The ever-popular Scottish Open takes place this week as the golfing world gears up for the final major of the year.The 154th Open takes place at Royal Birkdale next week, but first, we are back at The Renaissance Club for the perfect warm-up act.Gotterup won in Scotland last summerGettyChris Gotterup held off Rory McIlroy and Marco Penge to win the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series Event last year.The American, who also won last week’s John Deere Classic with stunning nine-birdie final round, will return to defend his title but will be up against 2023 Scottish Open champion McIlroy and reigning Open winner Scottie Scheffler.Being on the eve of The Open, this North Berwick tournament always has a glittering field and we should be set for another thriller on the links.Scottish Open 2026: Date and how to followThe 44th edition of the Scottish Open is running from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12.It is taking place at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.Play will get going at 7am over the opening two days and at 9am over the weekend.talkSPORT will have regular updates from East Lothian throughout the week.To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.The action will also be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf from 8:30am.McIlroy won the Scottish Open in 2023gettyScottish Open 2026: Tee times and leaderboardThe Scottish Open always has a strong field and it’s no different this year.McIlroy and Scheffler headline the event alongside Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, JJ Spaun, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas.Other big names in action include Tyrrell Hatton, Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Cantlay, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Jason Day, Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark.Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Min Woo Lee and Aaron Rai have all won this event in the past and return this week.The full field, tee times and groupings can be found here.There will be a two-tee start over the opening two days.McIlroy has been grouped with MacIntyre and Gotterup and will tee off on the 10th hole at 8:28am on Thursday.Scheffler, grouped with Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick, will start on the first at 1:43am.The latest leaderboard from the Renaissance Club can be found here.The prize money for this year’s event will be $9million, with the winner taking home $1,575,000.Noteable groups at 2026 Scottish OpenMcIlroy / MacIntyre / Gotterup Forrest / Koepka / Min Woo Lee Clarke / Hovland / Chacarra Scheffler / M Fitzpatrick / Fleetwood Thomas / Aberg / Reed Rahm / A Fitzpatrick / R HojgaardLowry / Spaun / RaiSchauffele / Reitan / ScottOpen champion Scheffler will be eyeing glory at Renaissance ClubScottish Open 2026: Course detailsThe Renaissance Club is the centre-piece of Scotland’s East Lothian golf coast.It has been the permanent home of the Scottish Open since 2019 following events at Dundonald Links, Gullane and Castle Stuart.The course, located between the world-famous Muirfield and North Berwick golf clubs, will play to a par 70 and a new maximum yardage of 7,282 yards.The course has been rerouted for the first time this year with the opening hole now being the old par 5 10th.The layout will start with the traditional 10th to 16th holes before switching back to the old 8th and 9th.The tenth hole will then be the old 1st and the back nine will play to the former 7th hole before returning to the traditional two closing holes.The change has been made in the hope of ‘creating a more compelling closing stretch for both players and spectators’.The par 3 6th hole – called The Thistle – is one of the best in Scotland and will now play as the 15th.The layout at the Renaissance Club has been redoneGettyScottish Open 2026: What has been said?Gotterup is excited to defend his title against the world’s best golfers – McIlroy and Scheffler.Gotterup said: “Last year was very special – the way I hung in there on Sunday, winning the Scottish Open title on my debut, lifting a trophy in the home of golf, all made it an amazing week.“I’ve had a great start to the season so far and I can’t wait to get back to the Renaissance Club to defend my title in July.”McIlroy added: “It’s always an honour to compete in a national open, and I’m excited to be back at the Scottish Open this summer.“Winning in 2023 created some great memories, and I’m looking forward to building on my strong performances at The Renaissance Club.”Scheffler said: “I always enjoy coming to the Scottish Open and taking on the challenge of links-style golf as part of an exciting couple of weeks in the UK.“The tournament always has a strong field, and the Scottish fans help to make it a fun week.”