2023 Genesis Scottish Open begins

The Genesis GV70 electrified SUV, left, and GV60 are displayed at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

By Kim Jae-heun

One of Europe's most prestigious golf tournaments, the Genesis Scottish Open 2023, sponsored by Hyundai Motor, kicked off at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland on Thursday.

A total of 156 players from the DP World Tour, the U.S. Professional Golf Association (PGA) and the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) are participating in the four-day event from July 13 to 16, local time.

The Genesis Scottish Open is part of the “Rolex Series,” which refers to the top five competitions on the DP World Tour. The tournament began as the Scottish Open in 1972 and changed its official name to the Genesis Scottish Open after Genesis became the official sponsor in 2022. Genesis is the luxury vehicle division of Hyundai Motor.

A number of world-class golfers including Xander Schauffele, the winner of the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith and Max Homa are competing against one another in this competition.

Korean PGA Tour players Lim Sung-jae, Tom Kim and Lee Kyung-hoon are also playing in the tournament. Seo Yo-seop and Kim Bi-o, who won the Genesis Championship in 2022 and the Genesis Point Grand Prize in 2022, respectively, are joining the event as invited players.

“We are happy to sponsor the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open, where the world's best players will show their skill at the home of golf sports. Genesis will give players, caddies and fans a special brand experience based on the most Korean-style hospitality that is differentiated from other golf tournaments,” a global head of Genesis Song Min-kyu said.

The golf tournament has a total prize of $9 million (11.4 billion won) and the winner will receive $1.62 million of prize money along with a GV70 electrified model SUV.

A competitor and his caddie to record the first hole-in-one on the 17th hole will also win the GV70 electrified model and a GV60, respectively.