IT'S the week before The Open and a chance for some of the world's best golfers to hone their game ahead of Muirfield.
The likes of Ernie Els (20-1, Paddy Power), Henrik Stenson (20-1, Betvictor) and Phil Mickleson (20-1, Skybet) will tee up at Castle Stuart, outside Inverness, but will any of them actually want to win the Scottish Open? Possibly not.
No one has won this event and gone on to be crowned Open champ the following week so for Els and Mickelson especially it's a chance to sample some links golf and keep sharp for Muirfield.
So as far as value goes I'm looking for some each-way punts further down the field – and I've also picked out an outsider who I've been watching for some weeks.
Last week I tipped Franceso Molinari in the French Open and he challenged for the best part of three rounds before falling away. Castle Stuart is even more suited to his game and he showed he loves the course by missing out against Jeev Mikha Singh in a play-off last year.
The Italian's accuracy will be exactly what's need round a track that will be playing shorter but fieryier after the recent warm weather and I'm keeping the faith in him at 28-1 with Betfred and bet365.
For an outside bet consider British-based American Brooks Koepka. He won on his last visit to Scotland in the Hydro Challenge at Aviemore and that third win of the season catapulted him on to the European Tour.
Twenty-fours later he was down at Sunningdale and beat fatigue to qualify for his first Open. So Koepka, 70-1 at bet365 and Stan James, is definitely one for the future and he'll be trying to outdo flatmate Peter Uhlein who I've also backed a few times this season.
Recommended Bets
F Molinari ew
(28-1, bet365, Betfred)
Koepka ew
(70-1, bet365, Stan James)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Sterne got me a 2nd last week.
Looking to go one better with these guys
Warren
Dyson
Gallacher
Wattel
Daryl, Warren’s going to win sometime. Amazing the number of events he’s been in winning positions then lost. Maybe he should get Ivan Lendl in as his coach. He’s a pretty decent golfer after all.
U.S
Troy matteson 150/1
Charlie WI 80/1
Vaughan Taylor 225/1
Scott stallings 40/1
Scottish
Wiesberger 33/1
Francesco molinari 28/1
Darren fit-chart 175/1
Alexander noren 33/1
Combo each way doubles as usual. Stanjames prices
The lad Koepka is the star of the Challenge Tour this season – he has already guaranteed his european tour card for nxt season with his multiple wins in the 2nd tier.
Good value e/w bet for this week.
Paddy power paying 6 places in Scottish open and if your pick gets a hole in 1 at any time during tournament you get paid out as a winner!
Muzza, six places is a good effort and many will be seven on The Open next week.
I like the hole in 1 bonus too.
Paul Lawrie and Simon Dyson for me both 50/1
Muzza, Lawrie’s not playing well enough for me. Best chance of a Scots win is Warren or Gallacher. Laird is shortest price but hasn’t done much on home soil despite some big wins on the States. Learned his golf five minutes from where I’m sitting but I can still can’t back him.
It must be pretty difficult to get into the top 6 when the players odds are pretty huge
John, picking golf winners is always tough. A guy at 100-1 can easily as was the case with Blitx on the US Tour while Paul Casey I think was 50-1 for the French Open. Right, Europa League tips are up, will post some Gold Cup predictions sometime tomorrow.
In the past the Scottish Open has thrown up a number of surprise winners…..big names just getting in a bit of open practice.
So,I think I`ll keep my money in my pocket til next week.