AAM Scottish Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

TWELVE months ago, Rickie Fowler played brilliantly to win the Scottish Open and headed to St Andrews with high hopes of winning The Open. It didn't happen, but Fowler proved to himself and the rest of the world that he possessed the game to win in any conditions.

He started this season like a train, but in recent weeks has looked like a little boy lost. He seems to have lost his game. With Troon just around the corner, Fowler knows that The Open represents his best opportunity of winning his first major. First of all, he must rediscover some form, which makes it even more surprising that he has elected not to defend his title this week in the Highlands of Scotland.

Recent winners include Edoardo Molinari in 2010, Luke Donald (2011), Jeev Milka Singh (2012), Phil Mickelson (2013), Justin Rose (2014) and Fowler.

The event will be played at Castle Stuart, a proper links course located near Inverness. It sits alongside the Moray Firth, with holes 1-4 and 10-12 almost on the sea shore. The holes from the fifth to the ninth sit on top of the cliffs, while the closing stretch, from the 13th to the 18th, provide stunning views from the highest elevations on the golf course. It is a stunning course and a fantastic test.

The venue is almost a home course for Russell Knox, the Scotsman who has made such a name for himself on the PGA Tour. He spent much of his life in and around Inverness and will carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.

Knox is riding high in the FedEx Cup standings and the world rankings, but what he really wants is to secure a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team to face the USA at Hazeltine in September. The Scot is used to playing his golf in glorious weather on perfectly manicured courses these days, but he is a noted bad-weather golfer and will be hoping that the wind gets up. It's Scotland, so the chances of the Scottish Open being played in four days of glorious weather under cloudless blue skies are slim in the extreme.

If we get typical Scottish weather, Knox will expect to be in contention.

When Mickelson won The Open in 2013, he prepared for his historic victory by winning the Scottish Open. He is back for another crack at both tournaments, and would be thrilled to walk away with another victory. His form this season has been encouraging - don't be surprised to see him win again.

The field for this £3.5m event also includes Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Chris Wood, Martin Kaymer, Jamie Donaldson, Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson, as well as European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.

Clarke said: “The Scottish people are so passionate about golf and the tournament always attracts a very strong field, so I’d love to add the Scottish Open to my CV." Sorry Darren, but there is little chance of that happening.

Westwood won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond back in 1998 - one of his 23 victories on the European Tour. Castle Stuart is a very different sort of golf course from Loch Lomond, but the veteran Englishman has proved that he knows how to handle links golf, coming close to winning The Open on several occasions.

He has now bought a home in Edinburgh. Westwood said: “There’s no better place to play golf than Scotland. The courses are amazing, the fans are very knowledgeable, and there’s always a great atmosphere. Winning the Scottish Open in 1998 was one of the early highlights of my career, and I’d love to get my hands on the trophy again.”    

Donald will also be trying to win for the second time,  having prevailed at Castle Stuart in 2011. The former world number one is still trying to recapture his best form. Having missed out on the Ryder Cup in 2014, he is determined to make the team this time around but he has a huge amount of work to do if he is to achieve his goal. There have been glimpses of his top form, especially at Harbour Town, but he continues to slide down the world rankings. Donald is one of the good guys, and there would be no more popular winner.

Keep a close eye on the form of Chris Wood, winner of the BMW PGA Championship in May. He has twice finished in the top five at The Open and is a fantastic links golfer. His form at Inverness will be a good indicator of his chances at Troon. 

And if Knox doesn't bring home the haggis for the Scots, Marc Warren may well be the man who does. 

AAM Scottish Open Picks

To Win:

Russell Knox. Ready to deliver a home win

Each Way:

Chris Wood. Terrific links golfer

AAM Scottish Open Fantasy Picks

Russell Knox. Looking to secure Ryder Cup spot

Chris Wood. Will not be troubled by wind and rain

Phil Mickelson. Lefty loves playing in Scotland

Luke Donald. Too good to keep struggling

Tommy Fleetwood. Learnt his craft on links courses

Lee Westwood. Plenty of life left in the old dog yet

Tyrrell Hatton. Bounced back to his best recently

Jamie Donaldson. Looking for a big summer

Graeme McDowell. Signs of life recently