Scottish Open predictions: Aaron to Rai-se his game in North Berwick![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
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![Aaron Rai has seen a big improvement with the putter in recent weeks](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/09072024/cfcf3baf-5869-488b-939c-0ecc65cb5e3b.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
- The Renaissance Club hosts the tournament for the sixth year in a row
- Defending champion Rory McIlroy plays for first time since US Open heartache
- Recommended bets:
- Aaron Rai to win and each-way
- Tommy Fleetwood to win and each-way
- Thomas Detry to win and each-way
The Scottish Open is one of two co-sanctioned events taking place this week and a star-studded field will descend upon The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy features for the first time since his gut-wrenching US Open slip last month and he is the 7/1 favourite with LiveScore Bet to successfully defend the title he clinched 12 months ago.
American Xander Schauffele is priced at 17/2, ahead of compatriot Collin Morikawa (14/1), while Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland are all available at 16/1.
Rai to land second Scottish crown
Aaron Rai knows what it takes to win around this course, having done so in 2020 when beating Fleetwood in a play-off, and his stellar tee-to-green game makes him a real threat this week.
The Englishman's issues have been on the greens, but the flat stick has been working well for him over the last two weeks after he added a new putting coach to his team prior to the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Rai was 10th in strokes gained: putting in Detroit before he topped the charts last week at the John Deere Classic, highlighting just how well he is rolling back the rock since the coaching addition.
With a spot at next week's Open at Royal Troon also up for grabs, 29-year-old Rai can put in a solid account of himself and taste success for the second time north of the border.
Fleetwood to enjoy Open prep
![Tommy Fleetwood almost won this tournament four years ago](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/27092022/493f6e61-2cc9-48ab-bb2a-8efddf65f405.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Tommy Fleetwood will be hoping to break his Major duck at Royal Troon next week and he would love to head into that tournament off the back of a Scottish Open victory — a title he has come close to winning previously.
The Englishman lost in a play-off to Rai in 2020 before posting results of 26th, fourth and sixth on his next three visits and he clearly has a liking for this layout.
Fleetwood has been going along nicely in recent weeks, recording finishes of T13, T26, T21, T20, T16 and 15th and it would be no surprise to see him in the mix here.
Detry to make breakthrough
It seems only like a matter of time before Thomas Detry lands his first title at this level and he returns to a course he went close to winning at in 2021, losing out in a play-off that year.
The Belgian has putted superbly this season — he ranks sixth in strokes gained on the greens — and finishes of T4 at the US PGA Championship and T14 at the US Open this year shows he is performing well in the biggest events.