Genesis Scottish Open opens July 9 with new course layout

The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open begins Thursday, July 9, at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, featuring a world-class field and a significant course change designed to heighten drama. The tournament, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, serves as the final tune-up for many players before next week's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

A notable contingent of players from the LIV Golf circuit is competing, including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, marking a rare gathering of top players from both the PGA Tour and LIV in a standard tour event. Rahm, playing his first non-major PGA Tour event since joining LIV Golf, said on Tuesday that it felt like "just another event" and called it "one of my favourite weeks." Rory McIlroy noted the significance of the combined field, stating he has talked about wanting all the best players in the world to compete together.

The most discussed change this year is a strategic re-routing of the holes at The Renaissance Club, which is hosting the event for the eighth consecutive year. The first seven holes of each nine have been switched, creating a new, demanding six-hole finishing stretch with no par-5s. Organizers and...