The Fortinet Threat Score has helped identify the key holes for players competing in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club this week.
It’s tough to find more proper preparation for a major than a week competing at The Renaissance Club.
In 2022, the field at the Genesis Scottish Open averaged 71.73 strokes – an average to par of +1.73. The following week at The Open Championship, the field averaged almost four-tenths of a stroke under par, making The Renaissance Club the far tougher test.
And though the year’s final major is on the immediate horizon, the Genesis Scottish Open is much more than just a warm-up for next week.
The list of past champions is filled with major winners, former world number ones and superstars from all over the globe, including Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Ian Woosnam, just to name a few.
To join the illustrious list of Scottish Open winners, players will need to successfully navigate the Fortinet Threat Score holes at the East Lothian venue.
18th Hole
Difficulty Rank: 1
There has been no more arduous test in recent years at The Renaissance Club than the closing par four 18th. Over the previous four editions of this event, the hole has played to an average of 0.27 strokes over par. That number skyrocketed to +0.62 in 2022, when the hole yielded more bogeys or worse (251) than pars or better (211). In the opening round of last year’s Genesis Scottish Open, just 20 of 160 players – a meagre 12.5 percent – hit the green in two shots. Only six birdies were made there over the course of the entire week.
A good drive here is extremely valuable: this hole has the second-highest average value for distance on the course (0.21 strokes) and carries the third-highest penalty for missing the fairway (0.37 strokes). Only 45 percent of players get up-and-down here after missing the green in two, giving this hole the highest green in regulation value anywhere at The Renaissance Club. Par will be a great score on this hole this week: last year, Xander Schauffele made bogey here in each of the last three rounds, and still managed to get the victory.
2nd Hole
Difficulty Rank: 2
After a relatively benign opening hole, the second at The Renaissance Club significantly amps up the difficulty. This hole has played to an average score of 0.26 strokes over par the last four years, just a touch below the closing hole. Playing 493 yards on the scorecard, a little extra pop off the tee goes a long way – 0.15 strokes, in fact, fourth-most of any hole on the course.
The biggest challenge here comes with the approach shot. Just 47 percent of players since 2019 have hit this green in two, the lowest such percentage on the golf course. The average proximity to the hole with the second shot is 54 feet, also toughest at The Renaissance Club. Schauffele played this hole in even par for the week in 2022 – but even that was enough to gain 0.40 strokes on the field.
8th Hole
Difficulty Rank: 3
The eighth has played as the third-toughest hole at this course in recent years, averaging right around two-tenths of a stroke over par. Just 57 percent of the field has found this fairway since 2019, with the penalty for missing it sitting at 0.31 strokes. The average approach shot into the eighth green is 177 yards and hitting the green in two gains one-quarter of a stroke on the competition.
The statistical hallmark for this hole, though, comes on the green. Since 2019, players have averaged 1.96 putts per green in regulation here, the highest average on the course. In 2022, this green yielded 51 three-putts for the week, the most of any hole.
Players to watch
In eight rounds at The Renaissance Club, South African Justin Walters has averaged +0.34 strokes gained per hole on the Fortinet Threat Score holes, best of any qualified player in that span. In 2021, Walters shot in the 60s in all four rounds on his way to a top-20 finish.
Two years ago, Min Woo Lee broke through with the biggest win of his professional career when he defeated Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff to win at The Renaissance Club. That week, Lee played the difficult second, eighth and eighteenth holes in even par, and overall went bogey-free the last 28 holes of regulation. Lee averages 0.21 strokes gained per hole played on this week’s Fortinet Threat Score holes, tenth-best of any player since 2019.
Check out the Fortinet Threat Score every week in our course stats section once play is under way.
