We’ve got a loaded field on deck for this week’s Scottish Open – arguably the strongest non-signature event of the season. Held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, this co-sanctioned event pulls from the top talent on both the PGA and DP World Tour, giving us a deep pool of players to work with. Let’s dive into my PGA DFS picks and core plays for the Scottish Open.
Course Preview
The course itself is no stranger to elite competition. A modern Scottish links designed by Tom Doak, The Renaissance Club measures 7,282 yards and plays to a Par 70.
With three par 5s, five par 3s, and ten par 4s, it’s not your typical layout, and when the coastal weather kicks up, chaos can follow. Winning scores have ranged from -22 in calm conditions to -7 in wind-rattled years, so keeping tabs on the forecast is crucial.
From a stat standpoint, SG: Approach, Off the Tee, Ball Striking, and Driving Distance all stand out – especially with reachable par 5s and a few long par 4s in play. But with tricky greens and the potential for bad lies around the fescue, you’ll also want to factor in SG: Around the Green and Bogey Avoidance.
I plugged everything into Stokastic’s PGA Sims Tool, which models each hole and runs thousands of lineup combinations using our in-house projections. It highlights the golfers showing up most often in top finishes, helping to uncover both consistent anchors and sneaky value plays. If you’re aiming to build smart, +EV DFS lineups, this tool gives you one of the clearest edges in the game.
Let’s dive into my Scottish Open picks that I’ll be building lineups around this week on DraftKings.
PGA DFS Picks: Scottish Open DFS Picks & Core Plays
PGA DFS Picks: Scottish Open DFS Picks & Core Plays: Viktor Hovland – $9,300
It wasn’t long ago that Viktor Hovland found his way into my core plays – most recently at the U.S. Open, where he delivered a strong 3rd-place finish. I’m hoping for a repeat performance, if not something even better, this week at the Scottish Open.
Our PGA Sims are locking onto Hovland in 23.7% of our top lineups – that’s the second-highest mark on the slate and 11.5% more than the field’s projected ownership. Over his last 32 rounds, he ranks 2nd in SG: Approach, and 3rd in both SG: Total and Tee-to-Green.
Sure, the chalkier play in Scottie Scheffler is always appealing and feels like the safer route, but if you’re looking to pivot slightly, Hovland is a strong alternative – and that feeling is mutual with our tools.
Corey Conners – $8,900
I’m loving the look of Corey Conners this week. His game shapes up beautifully for this links-style track.
Over his last 32 rounds, he ranks 12th in both SG: APP and OTT, and 14th in T2G. He’s also been dialed in with the driver, ranking 5th in accuracy, which should go a long way in avoiding the thick fescue lining these fairways.
Conners has also shown steady improvement each time he’s played this course: missed cut in 2021, followed by finishes of T-61, T-19, and a T-10 last year. His experience and adaptation could prove crucial this week.
His projected ownership is relatively low at sub-9%, but our tools are getting to him in 21% of lineups, and it’s easy to see why.
PGA DFS Picks: Scottish Open DFS Picks & Core Plays: Rasmus Hojgaard – $7,900
As noted, bombers can thrive on a links course like this and Hojgaard has the ability to be that guy. Over his last 32 rounds, he ranks 7th in Driving Distance, 14th in SG: OTT, and 30th in SG: T2G.
Whether or not he can dial in his approach shots will be the big question. Still, our Sims see value at his $7,900 price tag and have him in 23% of top lineups, which is 14% more than the field.
He’s got 16 rounds of experience at this course, which includes a T-10 finish in 2022 and a T-21 result last year.
GPP Flier: Daniel Berger – $7,400
Man, I’m just waiting for Daniel Berger to break through in a big way. Like Hovland, I included Berger as a core play for the U.S. Open, and for a while it looked promising – he was building momentum throughout the weekend before slipping to a T-46 finish.
It’s clear he’s got the pedigree to hang with the best. Over his last 32 rounds, he ranks 4th in SG: APP, 7th OTT, 12th T2G, and 25th in SG: Total. He’s also been steady with the clubs, ranking 10th in accuracy and 16th in Ball Striking for the year.
He’s got a pair of top-three finishes under his belt, and call me crazy – but I won’t be surprised if he’s in that mix again at The Renaissance Club. Our PGA Sims have him in 15% of lineups, giving him 6% leverage over the field.
