Open Championship

Close enough now. Phil just won his first professional tournament in Europe after his usual 4 foot missed putt causing a playoff fashion at Castle Stuart, so that should rule him out of the Open. Looks far older than just a four year course that.

And watching the 87 Azinger choke again, it's fair to say that the crowds were qunts that day. Eleven and Azinger notwithstanding.

Weather supposedly set fair with mild winds. Thunderstorms and gales then...

Tee times

Shiv has the sewn up and Lee to look a contender for one round before the inevitable.

Some unknown, god-loving journeyman from Alabama will win it.

On golf matter, actually just caught up on who won the John Deere Classic. Was listening to updates on the wireless yesty and missed the end. 19 year old Jordan Speith birdied 5 of the last 6 holes to make a 3 way play off, then won it on the 5th extra hole, to become the 1st teenager since 1931 to win a PGA event. Well done him.

Surprised he got out of college golf so early. Turned pro last year, AFAIK. Must be at a handicap for Zach Johnson to have his home tournament the week before the Open.

skully wrote:On golf matter, actually just caught up on who won the John Deere Classic. Was listening to updates on the wireless yesty and missed the end. 19 year old Jordan Speith birdied 5 of the last 6 holes to make a 3 way play off, then won it on the 5th extra hole, to become the 1st teenager since 1931 to win a PGA event. Well done him.

Brett Ogle tipped him as well. Qunt. He was paying 45s.

His pedigree is decent. Wiki tells me he is the only golfer other than Tiger to have won the US Junior Amateur multiple times.

Cheers. Golf Channel gushing over him. Understandable, a win, a second and a 4 other top 10s. Fair effort.

Oh boy, "sexism" turning up again about Muirfield's men's only club. When women's only clubs stop, it'll be a valid question.

Henry wrote:Some unknown, god-loving journeyman from Alabama will win it.

We're due an anonymous Yank win, it was the norm about a decade ago...

Unusually, Els is both the defending champion and the "defending course champion" (last Muirfield winner in 2002). Can't write off the Tiger major resurgence but maybe it's an Englishman's turn this year at last. Can TIBOG follow his cricketing counterpart and deliver under pressure?

What? You'd best all be wearing a glove on one hand whilst you're typing the sheet you have been.

Brett Ogle and Paul Gow have tipped McDowell. Gow went with Martin Laird as a roughie.

Given McDowell's season, either a win or missed cut.

beamer wrote:

Henry wrote:Some unknown, god-loving journeyman from Alabama will win it.

We're due an anonymous Yank win, it was the norm about a decade ago...

Unusually, Els is both the defending champion and the "defending course champion" (last Muirfield winner in 2002). Can't write off the Tiger major resurgence but maybe it's an Englishman's turn this year at last. Can TIBOG follow his cricketing counterpart and deliver under pressure?

How is Woods' elbow though? His practice rounds are said to have gone well, but he hasn't played for a while.

Only two players have won consecutive opens at Muirfield, James Braid and, unsurprisingly, Faldo.

Brass Monkey wrote:What? You'd best all be wearing a glove on one hand whilst you're typing the sheet you have been.

Of course, saves on soap. Also use a sheet incidentally.

Commentators saying Cabrera Bello surprising with his performance should be locked up. He's expected to do well nowadays.

Zach Johnson flying.

I think Woods has a bit of a mental block now when it comes to the Majors. Bit of pressure on him to win another one, seeing as his last one was in 2008 on one leg.

McIlroy's awful form continuing. He's really lost the plot this year.

Can't be all that surprising though. He's been struggling to adjust with his equipment and I'd expected him to miss the cut than challenged for the title. Rose, surprisingly, has been all over the place. Els having a couple of shockers and the course is firm but getting a few soft bounces on the fairways.

Seppos and Mark O'Meara going well.

Will take a magical stroke to beat Lee's second for a shot of the day. Fantastic recovery.

Henry wrote:I think Woods has a bit of a mental block now when it comes to the Majors. Bit of pressure on him to win another one, seeing as his last one was in 2008 on one leg.

It's that long ago?

WTF was that shot? Surely Lee's caddie would've had to have advised him against it. Somehow saved it to only a bogey.

And just showed Rory putting into the bunker.

Oosthuizen pulls out. Possibly a hamstring. Shame

Meanwhile, Shiv's on fire and Westwood's cocked up again.

Shiv leads! 6 birdies from the first seven. Greens are blisteringly quick this afternoon.

Schwartzel and Donald on absolute stinkers. 4 bogeys and a double for Schwartzel in the last six. Much harder in the afternoon.

Garcia and Westwood not played too badly. Shiv's outward 9 in 30

Brilliant round by Woods. To think that he could've carded a 6 or 7 on the first with a little less luck.

Shiv seems to be benefiting from the fast greens. At least seems to be judging the pace of the shots well. He would've played on some scarcely watered greens round here

tricycle wrote:Can't be all that surprising though. He's been struggling to adjust with his equipment and I'd expected him to miss the cut than challenged for the title. Rose, surprisingly, has been all over the place. Els having a couple of shockers and the course is firm but getting a few soft bounces on the fairways.

Seppos and Mark O'Meara going well.

O'Meara can't be far off the age Tom Watson was when he nearly won it. There always seems to be a veteran in the mix these days, and two of the last three winners I think have been in their 40s.