The Open Championship 2017

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Round 4 Tee Times
07:55 Danny Willett
08:05 Sung-hoon Kang, Aaron Baddeley
08:15 Thorbjorn Olesen, Sean O'Hair
08:25 Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner
08:35 Bernd Wiesberger, Charl Schwartzel
08:45 Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Webb Simpson
08:55 Kent Bulle, Laurie Canter
09:05 Soren Kjeldsen, J.B. Holmes
09:15 Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker
09:25 Daniel Berger, Xander Schauffele
09:40 James Hahn, Joseph Dean
09:50 Toby Tree, Andy Sullivan
10:00 Lee Westwood, Young-Han Song
10:10 Justin Rose, Gary Woodland
10:20 Yi-Keun Chang , Adam Scott
10:30 Jon Rahm, Andrew Dodt
10:40 KT Kim, Peter Uihlein
10:50 Alfie Plant, Brandon Stone
11:00 Charley Hoffman, Zach Johnson
11:10 Thomas Pieters, Bubba Watson
11:25 Ernie Els, Haotong Li
11:35 Steve Stricker, Kevin Na
11:45 Chris Wood, Thongchai Jaidee
11:55 Matthew Southgate, David Drysdale
12:05 Marc Leishman, Tommy Fleetwood
12:15 Jamie Lovemark, Joost Luiten
12:25 Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick
12:35 Andrew Johnston, Paul Casey
12:45 Tony Finau, Jason Dufner
12:55 Jason Day, Scott Hend
13:10 Shaun Norris, Richard Bland
13:20 Alex Noren, Rickie Fowler
13:30 Ian Poulter, Richie Ramsay
13:40 Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher
13:50 Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Chan Kim
14:00 Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson
14:10 Hideki Matsuyama, Branden Grace
14:20 Brooks Koepka, Austin Connelly
14:30 Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth

McGinley is criticising them for moving up the fifth tee...strange

I get the feeling Spieth may end up lapping the field here and winning by 6/7 shots

Hand him the trophy now....just the PGA to come and its Spieth for the slam...and in half of the time of the much herald Rory who again is showing exactly why he is no where near grabbing another slam. The man cant put together two good 9's never mind a couple of good rounds. Mesmerizing on yesterdays front 9...but the warning signs are always with him atm. That wedge play is truly horrific in and around the greens...to the point of being almost embarassing for a pro.


I dont trust Kuchar too hold it all together tomorrow so really that leaves Stenson and Koepka...possibly Grace with the momentum..to challenge Spieth. But tbh wouldnt shock me to see Jordan post -13 and be away and clear by end of today.

Got to give it up to the man...his IQ is incredible and as much as his putting is a joy to behold its in between the ears that makes him that much more special than Rory, Fowler etc.

Incredible round from Grace today...and of course the big swede going close matching him.

Dissapointing for Poulter thus far who seems to be clinging to his round at the moment

Not so fast for young Jordan. Remember what he did at Augusta not so long ago. Still, like his play thus far and a heck of a leaderboard. Europe's hopes lie with Peacock Poulter?

For all the talk of how Brits are used to playing this type of course and weather....we are utterly useless when it comes to the Open. Record is attrocious given everything....the Yanks must love turning up and showing us how its done.

Yep, good point shot rock, it's probably in the back of his mind what happened at the Masters last year...but his course management is second to none

Good to see bubbles playing better

Owen, I think one reason for that stereotype is when US tourists play (or try to) a links course. I've played probably 10 or so in Ireland, Scotland and England and you would draw that conclusion pretty quickly. (I'm playing Royal St. George's in September in a competition and will once again likely reinforce that stereotype.)

Professionals, however, are very different animals.

This is clinical from Spieth!

And there goes Kuchar...expected him to crumble although thought he would hold out till tomorrow at least.

The master of intelligent golf only needs to play it round safe tomorrow and hes on major number 3 before the ripe old age of 25. This is the man who will challenge Tiger and Jacks majors haul.

On the negative side ...unless we get some horrendous weather tomorrow we are in for a procession. Think ill makr plans for a day out after all

‪Grandstand finish from Spieth....as easy a 65 you will ever see in a major. Incredible course management ‬

He has been the outstanding player of the tournament so far.  One more round to go.

I know it sounds drastic...but I honestly think Rory could do with stepping away from the game completely and deciding on what he wants to achieve and how best to do it...

He has slowly declined over the past 3 years and much of that is his own doing in my eyes. The constant tinkering with his clubs have done nothing for him...the famed putting coach didnt seem to make one iota difference..and factor in the power regime he has relied upon is clearly taking its toll on the body & it all adds up to a worrying downward trend in his performanced and more importantly his ability to contend in majors.

As for today...Koepka will be left ruing missed opportunities today..he could have been much closer than he is. Poulter faltered when it counted...as did Kuchar just when it seemed he was applying the squeeze on Spieth. As for Jordan...well like sirbenson said absolute perfection from the young man...he is scarily good especially when you think he isnt even near his peak and his game is the type that will allow him to contend well into his forties!

Is it fair to say Mcilroy from tee to green isn't as good as he used to be...everyone always points out his putting and yes it's poor for a player of his quality but the rest of his game isn't near the level it once was

Agreed Sir.....thats my point...for all the fawning over how amazing he is on his day..they are too few and far between..he lacks consistency and in my opinion at least a lot of that comes down to the mental aspect of the game. Look how long it took to get that bounce back in his step...then look how quick it went..the classic slumped shoulders were back in double quick time...

I have said over the weeks i think he is done as a big 4 player...and all the talk of him getting 10 + majors can be thrown out of the window. I dont think he will add more than 2 at best. I stand by that statement!

If he does win two or three more majors it will mean beyond any doubt he'd be the best European player ever which would be an incredible career tbf!

Mcilroy mails in one back door / under the radar major top 10 after the other. I wouldn't disqualify him as a big 4/5/6 just yet.

No doubt he does Pedro....but in the last 3 years...well 11 majors..how many times has he truly looked like he could walk away with one ot them...? I cant think of one...and usually he gets into the top 10 on a saturday or sunday by which time he has left himself far too much to do after shocking opening rounds. Again this would point to the major problem being a mental one.

Awesome 62 by Grace...  But perhaps a little perspective is in order... Again, GREAT score... but...

The scoring average today was 69.03, which puts Grace's 62 at 7.03 strokes below the field average.

The LOWEST (or worst) scoring differential to the field of all 31 of the 63's shot in Major championship history was 7.19 by Brad Faxon in the 4th round of the 1995 PGA. Grace's 62 is almost 2/10ths of a stroke lower (or worse) than that.

The HIGHEST scoring differential of all the 63's ever shot in majors was 11.5 shots by Gary Player in the 2nd round of the 1984 PGA

HIGHEST scoring differential in a major AFTER THE CUT was 10.77 shots by Johnny Miller in the 4th round of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Grace's 62 was 3.74 shots lower (or worse) than that.

Graces 62 was a "barrier breaker" and a heckuva accomplishment to be sure and is the low total for a single major 18 hole single round total... But IMO, other than it breaking a barrier which has to count for something... Grace's 62 isn't better than even one of the 63's shot in majors... and way behind most of them.

Over and Out
Signed - Killjoy

- - - - -

Here's the data on the 31 63's shot in the majors... and Grace's 62... sorted by difference to field scoring average for the round.

SC - R - U - Diff - Player
63 - 2 - -9 - 11.50 - Gary Player - 1984 PGA - T2
63 - 1 - -7 - 11.36 - Jack Nicklaus - 1980 U.S. Open - 1
63 - 1 - -7 - 11.36 - Tom Weiskopf - 1980 U.S. Open - 36
63 - 2 - -7 - 11.25 - Mark Hayes - 1977 Open - T9
63 - 2 - -7 - 11.08 - Greg Norman - 1986 Open - 1
63 - 4 - -8 - 10.77 - Johnny Miller - 1973 U.S. Open - 1
63 - 1 - -7 - 10.65 - Raymond Floyd - 1982 PGA - 1
63 - 1 - -9 - 10.40 - Greg Norman - 1996 Masters - 2
63 - 1 - -7 - 10.11 - Steve Stricker - 2011 PGA - T12
63 - 2 - -9 - 9.94 - Hiroshi Iwata - 2015 PGA - T21
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.92 - Bruce Crampton - 1975 PGA - 2
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.80 - Tiger Woods - 2007 PGA - 1
63 - 4 - -8 - 9.80 - Henrik Stenson - 2016 Open - 1
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.58 - Nick Faldo - 1993 Open - 2
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.29 - Jason Dufner - 2013 PGA - 1
63 - 1 - -8 - 9.03 - Phil Mickelson - 2016 Open - 2
63 - 3 - -9 - 9.01 - Justin Thomas - 2017 U.S. Open - T9
63 - 2 - -7 - 8.90 - Vijay Singh - 2003 U.S. Open - T20
63 - 2 - -8 - 8.88 - Vijay Singh - 1993 PGA - 4
63 - 1 - -9 - 8.75 - Rory McIlroy - 2010 Open - T3
63 - 1 - -8 - 8.59 - Michael Bradley - 1995 PGA - T54
63 - 3 - -7 - 8.43 - Thomas Bjorn - 2005 PGA - T2
63 - 2 - -7 - 8.36 - Mark O’Meara - 2001 PGA - T22
63 - 3 - -9 - 8.19 - Paul Broadhurst - 1990 Open - T12
63 - 3 - -8 - 8.08 - Isao Aoki - 1980 Open - T12
63 - 3 - -9 - 8.00 - JM Olazabal - 2000 PGA - T4
63 - 3 - -9 - 7.98 - Nick Price - 1986 Masters - 5
63 - 4 - -7 - 7.78 - Jodie Mudd - 1991 Open - T5
63 - 2 - -8 - 7.69 - Robert Streb - 2016 PGA - T7
63 - 4 - -7 - 7.58 - Payne Stewart - 1993 Open - 12
63 - 4 - -8 - 7.19 - Brad Faxon - 1995 PGA - 5
62 - 3 - -8 - 7.03 - Branden Grace - 2017 Open - TBA


SC = Score
R = Round
U = Under Par
Diff = Differential (strokes below field averge)
Last Column is Final FINISH position for each player listed...

PS... and as for Rory... IMO the reports of his demise are greatly exaggerated...

He's always been a streaky player, He's been injured, has had to change his his practice routine and limit his reps because of it. IMO he'll get it figured and all put together sooner or later, and when he does, he'll get on another streak and show us again why he's "Rory". Just sayin'...

Not sure if anyone posted it here, but apparently Westwood called out the Rahm's Creeper Weed incident to the officials to protect the field

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-on-jon-rahm-ruling-lee-westwood-says-he-was-just-trying-to-protect-the-rest-of-the-field

I like rory, he comes across wellinmy view. He scaled sone heights a few years back and is not near them now. But thats pretty much the history of golf, bar a few exceptions, golfers dont tend to dominate for prolonged periods of time. They have good patchs and lean patchs. Maybe rory wont get back to the level if before and maybe he wont win another major but he would still be a great of the game.

Is it that golfers are breaking through younger, they have quicker peaks and earlier stumbles.

And jordan romps this tomorrow doesn't he. Such a talented player. Shame the course was so benign yesterday, and sonewhat in agreement about making tge drivable par 4 so much easier,it wasnt really needed. Its actualky been pretty dull this championship.

Interesting take by claude harmon on rory just now, thinks his current struggles are from his rib injury. Makes sense.

I think Rory's current struggles are based on not being able to remain as focused as others (such as Spieth) over 18 holes. Spieth looks like he is fully "in the zone" from the moment he steps on the first to the when he leaves the 18th green. Rory might need to figure out that having the best golf swing ever isn't translating into scoring better than those with lesser swings but playing like men possessed.

sirbenson wrote:Yep, good point shot rock, it's probably in the back of his mind what happened at the Masters last year...but his course management is second to none

Maybe, but there's no equivalent of ANGC's 12th hole for the gremlins to get a hold...

robopz wrote:Awesome 62 by Grace...  But perhaps a little perspective is in order... Again, GREAT score... but...

The scoring average today was 69.03, which puts Grace's 62 at 7.03 strokes below the field average.

The LOWEST (or worst) scoring differential to the field of all 31 of the 63's shot in Major championship history was 7.19 by Brad Faxon in the 4th round of the 1995 PGA. Grace's 62 is almost 2/10ths of a stroke lower (or worse) than that.

The HIGHEST scoring differential of all the 63's ever shot in majors was 11.5 shots by Gary Player in the 2nd round of the 1984 PGA

HIGHEST scoring differential in a major AFTER THE CUT was 10.77 shots by Johnny Miller in the 4th round of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Grace's 62 was 3.74 shots lower (or worse) than that.

Graces 62 was a "barrier breaker" and a heckuva accomplishment to be sure and is the low total for a single major 18 hole single round total... But IMO, other than it breaking a barrier which has to count for something... Grace's 62 isn't better than even one of the 63's shot in majors... and way behind most of them.

Over and Out
Signed - Killjoy

- - - - -

Here's the data on the 31 63's shot in the majors... and Grace's 62... sorted by difference to field scoring average for the round.

SC - R - U - Diff - Player
63 - 2 - -9 - 11.50 - Gary Player - 1984 PGA - T2
63 - 1 - -7 - 11.36 - Jack Nicklaus - 1980 U.S. Open - 1
63 - 1 - -7 - 11.36 - Tom Weiskopf - 1980 U.S. Open - 36
63 - 2 - -7 - 11.25 - Mark Hayes - 1977 Open - T9
63 - 2 - -7 - 11.08 - Greg Norman - 1986 Open - 1
63 - 4 - -8 - 10.77 - Johnny Miller - 1973 U.S. Open - 1
63 - 1 - -7 - 10.65 - Raymond Floyd - 1982 PGA - 1
63 - 1 - -9 - 10.40 - Greg Norman - 1996 Masters - 2
63 - 1 - -7 - 10.11 - Steve Stricker - 2011 PGA - T12
63 - 2 - -9 - 9.94 - Hiroshi Iwata - 2015 PGA - T21
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.92 - Bruce Crampton - 1975 PGA - 2
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.80 - Tiger Woods - 2007 PGA - 1
63 - 4 - -8 - 9.80 - Henrik Stenson - 2016 Open - 1
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.58 - Nick Faldo - 1993 Open - 2
63 - 2 - -7 - 9.29 - Jason Dufner - 2013 PGA - 1
63 - 1 - -8 - 9.03 - Phil Mickelson - 2016 Open - 2
63 - 3 - -9 - 9.01 - Justin Thomas - 2017 U.S. Open - T9
63 - 2 - -7 - 8.90 - Vijay Singh - 2003 U.S. Open - T20
63 - 2 - -8 - 8.88 - Vijay Singh - 1993 PGA - 4
63 - 1 - -9 - 8.75 - Rory McIlroy - 2010 Open - T3
63 - 1 - -8 - 8.59 - Michael Bradley - 1995 PGA - T54
63 - 3 - -7 - 8.43 - Thomas Bjorn - 2005 PGA - T2
63 - 2 - -7 - 8.36 - Mark O’Meara - 2001 PGA - T22
63 - 3 - -9 - 8.19 - Paul Broadhurst - 1990 Open - T12
63 - 3 - -8 - 8.08 - Isao Aoki - 1980 Open - T12
63 - 3 - -9 - 8.00 - JM Olazabal - 2000 PGA - T4
63 - 3 - -9 - 7.98 - Nick Price - 1986 Masters - 5
63 - 4 - -7 - 7.78 - Jodie Mudd - 1991 Open - T5
63 - 2 - -8 - 7.69 - Robert Streb - 2016 PGA - T7
63 - 4 - -7 - 7.58 - Payne Stewart - 1993 Open - 12
63 - 4 - -8 - 7.19 - Brad Faxon - 1995 PGA - 5
62 - 3 - -8 - 7.03 - Branden Grace - 2017 Open - TBA


SC = Score
R = Round
U = Under Par
Diff = Differential (strokes below field averge)
Last Column is Final FINISH position for each player listed...

Nice analysis - thanks. Could I say it more simply by saying Grace's 62 was excellent, but it was 'only' on a par 70 course, rather than the more typical 72?

Edit: Nope, I guess not - looking at positions 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 etc in your analysis

McLaren wrote:I think Rory's current struggles are based on not being able to remain as focused as others (such as Spieth) over 18 holes.  Spieth looks like he is fully "in the zone" from the moment he steps on the first to the when he leaves the 18th green.  Rory might need to figure out that having the best golf swing ever isn't translating into scoring better than those with lesser swings but playing like men possessed.

Could easily be. I thought his reaction to Elkington's barbs on Twitter said quite a lot. He was a bit like Harry Enfield's 'Loadsamoney' character - "Look at my wad! I've got looaadsssamoney!". Perhaps he should concentrate on the golf a little more. Excellent career to-date, but in danger of being tarnished for not having won much more.

owen10ozzy wrote:...As for Jordan...well like sirbenson said absolute perfection from the young man...he is scarily good especially when you think he isnt even near his peak and his game is the type that will allow him to contend well into his forties!

He's looked pretty sublime so far - not sure I'd agree he's not near his peak. Good point about the longevity - he could swing like that for years and years. His to lose today and he could easily just disappear into the distance. Swing looks very solid to me just now - might be my imagination, but looks like there's less lateral movement on the backswing. Normal putting service seems to have been resumed as well. Be very surprised if anyone else carries this one off.

navyblueshorts wrote:

sirbenson wrote:Yep, good point shot rock, it's probably in the back of his mind what happened at the Masters last year...but his course management is second to none

Maybe, but there's no equivalent of ANGC's 12th hole for the gremlins to get a hold...

Yep, that is very true, maybe if the wind was to get up to 15/20 mph

What the bleeding hell is happening here?

Such a nervy start from Spieth

Difficult conditions. Strong winds. A par score is going to be good.

3 short putts missed in four holes. Very un-Spieth like

What a shot on the fifth from Spieth

Yeah and a nice putt as well

Does Kuchar have a magnet to those bunkers or something?

Unbelievable par from Spieth!

Wow! Great to see the emotion from Matthew Southgate

Did Southgate par the last?

He did yes

Brilliant, he's in my fantasy team

Wow, jeez Jordan

Terrible from Spieth. Never seen him so confused over putts like those.

Haoting Li is probably doing a rain dance and hoping the wind keeps up...

Yeah and right now, the way things are going a playoff including him wouldn't be a total shock. I still expect the winner to be Spieth or Kuchar but they are going to have to improve.

Anyone got the balls to penalise them for being slow. That would be great.

Is this weird or what? Definitely not a repeat of Mickleson/Stenson!

beninho wrote:Anyone got the balls to penalise them for being slow. That would be great.

Depends on the reasons - they've been playing scheiss, of course they'll be slow in the circumstances.