European Tour Tips & Preview
Scottish Championship 2020 Preview
Starts - 15th October 2020
Course - Fairmont Resort, St Andrews, Scotland
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,230 yards
Defending Champion - N/A (New Event)
Course - Fairmont Resort, St Andrews, Scotland
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,230 yards
Defending Champion - N/A (New Event)
Course Info
Type of Course - Modern Links
Course Designer - Denis Griffiths/Sam Torrance
Par 5's - 3rd, 6th, 12th and 18th.
Hosted Since - New Event
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. There has already been one positive test for Covid-19 (Jbe Kruger)
Weather Forecast
Forecast for the week looks relatively consistent with cloudy conditions interspersed with sunshine. There is no rain forecast and wind shouldn't exceed 15mph on any day. Neither side of the draw should get any advantage but be aware conditions will be cold every morning with temperatures below 6 degrees until midday.
Stats Analysis
With no previous events here, we have no stats analysis.
Trends
Winning score - We have no previous events to draw upon to make a prediction regarding winning score.
Course form - Some of the holes were used for Open Qualifying last year but the other course at Fairmont was largely used.
Incoming form - We should value recent form highly given the lack of course form.
Nationality - Whilst this event and course are new to the European Tour, the Alfred Dunhill Links has historically been staged in this area at this time of year. It is worth noting that 13 of the last 19 winners of that event hailed from the UK & Ireland.
In-play
Tough Holes - The long par 4s (2nd and 10th) are expected to cause difficulty. All the par 3s can stretch to 190+ yards so will be tricky also.
Birdie Holes - The short par 4s (4th and 7th) will offer players birdie chances alongside the par 5s.
Fast or Slow Start - With no previous event form to draw on we can't provide any analysis on whether a player can play catch up.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Scottish Championship in-play page*
Type of Course - Modern Links
Course Designer - Denis Griffiths/Sam Torrance
Par 5's - 3rd, 6th, 12th and 18th.
Hosted Since - New Event
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals. There has already been one positive test for Covid-19 (Jbe Kruger)
Weather Forecast
Forecast for the week looks relatively consistent with cloudy conditions interspersed with sunshine. There is no rain forecast and wind shouldn't exceed 15mph on any day. Neither side of the draw should get any advantage but be aware conditions will be cold every morning with temperatures below 6 degrees until midday.
Stats Analysis
With no previous events here, we have no stats analysis.
Trends
Winning score - We have no previous events to draw upon to make a prediction regarding winning score.
Course form - Some of the holes were used for Open Qualifying last year but the other course at Fairmont was largely used.
Incoming form - We should value recent form highly given the lack of course form.
Nationality - Whilst this event and course are new to the European Tour, the Alfred Dunhill Links has historically been staged in this area at this time of year. It is worth noting that 13 of the last 19 winners of that event hailed from the UK & Ireland.
In-play
Tough Holes - The long par 4s (2nd and 10th) are expected to cause difficulty. All the par 3s can stretch to 190+ yards so will be tricky also.
Birdie Holes - The short par 4s (4th and 7th) will offer players birdie chances alongside the par 5s.
Fast or Slow Start - With no previous event form to draw on we can't provide any analysis on whether a player can play catch up.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Scottish Championship in-play page*
Scottish Championship - Six To Watch
As outlined in our Tipping Record, our strategy is to focus on speciality bets and value in-play. However, we have identified the following six players if you do wish to place a bet before the event begins:
Connor Syme - 33/1 @ Bet365
Connor came really close to winning both events at Celtic Manor earlier in the season. He's a local lad, basing himself out of Drumoig and the likelihood is that he'll have far more course experience than the majority of the field. Last time out at the Scottish Open saw him finish 48th, a cold putter holding him back. He's been working hard on his putting this week back at home so hopefully we should see him fare better. He'll also have fond memories of Fairmont, having qualified for last year's Open Championship from the composite course used here.
Brandon Stone - 40/1 @ Bet365
Brandon is a hard one to get right but he has a certain affinity towards Scotland that should see him go well. He won the 2018 Scottish Open, was 10th at the 2018 Dunhill Links and finished 19th at the Scottish Open two weeks ago. We can forgive a missed cut at Wentworth last week as he has missed all four cuts there previously. He ranked 2nd SG: Approach in Scotland two weeks ago and 10th SG: Off The Tee last week at Wentworth. If he can marry those up he'll be in the mix this week.
Clement Sordet - 66/1 @ Bet365
Clement is a four time winner on the Challenge Tour and if he's going to step up and win a European Tour event it could well be one like this. A 2nd place finish in Oman last year was a nice result on a coastal track and he didn't disgrace himself when he last played the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2018, finishing 28th. He's had a couple of weeks off having been unable to get into the Rolex events, but 28th at the Irish Open and 21st at the Wales Open demonstrate he's in solid enough form. In Ireland he was 4th SG: Approach and 27th SG: Off The Tee so he's showing enough for us to have him under consideration.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat - 66/1 @ Bet365
Having played predominantly on the PGA Tour these past two years, Kiradech has slipped to 225th in the Official World Rankings. We shouldn't forget he is a far better player than this and a significant drop in class here should suit. He boasts 4th and 15th place finishes in his last two starts at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship so we're happy with how he performs at this time of year in St Andrews. He won the Paul Lawrie Matchplay in 2015 in Scotland as well, so he's an accomplished links player on his day.
Adrian Meronk - 80/1 @ Bet365
Adrian comes into this after a couple of weeks off. Last seen at the Irish Open, where he posted a top 10 finish and signed off with a final round 66. Drilling further down, he ranked 4th SG: Off The tee and 10th SG: Approach that week. A winner on the Challenge Tour last year, he has adapted nicely to the upgrade with a 6th place at the Celtic Classic and a 21st place at the British Masters. He won his first event on the Challenge Tour last year after a week off, so there's every reason to like him.
Euan Walker - 275/1 @ Bet365
Euan had a highly successful 2019 as an amateur, finishing 2nd at both The Amateur Championship and European Amateur. He turned pro at the KLM Open last year, finishing 40th. A Walker Cup player in 2019, he has an excellent links pedigree but it is his association with Fairmont that attracts us most. He finished 7th at the 2019 Open Qualifying event and is attached to Fairmont so nobody will have prepped here more. It may be asking a lot for him to win, but he's certainly capable of a place.
Connor Syme - 33/1 @ Bet365
Connor came really close to winning both events at Celtic Manor earlier in the season. He's a local lad, basing himself out of Drumoig and the likelihood is that he'll have far more course experience than the majority of the field. Last time out at the Scottish Open saw him finish 48th, a cold putter holding him back. He's been working hard on his putting this week back at home so hopefully we should see him fare better. He'll also have fond memories of Fairmont, having qualified for last year's Open Championship from the composite course used here.
Brandon Stone - 40/1 @ Bet365
Brandon is a hard one to get right but he has a certain affinity towards Scotland that should see him go well. He won the 2018 Scottish Open, was 10th at the 2018 Dunhill Links and finished 19th at the Scottish Open two weeks ago. We can forgive a missed cut at Wentworth last week as he has missed all four cuts there previously. He ranked 2nd SG: Approach in Scotland two weeks ago and 10th SG: Off The Tee last week at Wentworth. If he can marry those up he'll be in the mix this week.
Clement Sordet - 66/1 @ Bet365
Clement is a four time winner on the Challenge Tour and if he's going to step up and win a European Tour event it could well be one like this. A 2nd place finish in Oman last year was a nice result on a coastal track and he didn't disgrace himself when he last played the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2018, finishing 28th. He's had a couple of weeks off having been unable to get into the Rolex events, but 28th at the Irish Open and 21st at the Wales Open demonstrate he's in solid enough form. In Ireland he was 4th SG: Approach and 27th SG: Off The Tee so he's showing enough for us to have him under consideration.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat - 66/1 @ Bet365
Having played predominantly on the PGA Tour these past two years, Kiradech has slipped to 225th in the Official World Rankings. We shouldn't forget he is a far better player than this and a significant drop in class here should suit. He boasts 4th and 15th place finishes in his last two starts at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship so we're happy with how he performs at this time of year in St Andrews. He won the Paul Lawrie Matchplay in 2015 in Scotland as well, so he's an accomplished links player on his day.
Adrian Meronk - 80/1 @ Bet365
Adrian comes into this after a couple of weeks off. Last seen at the Irish Open, where he posted a top 10 finish and signed off with a final round 66. Drilling further down, he ranked 4th SG: Off The tee and 10th SG: Approach that week. A winner on the Challenge Tour last year, he has adapted nicely to the upgrade with a 6th place at the Celtic Classic and a 21st place at the British Masters. He won his first event on the Challenge Tour last year after a week off, so there's every reason to like him.
Euan Walker - 275/1 @ Bet365
Euan had a highly successful 2019 as an amateur, finishing 2nd at both The Amateur Championship and European Amateur. He turned pro at the KLM Open last year, finishing 40th. A Walker Cup player in 2019, he has an excellent links pedigree but it is his association with Fairmont that attracts us most. He finished 7th at the 2019 Open Qualifying event and is attached to Fairmont so nobody will have prepped here more. It may be asking a lot for him to win, but he's certainly capable of a place.
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