The second UK Swing ends this week with the inaugural Scottish Championship at the stunning Fairmont St Andrews. My betting tips are below, but first…
Scottish Championship: The details
Venue: Fairmont St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Date: October 15-18, 2020
Course stats: Par 72; 7,230 yards
Course summary: This parkland style course has all the characteristics of a links venue with coastal winds, exposed fairways, and pot bunkers galore.The rough is less penal than recent weeks, but the greens will certainly pose a challenge. Large, well-protected, and often very fast surfaces demand a calculated and clinical approach to putting. Wind management experience could also be useful, in a week where the majority of the field may not have played the course before.
Purse: $1 million
Defending champion: N/A
Scottish Championship TV coverage
Thursday: Sky Sport Golf and Main Event from 12.30pm
Friday: Sky Sport Golf and Main Event from 12.30pm
Saturday: Sky Sport Golf from 1pm
Sunday: Sky Sport Golf from 12pm
Scottish Championship: Staking Plan
Wade Ormsby – 1pt e/w @ 60/1 with bet365
On his last visit to Scotland – two weeks ago at the Scottish Open – Ormsby impressed with three excellent rounds of golf before a disappointing close to finish T19. Ormsby has all the skills needed to put that right and be successful here, with creative flair around the greens and strong putting to back it up. The Australian currently ranks 5th on tour for Putts-per-Round, 8th for Sand Saves and 6th for SG: Around-the-Green. A recent T31 finish at Valderrama answers the question about his ability to navigate courses where wind is a factor, and it could be a good week to back Ormsby to improve in Scotland on his second attempt in quick succession.
Masahiro Kawamura – 1.5pt e/w @ 35/1 with bet365
Kawamura has been quietly going about his business in a very consistent fashion over recent weeks, with two top-10 and two top-20 finishes in five starts. An 8th-place finish at Valderrama is most impressive, clearly suggesting he understands how to manage conditions and post a good score. Kawamura currently ranks 1st for SG: Around-the-Green, a stat that could be a key measure for success here, and the Japanese star backs that up with consistent putting figures.
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Sebastian Soderberg – 0.75pt e/w @ 80/1 with bet365
Soderberg exploded into form over two events in Wales, finishing 10th and 5th in consecutive weeks. And despite a T27 in Portugal, Soderberg is a big price for this event. This isn’t the strongest field, and evidence from his performances in Wales suggests he has the skill set to do well here. Soderberg ranks 9th in SG: Around-the-Green, and 17th for Putts-per-Round, which will be important here. If he can find some of his Celtic Manor form, we could be in for an excellent chance for profit with Soderberg.
Scott Hend – 0.75pt e/w @ 80/1 with bet365
The eccentric Australian performed brilliantly at Wentworth last week, where a closing 68 was enough to secure a T10 finish. The three-time European Tour winner also secured a T11 finish at the Irish Open recently, demonstrating some consistency in his form. Hend is a strong putter, ranking 4th for Putts-per-Round on tour, and his length off the tee will also be an advantage. With the unpredictable nature of his performances, Hend is a gamble this week. But three career titles and two top-11 finishes in three weeks convince me to trust that he has the ability and experience to get the job done this week.
For more prices, visit bet365.
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