Does Playing In The Scottish Open Improve Your Chances Of Winning The Claret Jug?
How many Open winners played in the Scottish Open the week before? We take a look at the recent history...
The Genesis Scottish Open has been played a week before The Open since 2001. Most players choose to play this event to get used to the conditions of links golf ahead of the following week's Major.
Links golf is completely different challenge from your standard PGA Tour parkland course, which most of the time is played in calm conditions on soft, lush courses. UK links-style golf can give you the most benevolent conditions or the most challenging. When the elements turn against you, there is no hiding place on the course.
Over the past two decades, 50% of Open Champions have played in the Scottish Open beforehand, although the trend is growing as all of the last five have. This perhaps highlights that playing in the event improves chances of winning.
Phil Mickelson is the last player to have won the Scottish Open and The Open in the same year back in 2013.
Here are the last 10 Open champions and whether they did or didn't play in the Scottish Open:
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (2025)
Did he play Scottish Open the week before? Yes (T8)
Last year's Open Championship winner, Scottie Scheffler, also played in the Genesis Scottish Open a week prior to the Major.
Scheffler placed T8 with a respectable score of nine-under-par getting an automatic feel of links golf again.
A week later, Scheffler went on to win at Royal Portrush with an excellent score of 17-under-par.
After Scheffler lifted the Claret Jug, he explained that "playing the week before a Major is always good preparation. Getting over here, getting adjusted to the time, getting adjusted to links golf, I think all that stuff is very helpful."
Xander Schauffele (2024)
Did he play Scottish Open the week before? Yes (T15)
Xander Schauffele was victorious at Royal Troon in 2024, where he beat Justin Rose by two shots to win his second Major of the year.
The American played a week prior to The Open where he placed T15 with a score of 12-under-par.
Schauffele's previous form in Major Championships has been excellent, finishing top 15 in the last 10 events, including a win at Valhalla in the 2024 PGA Championship.
Brian Harman (2023)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: Yes (T12)
Harman was crowned Open Champion at Royal Liverpool Golf Club with a score of 13-under-par, defeating Sepp Straka by six shots.
Placing T12 with a score of seven-under-par at The Renaissance Club, Harman's thorough preparations translated into a strong performance the following week.
Prior to his first Major win, the American's best result was a tie for second at the 2017 US Open, where he lead by one heading into the final day.
CAMERON SMITH (2022)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: Yes (T10)
After an incredible par save on 17 and picking up a shot on 18, Smith shot an incredible round of eight-under-par to pip Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young to take home the Claret Jug in the 150th Open.
The week before, the Australian finished T10 at The Genesis Scottish Open with a score of two-under-par.
Smith had never won a Major before his win at St Andrews' Old Course, with his closest result being a T3 finish at the 2022 Masters.
COLLIN MORIKAWA (2021)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: Yes (T71)
Morikawa claimed victory in 2021 where he shot an impressive 15-under-par across the four rounds to ensure the Claret Jug would be his in his first ever Open appearance
Prior to the main event, Morikawa had a T71 finish with a score of three-under-par at The Renaissance Club. Although this score is not phenomenal, the American had a chance to play under pressure at a links course before The Open.
Having won his first Major in 2020 at the PGA Championship, shooting a final round of six-under-par, Morikawa added another win to his collection.
Shane Lowry (2019)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: No
Lowry surged to victory at Royal Portrush beating Tommy Fleetwood by six strokes, shooting 15-under-par for the tournament.
The Irishman did not play in the Genesis Scottish Open beforehand but walked away with a fantastic win at The Open.
Lowry had a big amateur win at 22-years-old, where he defeated England's Robert Rock on the third playoff hole at The Irish Open in 2009. This event took place on a traditional links course, so already having a win on similar conditions, this helped him seek victory in 2019.
FRANCESCO MOLINARI (2018)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: No
Molinari made history by becoming the first Italian player to win The Open Championship back in 2018. He carded a bogey-free 69 in his final round, winning by two shots while playing alongside Tiger Woods.
The Italian did not play in the Scottish Open the week before his victory, instead appearing at the John Deere Classic in the US, where he placed T2 with an excellent score of 19-under-par.
JORDAN SPIETH (2017)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: No
After holing a 50-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole to regain the lead, following a controversial drop on the driving range two holes prior, Spieth went on to win The Open Championship with a score of 12-under-par at Royal Birkdale.
The 2017 champion chose to miss the Scottish Open a week prior to his win, but that didn't stop him from pushing through and taking home the Claret Jug.
In 2015, Spieth won both The US Open and The Masters, but after a disappointing end to the 2016 Masters, Spieth was looking to show what he was capable of at the 2017 Open.
Henrik Stenson (2016)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: Yes (T13)
Stenson fired a final round of eight-under-par at Royal Troon in the 2016 Open Championship to win his first ever Major.
The Swede had a top 15 finish at the Scottish Open a week beforehand, where he placed T13 with a score of seven-under-par.
Having finished runner-up in 2013 at Muirfield, and T40 in 2015, Stenson was looking to finally secure the win.
ZACH JOHNSON (2015)
Did he play Scottish Open a week before: No
Johnson won the 2015 Open Championship in the most remarkable way possible. He defeated 2010 champion, Louis Oosthuizen, and Australia's Marc Leishman in a four hole playoff.
The American had not competed in the Scottish Open prior to to the event, making his performance all the more impressive.
Last 20 Open champions: Did they play the Scottish Open beforehand?
- 2025: Scottie Scheffler - yes
- 2024: Xander Schauffele - yes
- 2023: Brian Harman - yes
- 2022: Cameron Smith - yes
- 2021: Collin Morikawa - yes
- 2019: Shane Lowry - no
- 2018: Francesco Molinari - no
- 2017: Jordan Spieth - no
- 2016: Henrik Stenson - no
- 2015: Zach Johnson - no
- 2014: Rory McIlroy - yes
- 2013: Phil Mickelson - yes
- 2012: Ernie Els - yes
- 2011: Darren Clarke - yes
- 2010: Louis Oosthuizen - yes
- 2009: Stewart Cink - no
- 2008: Padraig Harrington - no
- 2007: Padraig Harrington - no
- 2006: Tiger Woods - no
- 2005: Tiger Woods - no
