The DP World Tour heads to Trump International Golf Links in Scotland for the third edition of the Nexo Championship, which marks the final event of the 'Closing Swing'.
First staged at Fairmont St Andrews in 2020, then known as the Scottish Championship, this tournament was revived in 2025 when it was moved to Trump International in Balmedie.
Grant Forrest claimed the spoils on -8, just one of nine players to finish in the red, and he will begin his title defence on the 10th tee at 07:11 BST, alongside Patrick Reed and Yanhan Zhou.
Eddie Pepperell, Anthony Quayle and Tobias Jonsson get the action started from the first hole at 07:00, while Matthew Jordan, Pablo Ereno and Matthieu Pavon are off at the same time from the 10th.
The weather forecast for the opening day anticipates light rain and moderate breezes throughout the day, which adds to the challenge of this 7,439-yard par-72 course.
Nexo Championship First-Round Leader Tips Summary
Best Bet - Patrick Reed each-way @ 22/1
Alternative Bet - Casey Jarvis each-way @ 25/1
Alternative Bet - Calum Fyfe each-way @ 75/1
Nexo Championship First-Round Leader Prediction
Best Bet: Patrick Reed each-way @ 22/1
Patrick Reed was last seen in action when finishing tied 46th at the Open at Royal Birkdale in July and he should be nicely refreshed for his first crack at the Nexo Championship.
Trump International Golf Links demands accuracy on approach and there are not many better than the American on the DP World Tour this season, as he ranks second in strokes gained and fifth in greens in regulation.
The ability to get up and down may also prove crucial this week, given the deep bunkers and thick rough, and Reed is eighth in scrambling and 15th in strokes gained around the green.
Reed has always been a strong putter and should have no problems on these heavily contoured greens, so all signs are pointing towards a positive showing north of the border.
Out in the second group of the day from the 10th hole, the 2018 Masters champion, twice a winner on the DP World Tour this year, can put down an early marker to the rest of the field and set the target on day one.
Alternative Bet: Casey Jarvis each-way @ 25/1
It has been a fine season for Casey Jarvis, who broke his DP World Tour duck at the Magical Kenya Open in February before landing the South African Open Championship a week later.
The South African's irons have been sharp and he ranks eighth in strokes gained approach, while there have been no issues with the putter as he sits in the top 10 for putts per rounds and putts per greens in regulation.
Jarvis signed for rounds of 73, 74 and 74 for the first three days last year before managing to get to grips with this layout in his final 18 holes, with a 68 propelling him into tied 13th.
The 23-year-old showed his affinity for links golf at Royal Birkdale last month, finishing tied sixth at the Open for his best Major result, and he has the skillset to make a quick start.
Alternative Bet: Calum Fyfe each-way @ 75/1
At bigger odds, it could be worth taking an each-way punt on Calum Fyfe to be leading the way after round one.
The Scot knows Trump International Golf Links well, having won the Tartan Tour's Tour Championship at this course in October 2024.
Fyfe opened with a round of 69 to lead by one that day and he has started off this last two tournaments in positive fashion, shooting 66s at the Scottish Challenge and Irish Challenge.
Key Tournament Stats
This will be the third edition of the Nexo Championship
It will be held at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland for the second year in a row
Defending champion Grant Forrest set a course record six-under-par 66 in round two last year
Richard Sterne led the way after round one last year when signing for a round of 67
Holes two, nine and 17 - all par fours - were the three hardest last year
Just nine players finished under-par last year - six were British
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
