Draws and Fades: Back reigning U.S. Open champion ahead of marathon Sunday finale in Scotland

The only thing that could stop the scoring on Saturday at the Genesis Scottish Open was fog. The day started with a lengthy delay and concluded when the Firth of Forth swallowed The Renaissance Club under more clouds around 8 p.m. local time. The last group on the golf course was prepared to move over to the par-3 ninth. Officially, 22 players are left to complete the third round, and two of them are tied for the lead at 11 under.

Matt Fitzpatrick (+260) is the overnight favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook and is tied on the leaderboard with Michael Thorbjornsen (+660). Six players sit one shot back, including the defending champion Chris Gotterup (+440). With 28 holes to play, there are 24 players within four shots of the co-leaders. Looking at the change in turf conditions, what was once a firm test will soften, and Saturday’s scoring average showed it. Thirteen players who finished their third round shot 67 or better, and the contenders were playing equally well.

Updated odds to win Genesis Scottish Open:

• +260: Matt Fitzpatrick (11 under through eight holes)
• +440: Chris Gotterup (10 under through 10)
• +660: Michael Thorbjornsen (11 under through 13)
• +690: Min Woo Lee (10 under through eight)
• +1050: Robert MacIntyre (9 under through nine)
• +1225: Wyndham Clark (10 under through 15)

Third-round play will resume at 7 a.m. local time, with the final round played in threesomes off one tee shortly thereafter. It’s shaping up to be a long day en route to crowning a winner.

Since we are already invested in a couple of players at the top, let’s see if there’s an outright further down the board and a couple of prop bets left in our budget. Wyndham Clark (+1225) is the reigning U.S. Open Champion, a two-time winner in the last two months and just one shot off the lead. Clark’s approach acumen is only matched by his hot putter over the last 60 days. The Scottish shoreline must feel an awful lot like Shinnecock Hills. Clark’s about five holes ahead of the leaders. Post a number early tomorrow and let the afternoon wind blow.

Rory McIlroy (+295 Top 5, +110 Top 10) had a horrific start to his Saturday. Long delays never help anyone’s routine. Dropping three strokes in his opening eight holes, McIlroy is now in a perfect position to grab a back-door top five or top 10. With 28 holes to play, McIlroy has plenty of boxes left on that scorecard for low numbers. Everyone has an off day, but Saturday is over, and few are better at righting the ship than the Northern Irishman. One play I don’t believe will bounce back is Jordan Smith (+1400). The irons and putter have been inconsistent for the 33-year-old PGA TOUR rookie. With four missed cuts over his last eight starts, the 36-hole lead is as high on the scoreboard as he will go.

Justin Thomas (+156 Top 20) is ranked 11th on the PGA TOUR in 2026 for final-round scoring average. A notorious Sunday backdoor cover man, take Thomas to finish in the top 20. Just two strokes off the outside of the top 20 currently, Thomas is finished with his third round. He is one player who can rely on his normal routine tomorrow. On a run of six straight top-20 finishes, make sure you add the seventh.

Include these bets on Genesis Scottish Open Sunday, and you’ll have a better bankroll to draw upon for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next week.

Keith Stewart is a PGA of America professional and a co-founder of Read The Line.

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