A star-studded field has descended on Dundonald Links for this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Sixteen of the world’s top-50 will tee it up at the Kyle Phillips-designed par-72, making its debut as a European Tour venue, and American Rickie Fowler (8-1) rightly starts as favourite in this £5.6million Rolex Series event.
The 28-year-old won the Scottish Open at Gullane Links two years ago in his last appearance in this event but opted against defending his title at Castle Stuart 12 months ago due to scheduling reasons.
The world number 10 is in a rich vein of form with three top-5s in his last four events and will want to lay down a marker with a positive display ahead of next week’s Open championship at Royal Birkdale.
Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar (both 20-1) feature among a strong American contingent but Peter Uihlein (40-1) could be an option for those looking for a bit more value.
The 27-year-old finished second at the French Open and has performed well on links courses in the past, finishing runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2013.
Englishman Tyrell Hatton (50-1) comes into the event on the back of three successive missed cuts but is something of a Scottish links specialist. He claimed his maiden European Tour title at last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and finished second at Castle Stuart 12 months ago.
Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay (60-1) may be the man most likely to spearhead the home charge. He earned a spot at the Open by coming sixth at Castle Stuart and earned the biggest cheque of his career to date by finishing runner-up at last week’s Irish Open.
Another player hot on form is Ryan Fox (80-1). The New Zealander finished sixth at the French Open and tied fourth at last week’s Irish Open.
The most difficult player in the field to predict has to be second favourite Rory McIlroy (10-1).
The former world number one has struggled with his putting recently and missed the cut at last week’s Irish Open but it is only a matter of time before he chalks up another win.