It’s the time of year when the best players in the world face a totally different test.
Gone are the lush fairways and pristine greens in the United States of America. Now, all of the best players in the world will take on the elements of links golf.
This year’s Scottish Open field is the best in its history. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm headline a stacked cast of superstars who are looking to hone their skills on British soil a week before The Open Championship.
But what makes these players so elite week to week in America won’t necessarily translate to Scotland. Phil Mickelson will be the first to tell you that performing on links golf courses requires a completely different skill set.
With that said, there will be five players who really fancy their chances of winning Scotland’s national open because of their prowess on links courses.
1. Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has never had any problems translating his game to coastal links, having grown up on the Northern Irish coast. To this day, he remains an elite links player who always competes in the windy conditions when back on home soil.
McIlroy won the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and won the 2023 Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club with an incredible finish in heavy wind.
He has eight top 10 finishes at The Open Championship during his career, so his spot on this list is well earned.
2. Robert MacIntyre
Unsurprisingly, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre thrives in his home setting. He’s been one of the most dominant links players in the world over the last few years.
MacIntyre won the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in front of a home crowd after finishing runner-up to McIlroy the year before. He also won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the end of his 2025 season.
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MacIntyre has the ability to manipulate the ball in the wind and possesses the exact kind of high-level imagination required when playing these undulating dunes.
3. Tyrrell Hatton
While Tyrrell Hatton doesn’t have an Open Championship in his trophy cabinet, he has proven to be one of the best links performers in golf.
He is a multiple winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and he consistently performs well at Yas Links on the DP World Tour.
Hatton has three top-10 finishes at The Open Championship in his career, and he’s always an outside contender to win the Claret Jug.
4. Xander Schauffele
The sole American on this list is Xander Schauffele, who has shown an incredible ability to adapt to the foreign conditions in the UK.
Schauffele proved his links pedigree by winning the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon with a flawless final-round 65. He won the 2022 Scottish Open and is on a streak of back-to-back top-10 finishes at The Open Championship.
Schauffele’s elite ball-striking and exceptional control over his trajectory allow him to pierce through heavy winds, which is perfect for coastal links golf.
5. Jon Rahm
Spaniard Rahm grew up playing more standard European golf courses, but he quickly mastered traditional links golf courses.
While he doesn’t have an Open Championship win to his name, he is a two-time winner of the Irish Open, winning on iconic courses, Portstewart and Lahinch.
He finished tied for second at the 2023 Open Championship, one of three top 10s at the tournament in his career.
Expect him to be in the mix both at this week’s Scottish Open, and at Royal Birkdale at The Open as he hopes to claim his third major championship.
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