Five frontrunners set to tee off at the Scottish Open

Some of the biggest names in world golf have been arriving in Scotland to not only duke it out for the $9million purse but also hone their games for the following week's Open Championship.

Ahead of the annual showdown over the Tom Doak-designed par 70, here are five legitimate contenders to lift the trophy and give themselves the perfect send-off for the Open at Royal Portrush.

Scottie Scheffler

Nationality: American
World Ranking: 1
Course form: 3-MC-12
Current form (last six): 6-7-1-4-1-1

Scheffler is the man they have to beat according to the bookies and the World No.1 hasn't finished outside the top eight in any of his last nine events.

He's won three of those including the PGA Championship and it's hard to see him not contending here, especially as the weather forecast doesn't suggest anything dramatic.

Scheffler missed the event last year but was 12th on debut and shot a Friday 65 on the way to a third place in 2023. He was seventh in the Open at Royal Troon the last time he played in Scotland in July 2024.

Rory McIlroy

Nationality: Northern Irish
World Ranking: 2
Course form: 4-1-MC-34
Current form (last six): 6-19-MC-47-7-12

Rory produced a stunning birdie-birdie finish in this event two years ago to pinch the title by a shot and he made a bold defence when fourth last year.

He's had something of an existensial crisis since climbing his own personal Everest by finally winning the Masters and completing the Grand Slam and hasn't had a top five since his glorious Sunday at Augusta National.

But he's showing good signs again after following 19th in the US Open with sixth at the Travelers Championship and he'll want to get his game in tip-top shape before playing the Open Championship on home turf at Royal Portrush next week.

Robert MacIntyre

Nationality: Scottish
World Ranking: 14
Course form: 1-2-MC-18-14-MC
Current form (last six): 17-2-36-20-6-47

After a stunning approach to the last set up a closing birdie in 2023, MacIntyre looked home and hosed but a charging Rory McIlroy edged him out by a shot.

But there was redemption for the Scot last year. A third-round 63 set up another final-day challenge and this time it was his turn as he eagled 16 and then holed a 20-foot birdie on 18 to beat Adam Scott by a shot.

MacIntyre continues to thrive and secured his best ever finish in a major when runner-up at the US Open at fiendishly-difficult Oakmont two starts ago. A bold defence can be expected.

Collin Morikawa

Nationality: American
World Ranking: 5
Course form: 4-MC-71
Current form (last six): 8-42-23-20-50-17

After finishing runner-up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 10th in the Players Championship in March, Morikawa was struggling to find a change of gear but eighth at the Rocket Classic last time suggests something big is coming.

As a former Open champion (Royal St George's in 2021) he deserves respect on the links and he showed his chops on this course last year when firing 65-66-66-69 to finish fourth.

The 'X' factor for Morikawa this week is that he has caddie legend Billy Foster on the bag for the first time and the Yorkshireman's experience of reading greens and links conditions could help secure the two-time major winner his first victory since the 2023 ZOZO Championship in Japan.

Tommy Fleetwood

Nationality: English
World Ranking: 13
Course form: 34-6-4-26-2
Current form (last six): 2-MC-16-4-41-4

Fleetwood has still yet to win a PGA Tour event and fluffed a golden chance to get over the line when runner-up at last month's Travelers Championship where a bogey to Keegan Bradley's birdie saw a one-shot lead after 71 holes turn into a heartbreaking one-hole loss.

But with the PGA Tour visiting Scotland, a place Fleetwood loves, perhaps this is the week where he finally gets it done.

His first ever DP World Tour win came in Scotland and he's had numerous top fives and top 10s at 'the home of golf' since. They include second, fourth and sixth on this course and third at last October's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Is it Tommy's time? He'd be an incredibly popular winner.