To determine the "Champion Golfer of the Year". First time in more than 50 years it's being played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. It's easy to assume that the "troubles" had a lot to do with it being such a long time. I actually had no idea it was ever played outside of England/Scotland. Would you be shocked if I told you the graphic on the Open website is Tiger Woods? The Open - The official site of The 148th Open at Royal Portrush Who will be the contenders. These are the current Sportsline odds. I'm surprised at Tiger being just 18-1, he hasn't played all that much since the Masters and while he was steady at Pebble Beach, he wasn't great. He didn't make the cut at the PGA. Rory McIlroy 8-1 Brooks Koepka 10-1 Dustin Johnson 10-1 Jon Rahm 16-1 Tiger Woods 18-1 Justin Rose 20-1 Francesco Molinari 20-1 Xander Schauffele 20-1 Rickie Fowler 25-1 Patrick Cantlay 25-1 Tommy Fleetwood 25-1 Justin Thomas 25-1 Adam Scott 30-1 Louis Oosthuizen 30-1 Henrik Stenson 30-1 Matt Kuchar 30-1 Hideki Matsuyama 40-1 Jordan Spieth 40-1 Jason Day 40-1 Bryson DeChambeau 40-1 Paul Casey 50-1 Graeme McDowell 50-1 Matt Wallace 50-1 Gary Woodland 60-1 Marc Leishman 60-1 Sergio Garcia 80-1 Tony Finau 80-1 Ian Poulter 80-1 Shane Lowry 80-1 Patrick Reed 80-1 Matthew Fitzpatrick 80-1 Rafael Cabrera Bello 80-1 Bernd Wieserger 80-1 Webb Simpson 100-1 Tyrrell Hatton 100-1 Phil Mickelson 100-1 Eddie Pepperell 100-1
Watched a lot of the Golf Channel coverage last night. It really looks like a beautiful course and it will certainly be a challenge, the rough looks rough and there will be winds to contend with most likely. They did say that the "troubles" were a major factor in the Open not being played in N.Ireland for so long. They are expecting a huge crowd for the tournament. The club itself has been through a lot again a lot of it due to the "troubles", and had to be bailed out by the N.Ireland govt with a grant to refurbish and update the grounds and facilities. I've never played links golf, even when I went to Ireland the courses I played were more like the courses I play here in the USA. I saw the links course at Ballybunion and it was beautiful. But with my game I fear I'd never get out of the rough!
Tip...Brooks Koepka's caddy for the tourney is a member of Royal Port Rush and has played over 1500 rounds. Koepka enters Open as something new: Fan favorite
In 2012 I went to the ND-Navy game in Dublin and dragged Mary up to Royal Portrush before she dragged me to the Giant’s Causeway. Didn’t have my clubs or a tee time so we just planned on lunch. Found a great parking spot next to the door. Didn’t see the little sign until I got out of the car. “Reserved for the winner of the 2011 Open Championship.” Had to move from Mt. Clarke’s space. Nice looking course, average lunch.
Well David Duval hit the wrong ball on a hole and carded a 8, then when it was discovered that was changed to a 13 and he's still out there and is +16. I don't think he's making the cut!
One of the stories leading up to this tourney was Phil losing weight to "reset" his body and get ready to play better golf. Well he shot 76 today, and sits at +5. So much for that strategy.
What a way for the N.Irishman who was so looking forward to playing this course where he owns the course record of 61 to get started. Disaster! I seem to remember a few years ago he also got off to a horrible start on day 1 and then played really well after that, not well enough to over come the start, but I'm sure he'd like to now have 3 really good rounds and feel good about how he played on his home soil!
Brooks K at -4 tied with Irishman Shane Lowry for the lead, Shane is in the Clubhouse and brooks is through 16 so he could end up at -5 ..or -3 or -2 who knows. Tiger struggling. Some have tried to make a big deal of him not wanting to play a practice round with Tiger, maybe he didn't want to have to watch Tiger any more than he has to these days.
One great thing about golf, you never quite know what to expect! Rory will always remember that hole for the rest of his life..
The Answer is ...J.B. Holmes. The Question is...name a golfer you never expected to lead the British Open at any point.
I haven't watched, but just looking at the scores so far, it seems like a lot of people are going low. Must be good conditions.
Shane Lowrey is in a great spot, I hope he can hold on. It would be neat for an Irishman to win on Irish soil.