The Open Championship

First topic message reminder :

Congratulations to Henrik Stenson!

Justin Thomas had birdied his first three holes and a shot yet to be shown of him!

sirbenson wrote:Justin Thomas had birdied his first three holes and a shot yet to be shown of him!

First four now!

The new Ivor Robson needs a bit of work.

super_realist wrote:The new Ivor Robson needs a bit of work.

Indeed, hard to replace such an iconic voice!

https://twitter.com/pcaseysafc/status/753500767156310016

I love watching a course I have played. Even got a birdie, though cannot remember which hole! It was a while ago.

Good to see Rev Gordon Spieth off to a nervous start. Doesn't look confident at all.

Anyone understand taking iron from the tee on the short downwind par 4's? Seems overly cautious.

Although Willett just hit driver on the 1st.

Mac, it's only 352 to the green, taking irons takes the fairway bunkers on the left out of play and leaves a full wedge into the green. Common sense really, and the number of birdies thus far seems to suggest it's a good idea, you don't want to start off with having to get up and down out of a bunker from the fairway.

Super

In those conditions I could almost drive the greens.

No you couldn't Mac. You've already said you don't  hit it 250, it's not windy enough to add another 100.
We've just seen Willett making 4 from nearly driving the green, Pubehead goes deep in rough, hits second into bunker, Rev Watson deep in rough.

It's called course management.  Distance is not always the best thing you can do if there's danger.

Super

Do you reckon Thomas will shoot 254?


You forgot to mention Willett, gerry and Matsuyama had easy birdie butts after taking driver.

PS, have you stayed at home today to watch the action?

Yes, they did, but that doesn't negate that there has been more birdies made by taking iron off the tee than with driver.

If you don't understand the benefit of course management, you're just a luddite plank.

I bet you're the sort of hacker that just hits driver all the time.

If they are hitting irons and wedge into the green, then why would you risk anything else, on the first hole of the entire week. If your playing 18 holes for fun, smack driver, if your playing for £1million think about what you do.

The back nine is brutal by the look of things even only with a small wind!

Gregory, Lyle, Duval played the 11th hole in 11 over (two 7's and a 9)

What on earth is Lyle doing in this? Give it up man.

Adverts and McGinley making the Open unwatchable, might go do some work instead. So sad to see the Open broadcast in this manner. :(

so anyone not well under par through the front 9, will have to cling on coming back.

You, work?

Someone has to clean those toilets.

I'm finding Harmon pretty hard on the ears.

Claude Harmon is pretty good, Butch not so much.

super_realist wrote:Yes, they did, but that doesn't negate that there has been more birdies made by taking iron off the tee than with driver.

If you don't understand the benefit of course management, you're just a luddite plank.

I bet you're the sort of hacker that just hits driver all the time.

Super, you're forgetting that mac only plays golf on xbox, which is much easier.

I have to say the coverage from Sky has been incredible, fantastic par from Paddy on the 7th after hitting his tee shot into the gorse!

Harrington making a mess of the 8th jeez

Been out for a bit, just come in to see the tee shots of the McIlroy group. Sky did a picture in picture thing where you get an overview of the hole with a live pro tracer of each drive. Like that.

It needs Peter Allis and Ken Brown though. Lacking any humour.

Justin Thomas' cat must have died. Looks like he's wearing culottes.

According to the Open website, Luke Donald is currently ranked no 2 in driving distance and no 1 in fairways hit. Can't see him occupying such lofty spots by the end of the day!

Thought Kwini might appreciate this as a long time observer of his short and crooked driving.

all these early birdies, but all gradually coming back to par. I dont think there will be many better than -3/-4 by end of the day.

raycastleunited wrote:According to the Open website, Luke Donald is currently ranked no 2 in driving distance and no 1 in fairways hit. Can't see him occupying such lofty spots by the end of the day!

Thought Kwini might appreciate this as a long time observer of his short and crooked driving.

I maybe wrong but I think Driving Distance only calculated on 3/4 holes for the actual average in the stats!

super_realist wrote:Justin Thomas' cat must have died. Looks like he's wearing culottes.

Don't get this?

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:Justin Thomas' cat must have died. Looks like he's wearing culottes.

Don't get this?

Moi aussi, I'm afraid. Uh?

Great start from Bubba!

Culottes = Half mast based observation?

Suppose it's inevitable that, if Luke hits it straight, ray, his irons let him down . . . . . . only 50% gir.

So far the 11th is playing more than a shot over par!

Monty round in par. Back nine +3

Amazing how quickly Monty's group played, is that down to the green speeds as well?

Monty needed a wee for the back 6 and just kept harrying the others.

Roller_Coaster wrote:

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:Justin Thomas' cat must have died. Looks like he's wearing culottes.

Don't get this?

Moi aussi, I'm afraid. Uh?

His trousers are at half mast.

Bubba on fire. will his big banana shots cope when the wind gets up though!

I wish he was on fire, literally.

Rev Spieth putting like a hacker.

Looks like Bubba took a licking at the Postage Stamp.

Hole in one for Louis!

Lyle, Gregory, Duval a combined +30 over for the back nine!

sirbenson wrote:Lyle, Gregory, Duval a combined +30 over for the back nine!

Should invites for Lyle or Duval stop after say 10 years or is it merited to get why they get?

Sky seem to adopt a poor strategy of only featuring certain players, similar to the wretched PGA coverage in that respect. Robert Rock is soaring up the leaderboard and we haven't seen him yet. Very poor.

WIll Justin Thomas be first round leader?

Looks like a torrid forecast for Friday afternoon, wet and windy.

Any word yet on Chris Wood's participation?