THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

First topic message reminder :

Congrats to Zach Johnson

kwinigolfer wrote:Not exactly The Open Championship, but very happy for Rhys Davies that he's won the Challenge Tour event; second win of the season and should be enough to ensure his return to the European Tour.

Yes a very good win, good to see him playing well, he looked like he was going right to the top a few years ago.

Dustin Johnson never fails to amaze me, looked like he couldn't care less yesterday. So much so I took a punt on him bogeying the last at 20-1, not ghat I like to revel in someone's misfortune, but..............GET IN!!!

The ESPN coverage seems so biased lol!

gw wrote:Dustin Johnson never fails to amaze me, looked like he couldn't care less yesterday. So much so I took a punt on him bogeying the last at 20-1, not ghat I like to revel in someone's misfortune, but..............GET IN!!!

That was a brave bet! The 18th has been a par 3 for most of the players

kwinigolfer wrote:ESPN's coverage here begins at 11.00 a.m. (your time).

Excellent, ta.

Brandon Grace making a run for the trophy -6 today, now -8 overall.

Another couple of birdies might just be enough.

With the weather to deteriorate later, the leaders are in for a very hard struggle ...

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:Brandon Grace making a run for the trophy -6 today, now -8 overall.

Another couple of birdies might just be enough.

With the weather to deteriorate later, the leaders are in for a very hard struggle ...

Nah. -8 won't be good enough and Grace isn't through 13-17 yet. Too many starting from better than -8 to expect all of them to end up worse than that.
Met Office has wind hitting 15mph max for ~17.00 today but little/no gusting. Rain, yes, but that isn't enough of a problem for these guys if the wind isn't a major factor as well.

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:Brandon Grace making a run for the trophy -6 today, now -8 overall.

Another couple of birdies might just be enough.

With the weather to deteriorate later, the leaders are in for a very hard struggle ...

"A run for the trophy"!!! If he eagles the last 3 holes, he won't finish Top 3................

I'll join in the Sky v BBC debate in detail once this is all over (there were times I almost threw the remote through the TV yesterday!) but suffice to say we're in for a fantastic finish today - it's just a pity that those of us who are at work and have other things to do this evening probably won't see most of it. I've recorded it but it will be impossible to avoid knowing who has won before I watch the coverage tomorrow!

One downside of Sky's Major coverage is Ewen Murray's silly plays on words to include the winners name and/or the name of the course just as the winning putt is holed. It's so rehearsed/contrived.

He might just pass out if Branden Grace wins one.................

Very true John....It's quite obvious he will say Amazing Grace

It seems as if every player who's racked up red numbers early has hit the buffers today - is that because they've been found wanting or is the weather deteriorating?

I think it's because they've realised nobody is getting to see their birdies so they don't think there's any point making them any more.

Oh, right. That must be it!

But certainly no-one's gone low enough yet to make the leaders overly concerned there's a really low score out there from a player who'll zip past them.

Winning score?
Can't see many getting above -15.

kwinigolfer wrote:It seems as if every player who's racked up red numbers early has hit the buffers today - is that because they've been found wanting or is the weather deteriorating?

Every round so far has been a birdie paradise until players reach ~12-13. Been playing difficult from then until the par 3 18th...

incontinentia wrote:

gw wrote:Dustin Johnson never fails to amaze me, looked like he couldn't care less yesterday. So much so I took a punt on him bogeying the last at 20-1, not ghat I like to revel in someone's misfortune, but..............GET IN!!!

That was a brave bet! The 18th has been a par 3 for most of the players

Hence 20-1, but his head wasn't on it so it was worth a punt!

John Cregan wrote:One downside of Sky's Major coverage is Ewen Murray's silly plays on words to include the winners name and/or the name of the course just as the winning putt is holed. It's so rehearsed/contrived.

He might just pass out if Branden Grace wins one.................

haha yes so true.

gw wrote:

incontinentia wrote:

gw wrote:Dustin Johnson never fails to amaze me, looked like he couldn't care less yesterday. So much so I took a punt on him bogeying the last at 20-1, not ghat I like to revel in someone's misfortune, but..............GET IN!!!

That was a brave bet! The 18th has been a par 3 for most of the players

Hence 20-1, but his head wasn't on it so it was worth a punt!

Nice one Goldie! I can't wait 'till I collect my winnings re Gary Boyd

Schneiderjans to -10, Dunne will have to play great to beat him and Niebrugge. Some battle for the silver medal going on.


Sullivan birdies his first 4 holes to go to -9

sirbenson wrote:Schneiderjans to -10, Dunne will have to play great to beat him and Niebrugge. Some battle for the silver medal going on....

Amazing performances from the amateurs really, what with Langasque, Chesters, Schniederjans (Lordy, what a name to spell!), Niebrugge and Dunne all at -5 or better, currently. Suppose it supports S_R's assertions elsewhere here that these guys are anything but 'amateurs'. Pros in all but name really.

Cracking stuff going on out on course; can't get cric free on the phone so missing it all and having to suffice with telegraph updates.

As has been said the amateurs are having an incredible time of it; and whilst of course the argument as to how amateur they actually are is a fair one it's fair to say they rarely play with fields of this strength and that itself brings an entirely different pressure...which all are coping with! I honestly don't think a score of 12 or 13 under is out of the question to get into question..especially if the weather picks up.

Dunne is +5 handicap. That's pro standard. Wasn't McIlroy +6 when he turned pro?

Pro's in waiting really.

Front 9 looking easy again.

Scheiderjans making a concerted bid for the Silver Medal.

17 is brutal so far today

1 birdie 4 pars 11 bogeys 1 double and 1 triple

Dustbin birdies the first then apparently mashes one into deep gorse on 2

Dunne just picked up a big group of new fans - if he wins (or Schneiderjans) then apparently the first place money will be spread across all the pros, not just paid to the top pro.

super_realist wrote:Dunne is +5 handicap. That's pro standard. Wasn't McIlroy +6 when he turned pro?

Pro's in waiting really.

Front 9 looking easy again.

+5? Wow. Thinking about my own handicap and what +5 actually means - that's seriously good.

SmithersJones wrote:Dunne just picked up a big group of new fans - if he wins (or Schneiderjans) then apparently the first place money will be spread across all the pros, not just paid to the top pro.

Can't see Schneiderjans beating Dunne unless Dunne has a holocaust. That front nine is playing like a pitch and putt.

SmithersJones wrote:Dunne just picked up a big group of new fans - if he wins (or Schneiderjans) then apparently the first place money will be spread across all the pros, not just paid to the top pro.

Interesting decision that...seems reasonable though I guess.

navyblueshorts wrote:

super_realist wrote:Dunne is +5 handicap. That's pro standard. Wasn't McIlroy +6 when he turned pro?

Pro's in waiting really.

Front 9 looking easy again.

+5? Wow. Thinking about my own handicap and what +5 actually means - that's seriously good.

Yeah, astonishingly good. You have to make 5 birdies (and no bogies) just to make buffer. Imagine the scores he's posted to get cut to that in the first place.

gw wrote:

John Cregan wrote:One downside of Sky's Major coverage is Ewen Murray's silly plays on words to include the winners name and/or the name of the course just as the winning putt is holed. It's so rehearsed/contrived.

He might just pass out if Branden Grace wins one.................

haha yes so true.

Yep, really tiresome. Ewen is knowledgeable but by gum is he hard to listen to.

Spieth and Sergio were spoken to twice yesterday about their pace of play - Spieth can be brutal, he walked 150 yards ahead at one stage when he knew he was one step away from a warning. He and Day are both slowcoaches while Dunne seems normal and Louis plays pretty quick. Can't imagine waiting on every shot will help the final pair.

So what will the winning score be ?

-10
-11
-12
-13
-14 ??

-20 could be achievable. The front nine is playing laughably easy, and if you can ride out the back 9 in -2. Someone on -12 could easily get to -18 to -20

I expect about -17 though.

Meanwhile BBC reneging on their commentary promise. Currently Dave Cameron trying to appeal to yet another bunch of indoctrinated theistic deadbeats.

Loooooooooooooooooooooook now at -10.

Looks like Dustin Johnson is mailing it in.

Hefty Lefty putting a ball into a hotel room from 17th tee?

SetupDeterminesTheMotion wrote:So what will the winning  score be ?

-10
-11
-12
-13
-14 ??

Probably looking at -17/ -18. Of those with chances, I think the winner will come from Harrington, Speith, Day, Dunne or Oosthuizen. Those starting on -9 will probably need a 63 to win.

The last three Open's at St Andrews were won with -16, -14 and -19.

My hunch is that it's going to be a great day for Jason, or a crowning for King Louie.

-16

Now that that's settled, I'm thinking that Dustin needs a little less time on the range with Butch and a little more time on the couch with Dr. Rotella.

Oh Dustin! Safe to say I don't think I'll be putting him in any fantasy lineups soon...really has had a complete brain fart over the last 15 holes from last night now through this afternoon.

Whose everyone's money on then....make a call just one name...I'm going Spieth, Oost and a surge from Rose leading to a 3 way tie on 16 under with Oost coming out on top in playoff! improbable but not impossible scenario!

Dont rule out Danny Willett just yet. My money still on Spieth though

Be_the_ball wrote:

gw wrote:

incontinentia wrote:

gw wrote:Dustin Johnson never fails to amaze me, looked like he couldn't care less yesterday. So much so I took a punt on him bogeying the last at 20-1, not ghat I like to revel in someone's misfortune, but..............GET IN!!!

That was a brave bet! The 18th has been a par 3 for most of the players

Hence 20-1, but his head wasn't on it so it was worth a punt!

Nice one Goldie! I can't wait 'till I collect my winnings re Gary Boyd

Haha, next year maybe? TBH I think he needs to forget majors and hanging around with the big boys and just concentrate on getting his tour card back........slipping down the challenge tour rankings as a result of his SA disaster

owen10ozzy wrote:Oh Dustin! Safe to say I don't think I'll be putting him in any fantasy lineups soon...really has had a complete brain fart over the last 15 holes from last night now through this afternoon.

Whose everyone's money on then....make a call just one name...I'm going Spieth, Oost and a surge from Rose leading to a 3 way tie on 16 under with Oost coming out on top in playoff! improbable but not impossible scenario!

And he many points would that get you in the fantasy game??

59 watch.

It's nearly 13.59 and the BBC are about to commence coverage.

Oosthuizen, I feel that he will instigate a system of apartheid between himself and the rest of the field

SmithersJones wrote:Dunne just picked up a big group of new fans - if he wins (or Schneiderjans) then apparently the first place money will be spread across all the pros, not just paid to the top pro.

Really? I heard the 2nd placed person takes the money. I wonder would a 2nd place person share the winnings with an amature if they won? Would that be frowned on?

Anyway I feel the rain and wind will suit Harrington and Dunne. Fingers crossed for a good day for Irish golf again.

Roller_Coaster wrote:59 watch.

It's nearly 13.59 and the BBC are about to commence coverage.

Cue half an hour of chat with Hazel (I love the sound of my own voice) Irvine and Peter (wake me up when it's getting excited) Alliss - and a few scenic shots of the course accompanied by either tinkly piano music or someone on the guitar!

Never thought Julien Tutt is a good commentator.

No idea actually grumps lol...safe to say I fell back after dustin disaster day (that's what I'm calling yesterday). Out of those three I only have Spieth so not much given I think Oost wins!...

Ideally Goosen, Spieth and Rickie make playoff with one of those winning! Ultimate points right there