notebook

A Rolex Series event is so much more than 72 holes.

Before the competitive action gets under way, the world's best arrive at the Genesis Scottish Open from Monday onwards: grinding on the range, playing practice rounds and pro-ams and having some fun along the way.

Here is the best of the all the action and a few things you may have missed from Monday to Wednesday in Scotland.

A familar face returns

Renowned caddie Billy Foster was back on a DP World Tour range on Monday as he teams up with Collin Morikawa for this week and next week's Open Championship.

Morikawa split with long-time bagman JJ Jakovac earlier this year and briefly linked up with Max Homa's former caddie Joe Greiner before having KK Limbhasut on the bag at the recent Rocket Classic.

Foster - one of the best known caddies on the DP World Tour having worked for Seve Ballesteros and Lee Westwood among others - split from Matt Fitzpatrick, with whom he won his long-awaited first Major Championship at the 2022 U.S. Open, in March.

A match made in heaven? We're about to find out.

Family affair for Scheffler

The World Number One will be all business come Thursday but the practice days allowed Scottie to enjoy some time with wife Meredith and son Bennett. Bennett looked to be having a ball.

He put some hard work in as well...........

A special presentation for Rory

At his first Rolex Series event since completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters Tournament, Rory McIlroy was presented with a permisson club.

And a bib for Harry.

The World Number Two has also had a rather dramatic trim.

When sports collide

Many pro-ams have footballers, quite a few feature fathers and sons and all include caddies - but you don't often get them all at once.

Well on Wednesday we had Real Madrid great Raul playing in the pro-am with fellow Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, whose caddie is Raul's son Hugo.

“It’s been a crazy day,” said Hugo. “I wouldn’t have imagined this six or seven months ago when I started caddying that I would be here on this course caddying for Eugenio and playing with my dad.

“I’m never going to forget this.”

Xander hoping to flush away his worries

Facing the world's media is another part of the build up to an event and Xander Schauffele had the assembled press corps in the media centre laughing over the positioning of his champion's photo. After a tough spell with injuries, it was good to see the two-time Major winner enjoying himself.