There are some incredibly fun 72-hole matchups on offer from bet365 this week for the Genesis Scottish Open which boasts one of the strongest fields in its history thanks to the strategic alliance between the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR.
In fact, 16 of the top 20 players in the world are teeing it up at The Renaissance Club as they finetune their game for a fortnight in Scotland which includes next week’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews.
bet365 has given bettors 72-hole match ups involving almost all of the top-ranked players, adding some variety to your betting options, and producing a fun place to think about accumulator bets.
Related Golf News
The Open - Golf: What makes links golf so special?
The Open - Golf: All You Need to Know
The Open - Golf: Hole-by-hole guide
The Open - Golf: Five outsiders to look out for
Let’s break down the numbers for some of the match ups to see if an edge can be found.
Jon Rahm (4/5) vs. Justin Thomas (1/1)
Season Head-to-Head (Nine common tournaments): Thomas 6, Rahm 3.
Course History
Both played the event a year ago with Rahm finishing seventh with rounds of 66-65-69-68 while Thomas was T8 after efforts of 65-69-70-65. Thomas also played at the venue in 2019 for a T9 finish (67-64-70-65).
Clearly Thomas can go low on the layout given four of his eight rounds are 65 or better. Rahm didn’t play the event in 2019, but he did win the Irish Open the week prior that year.
Stat Check
Rahm leads the PGA TOUR this season in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, is fifth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and second in Greens in Regulation. Red Flag: Ranks 142nd in SG: Around the Green.
Thomas is 15th in SG: Off-the-Tee, sixth in SG: Approach the Green and third in SG Tee-to-Green. Red Flag: Ranks 157th in driving accuracy.
Recent form
Rahm last five starts: U.S. Open T12; Memorial Tournament T10; PGA Championship T48; Mexico Open 1; Masters T27.
Thomas last five starts: U.S. Open T37; RBC Canadian Open 3; Charles Schwab Challenge CUT; PGA Championship 1; ATandT Byron Nelson T5.
Matt Fitzpatrick (8/11) vs. Cameron Smith (11/10)
Season Head-to-Head (Seven common tournaments): Smith 4, Fitzpatrick 3.
Course History
The recently crowned U.S. Open champion Fitzpatrick was T2 at the Genesis Scottish Open a year ago, losing in a playoff to Australian Min Woo Lee. Rounds of 66-66-67-67 show the latest major champ has a winning game plan at The Renaissance Club. Fitzpatrick was also T42 in 2020 and T14 in 2019 versions at the course.
Smith is making his debut at this course.
Stat Check
Fitzpatrick ranks first on TOUR in SG: Tee-to-Green, second in SG: Total, third in SG: Around the Green. Red Flag: Ranks 170th in approaches from 150-175 yards.
Smith, the PLAYERS Championship winner earlier this season, ranks second in SG: Approach the Green, 14th in SG: Putting, fifth in scoring average and first in birdie average. Red Flag: Ranks 141st in SG: Off-the-Tee.
Recent Form
Fitzpatrick last five starts: U.S. Open 1; RBC Canadian Open T10; Memorial Tournament CUT; PGA Championship T5; Wells Fargo Championship T2.
Smith last five starts: U.S. Open CUT; RBC Canadian Open T48; Memorial Tournament T13; PGA Championship T13; Zurich Classic of New Orleans T21.
Collin Morikawa (10/11) vs. Sam Burns (10/11)
Season Head-to-Head (10 common tournaments): Morikawa 5, Burns 5.
Course History
The defending Open champion used last year’s Genesis Scottish Open to dial in his links game ahead of his win at Royal St. Georges. Rounds of 70-67-71-73 left him T71.
Burns fashioned rounds of 72-68-67-66 in last year’s event for a T18 finish.
Stat Check
Morikawa ranks fifth in SG: Approach the Green, 10th in scoring average and fifth in proximity to hole. Red Flag: Ranks 165th in SG: Around the Green.
Burns ranks eighth in SG: Total this season and seventh in both scoring and birdie average. Red Flag: Ranks 165th in approaches from 50-75 yards.
Recent Form
Morikawa last five starts: U.S. Open T5; Memorial Tournament CUT; Charles Schwab Challenge T40; PGA Championship T55; Zurich Classic of New Orleans T29.
Burns last five starts: Travelers Championship CUT; U.S. Open T27; RBC Canadian Open T4; Charles Schwab Challenge 1; PGA Championship T20.
OTHER MATCH UPS ON OFFER
Scottie Scheffler (4/6) vs. Xander Schauffele (6/5)
Will Zalatoris (4/5) vs. Jordan Spieth (1/1)
Sungjae Im (1/1) vs Viktor Hovland (4/5)
Joaquin Niemann (4/5) vs. Max Homa (1/1)
Justin Rose (11/10) vs. Tommy Fleetwood (8/11)
Cameron Young (10/11) vs. Corey Conners (10/11)
Keegan Bradley (10/11) v Billy Horschel (10/11)
Click here for Scottish Open 72-hole match bets
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Discover more from the world's favourite online betting brand
Latest sports betting and odds
Head to the bet365 YouTube channel for exclusive racing content
