Starts tonight, in NI for the first time in forever, on Rory's course (where he holds the course record)
Unsurprisingly, Rory is favorite at $8.50.
Koepka, who has picked up a local caddy is 2nd fave at $10
Tiger apparently tried to hook up a practice with Koepka so he could get some insights off his caddy, Koepka supposedly ignored him...
Ryan Fox sitting at $29 for a top 10 finish...
The 148th Open Championship began at Royal Portrush this morning. First time in Northern Ireland since 1951. Local hero Darren Clarke is -3 after five holes.
There will be some mighty partying from the Ulster locals if he is top of the leaderboard on Sunday evening.
I'm hoping for good rounds for Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter - probably the last two players I like.
A friend assures me that Shane Lowry is a good bloke too.
Great round by Shane Lowry. Needs a parr on the last to hit 63. Currently 4 ahead on 16 under with 19 holes to go.
Big day for Ireland tomorrow. Shane Lowry leading The Open at Royal Portrush with one round to play. They better order in extra Guinness.
First Irish "The Open" for 60 years. Irishman close to lead after 2 rounds. Irishman shoots course record after 3rd round and leads by 4.
Weather is meant to be bad tomorrow and if it is, I can't see any of the big guns shooting 64 which means if Lowry van hold it together, he can win. However the course yields lots of double bogeys or worse if you miss fairways and greens.
First Irish "The Open" for 60 years. Irishman close to lead after 2 rounds. Irishman shoots course record after 3rd round and leads by 4.
Weather is meant to be bad tomorrow and if it is, I can't see any of the big guns shooting 64 which means if Lowry van hold it together, he can win. However the course yields lots of double bogeys or worse if you miss fairways and greens.
Irons and 3 wood only tomorrow. Leave the driver in the boot. They are starting 2 hours early because of the weather
Rain and heavy wind heading to the North Antrim coast:
I would love Lee Westwood to win as he has been there or there about for 25 years and has never won a major, finished 2nd or 3rd 6 times. But 8 shots is a lot to make up.
Great tournament.
Well done Foxy on the Top20 finish and Lowrey on a very popular win.
Would love to play that course. Looks awesome
That is a seriously impressive performance by Shane Lowry for all 4 rounds - he's been leading or close to it for the whole time and cruised it in the end. -15 when nobody else reached double figures.
An Irish winner was the dream scenario for the organisers - pretty sure they thought it would be Rory though ...
@taniwharugby Lowry looks like the kind of guy that can handle himself over a few beers
8 months later
The Open 2020 has been cancelled:
4 years later
2024 Edition of The Open starting Thursday evening our time. Four Kiwis in the field, Ryan Fox, Daniel Hillier, Michael Hendry & Kazuma Kabori. Watching On the Range coverage this evening live on Youtube and Kabori practicing alongside Schaffele & Justin Thomas.
I'm absolutely fizzzzing!
My favourite major (yep ahead of the Masters...although I prob said the opposite when the masters was about to start)
So good to have 4 up there representing NZ. They had a good praccy round together on Tuesday and then Foxy looked to have a fun one today/overnight with Min Woo, Rory and another northern hemisphere player.
Interesting course in that the scoring will likely fluctuate massively front 9 vs 9. Front 9 has two of the courses three par 5s yet the back 9 is actually 300 yards longer due to some beast par4s which average about 80 yards longer on the back, than those on the front. Add to this, the back 9 is mainly played in to the prevailing wind! Conditions could be fairly tough too, and not overly warm.
Viewing times aren't too bad in NZ and starts from about 5pm tonight and tomorrow on sky going right through to brekky. I wont be watching all but will probably watch Hillier and Hendry tee off (either side of 6pm tonight) and then follow until Fox tees off just after 11pm.
Would be nice to see all 4 make the cut but could be a challenge. All of them are proven links players though with 3 of them winners of the Muriwai Open (right up there with The Open right, right?) and Hillier having been a runner up there.
Overall winner or top performers for me - Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and I think Scheffler will continue to show some class despite it not being his ideal conditions
Can't wait, my tip is Collin Morikawa. Been putting up good results lately and has the class to prevail.
I'd love to see Scheffler win and cap off an exceptional year, I'd also like to see Rory break through.
Will be very interesting to watch Rahm and Koepka, who won majors last year but haven't been sighted since.
@barbarian said in The Open:
Can't wait, my tip is Collin Morikawa. Been putting up good results lately and has the class to prevail.
I'd love to see Scheffler win and cap off an exceptional year, I'd also like to see Rory break through.
Will be very interesting to watch Rahm and Koepka, who won majors last year but haven't been sighted since.
I would have been rooting for Rory but he really put me off the other day when he threw his toys after choking at the US open and then didn't wait a couple mins to congratulate Bryson. I wouldn't mind seeing Scottie get another W, I'm also a big fan of Tommy Fleetwood but he tends to fall off in the majors. Wouldn't mind if Morikawa got up either.
Also, go the Kiwis.
Hole by hole guide to Royal Troon: https://www.theopen.com/royal-troon-152nd-open/course-guide
Man i'd love to do a golf trip over there and play a few of those classic courses. Played a few rippers in NZ, Asia and Aus but never had a round in Europe
Whoever wins better like playing in the rain:
Scott Scheffler 6/1
Rory McIlroy 9/1
Xander Schauffele 14/1
Collin Morikwa 16/1
Ludvid Adberg 18/1
Bryson DeChambeau 20/1
Tommy Fleetwood 22/1
Tyrell Hatton 28/1
Jon Rahm 30/1
Viktor Hovland 35/1
Brooks Koepka 45/1
@taniwharugby said in The Open:
@sparky wouldnt be true Links without wind and rain
100%!
A true test of golf awaits
as always, would love for Adam Scott to take it, but dont think he has it in him anymore.
This could be the type of course that suits Foxy too, although I still question his fitness given how often he 'appears' to fade late in his rounds.
I'd still love Rory to win, cos like Scott, I love watching him play when he is playing well.
My concern with Foxy (in addition to fitness) is he ability to spray it everywhere. You really do not want to miss fairways here. His recovery and scrambling can be quite awesome at times but you dont want to keep asking for that.
Winds actually opposite to the usual direction so in to the wind out this morning and with the wind coming home (as of now anyway)
