Hero Open 2021: Form stats for this week's event in Scotland

For the second time in 10 months, the European Tour has arrived at Fairmont, home of this week's Hero Open.

Located on former farmland overlooking St Andrews Bay, the Torrance Course at Fairmont hosted last October's Scottish Championship which was won by Spanish golfer Adrian Otaegui.

In what was a low-scoring tournament, Otaegui opened with a 62, closed with a 63, and ended up shooting 23-under-par.

As many as 29 pros finished 10-under-par or better for 72 holes.

Designed by former Ryder Cup skipper Sam Torrance, the course was laid out around three miles south-east of the golfing town of St Andrews.

This famous stretch of coastline is home to many of Fife's finest golf courses, with Fairmont one of the more recent additions.

Built on agricultural land, there is definitely a links feel to it, with a selection of subtle undulations on what is generally a flat layout.

Fairways are fairly generous, while most of the holes are laid out slightly inland.

Opened in 2001, a number of holes have been re-designed during the past decade.

There is just one sizeable water hazard to avoid, although there is a long winding stream which affects seven holes during the round.

Fairmont has been a frequent stop for the European Senior Tour (Legends Tour), hosting the Scottish Senior Open six times between 2009 and 2014. It has also staged two pre-qualifying events for The Open Championship.

Teeing-up

Just two members of the world's top 100 will be teeing-up in Scotland, with No 86 Andy Sullivan topping the bill.

Last week illustrated that in tournaments with mediocre fields, such as this event, it is not impossible for Challenge Tour golfers to prosper at this slightly higher level.

Latest odds for this week's Hero Open at Fairmont

Daniel Gavins proved this at Galgorm Castle where, on Sunday, he claimed his maiden European Tour title thanks to a closing 65.

The 30-year-old from Yorkshire had never even won on the Challenge Tour but went into last week's ISPS Handa World Invitational following back-to-back top-10s.

Another in-form Challenge Tour player is Spaniard Santiago Tarrio who during the past two months has won twice, while posting four other top-six finishes.

He stepped up a level last week and finished in a tie-for-15th, just five strokes behind winner Gavins.

British Isles form

Meanwhile, Japan's Masahiro Kawamura has enjoyed his weeks on this year's 'British Isles Swing' which has yielded back-to-back top-5s in Wales and Northern Ireland.

And if you're searching for someone with a bit more experience of Scottish conditions, then three-time European Tour champ Richie Ramsay might be worth checking out.

His 'British Isles' form so far this summer reads 4th-15th-25th, with the 38-year-old searching for his first title in almost six and a half years.

On weeks like these, opportunity knocks for many pros waiting to take that first step into a winners' enclosure.

Dale Whitnell falls into this category, with the Colchester-born golfer arriving in Scotland on the back of his tied-11th at Galgorm.

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves