2017 The (British) Open

[jimandr]

Foxtel are showing three days of Open related content on 507 before the Open starts , so it is appropriate to start the annual thread a few days early.

I've just been watching the agony of Tom Watson not making history in 2009.

I remembered Tom and Stewart Cink and Matt Goggin, but I'd forgotten this was another major that Lee Westwood almost won but didn't.

[Daves]

They mentioned the long term weather forecast for The Open on the Euro Tour coverage the other night. 70+kph winds to start, and then it gets worse!

[Stuart]

They mentioned the long term weather forecast for The Open on the Euro Tour coverage the other night. 70+kph winds to start, and then it gets worse!

I love the British Open, but what I do find unfair is when the weather conditions remove half the field from contention. If the 70kms winds are consistent across the day, I think that it sounds really great to watch how players will cope with having to actually to work the ball, rather than just hoisting it up high in the air. However, if the winds only pick up after lunch (or vise versa), half the field is effectively playing a totally different course.

[thecollective]

I love the British Open, but what I do find unfair is when the weather conditions remove half the field from contention. If the 70kms winds are consistent across the day, I think that it sounds really great to watch how players will cope with having to actually to work the ball, rather than just hoisting it up high in the air. However, if the winds only pick up after lunch (or vise versa), half the field is effectively playing a totally different course.

Personally I love watching the open when it blows hard - separates the men from the boys

[Daves]

How miserable are the early players looking in the conditions! Wet, windy and cold.

[jimandr]

We shouldn't feel sorry for Mark O"Meara, even though Dan Jenkins left him out of his list of players worthy of a mention as winners at Birkdale.

But the poor guy hit the first drive of the Open, and the fourth after his first went OB.

It doesn't look like much fun at the moment.

But it appears that the coverage will kick off the same way it did last year, by showing every player on the first tee. I really like it when they do that.

[Lagerlover]

Personally I love watching the open when it blows hard - separates the men from the boys

Maybe I'll get down to the champs after all..

[petethepilot]

RB probably copes better than most Open venues with high winds as it is mostly built through the dunes (in valleys) with a lot of greens in bowl areas!

[gazgolf1]

Want to have a wager on A Scott and pray that he has a good putting week.

[Icestorm959]

Want to have a wager on A Scott and pray that he has a good putting week.

He hasn't had a good putting week in a year!

My money is actually on Rickie Fowler - in reasonably good form and is a very good links player for an American.

[WBennett]

Want to have a wager on A Scott and pray that he has a good putting week.

I watched the replay of Scotts epic 2012 choke yesterday.

Nope. His putting is worse than then.

[petethepilot]

Birkdale is the most 'Americanised' of the Open courses. Smooth fairways and flatish greens!
Well it was when I played it in 2000!

[Lagerlover]

Sergio to win

Ernie Eels top 10

[Daves]

2008 was the last time they were at Birkdale. Padraig won his 2nd Open in a row. Here is the final leaderboard standings;

https://www.theopen.com/Heritage/Pre...Royal-Birkdale

[jimandr]

2008 was the last time they were at Birkdale. Padraig won his 2nd Open in a row. Here is the final leaderboard standings;

https://www.theopen.com/Heritage/Pre...Royal-Birkdale

I saw the highlights of this one earlier today.

It was very breezy all four days. The forecast is for 30kph winds all four days, so pretty similar. Which might mean we need to look for good wind players. That replay also suggested the bunkers were very severe, so perhaps good short game guys and guys with good temperaments who can bounce back from misfortune.

Greg Norman was a contender for 3.5 days last time. I'm going to look through the field for a canny veteran at big odds for top ten.

[Lagerlover]

Woohoo Eels tied for 7th

[Jazz18]

Rory to win!

[Iain]

Rory to win!

Ha, on current form he won't make the weekend...

[Jazz18]

Ha, on current form he won't make the weekend...

Have some faith. He smashes his 3 wood!

[petethepilot]

Tommy Fleetwood/Brandan Grace/Louis O are my picks!

[Captain Nemo]

Heard all Aussies have arvo tee times first round, bet they are rapt....🤔

[Daves]

A link to the current forecasts. Not quite the 70+kph that was originally forecast, but it definitely looks like it is going to be fairly blowy!

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/o...ate=2017-07-20

[BUSHY]

A link to the current forecasts. Not quite the 70+kph that was originally forecast, but it definitely looks like it is going to be fairly blowy!

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/o...ate=2017-07-20

Weather (wind) looking a little better. Shame its not going to be really hard and bouncy.

[Daves]

Weather (wind) looking a little better. Shame its not going to be really hard and bouncy.

You beat me to it Bushy. Still, it looks like it is going to blow enough to test how well they can control their ball, and their emotions. I have put some money on Henrik, I am hoping the break through will release the flood gates for him. He is an exceptional cool golfer when he is on his game, and a cool dude with it as well.

[BUSHY]

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