The European Tour’s Race to Dubai returns to Renaissance Club this week for the second Rolex Series event of the year - the abrdn Scottish Open.
A star studded field are set to compete this week, but who will be crowned champion? Read on below to find out who our experts think.
Sign up now & submit your team by this week's deadline: https://fantasyrace.europeantour.com
HOW IT WORKS:
— Fantasy Race To Dubai (@ETFantasy) January 20, 2021
📲 SIGN UP at https://t.co/T9ZTWyjevM
6⃣ SELECT six players
🥇Make one your captain (they'll score double)
🏆WIN weekly, big event & end of season prizes
It's that simple. #FantasyR2D pic.twitter.com/T9yxf7Z3Zx
Expert Picks
_Our expert picks will be brought to you every week by Sky Sports Presenter Kit Alexander and former Ladies European Tour player, coach and presenter Sophie Walker. The duo also co-host their own weekly _Fantasy Golf Youtube Channel.
Kit's picks
You can follow Kit on social media here: _@KitOnTheCourse (Twitter), @KitOnTheCourse (Instagram)_
Tommy Fleetwood
The five-time European Tour winner showed enough in his T17th finish in Ireland last week to indicate his form is on the up. He lost to Aaron Rai in the play-off at Renaissance last year, and he’s an excellent links player – he finished 2nd at The Open in 2019 and also has a couple of runners-up finishes at the Dunhill Links. It will be spurred on by the opportunity to cement his place in the Ryder Cup team.
Richard Bland
The 48-year-old is in the form of his life. He’s followed up his first European Tour win at the Betfred British Masters, with a T3rd at the Made in Himmerland and a T4th at last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. He also led the US Open after 36 holes before fading to T50th. The only doubt is whether he can make enough birdies if it becomes a shootout, but his form and confidence is well worth a pick.
Garrick Higgo
With the greens being reasonably receptive after heavy rain early in the week and relatively little wind in the forecast, the winning score could easily go past -20. The young South African is a birdie machine – his three European Tour wins have come with totals of -19, -25 and -27, and he’s 7th on the European Tour in birdie average with 4.82 per round. He got his first PGA Tour win at the Palmetto Championship in June.
Sophie's picks
You can follow Sophie on social media here: @SophWalks (Twitter), @SophWalksGolf (Instagram)
Jon Rahm
The Spaniard captured his first major at Torres Pines last month. So two time Irish Open winner (2017, 2019) will be landing in Scotland as the the favourite. Rahm grew up on the north coast of Spain so will be used to the coastal weather and winds that may come during this week. The world number one is in the form of his life and is dominating Strokes Gained total and scoring average (69.6) on the PGA Tour.
Bernd Wiesberger
My first captain’s pick to win a tournament, Bernd won the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in 2019. Wiesberger’s ball striking is strong with 71% of greens hit this year, which is critical stat on these raised, sloppy greens. The world number 56 is within touching distance of a seat on the plane to Whistling Straits, it looks like he is peaking at just the right time.
Collin Morikawa
The Californian native hits his 6 iron closer than most of us hit our wedge. He averages 27 feet from 175 - 200 yards. This tops the stats and is vital for tour players to pick up shots on their rivals. With Seven top ten’s and one win at the World Golf Championships. He leads the strokes gained category in approach to the green and is ninth in driving accuracy. This guy is my tip for The Open Championship so why not warm up with a win like Phil Mickelson did in 2013
