2022 Genesis Scottish Open: Top 10 Power Rankings at The Renaissance Club

Two top-10s at the Genesis Scottish Open are big reasons why Justin Thomas is a popular pick to win this week.

In 2019, he fired 67-64-70-65 to finish T-9th. He was just four shots out of first place and two out of third. Another round in the 70s did him in again in 2021 as Thomas took T-8th and was just three out of a playoff after carding 65-69-70-65.

JT co-led the 2021 field by scrambling at a 100% clip and was eighth in putts per round (29.7).

The Kentuckian is getting the hang of links golf after some disappointing results at The Open Championship early in his career. He missed two cuts and was outside the top-50 in his first three starts but took T-11th in 2019 and T-40th in 2021.

“I just like the creativity you have to have,” Thomas was transcribed by ASAP Sports during the Scottish Open. “It’s not like America where sometimes it’s kind of see pin, hit pin, and whatever your yardage is, relying on that and it’s not going to roll too far.”

Thomas comes to Scotland off of a couple weeks of rest after a T-37th at the U.S. Open. It wasn’t the result he was after, but the 29-year-old should still be buoyed by his second PGA Championship victory in May.

He nearly won again at the RBC Canadian Open last month where he was in the final group on Sunday and finished solo third.

Thomas is up to nine top-10s in the 2021-22 PGA Tour season.

He’s missed just one cut, which came the week after his win at Southern Hills.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide ranks third on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained per round (1.938) and is 56th or better in every SG category. His ball-striking and shot shaping would seem to help his cause if this week is as windy as anticipated.

JT is sixth in SG approach (.855) and is first in proximity from the fairway (27’6”). If he can steer clear of too many fairway bunkers and the gnarly fescue he should go well, the fairways are wide and the misses aren’t always as penal without tree line to deal with.