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

McLaren wrote:Very surprised that the bbc got the PGA champs. Not sure how much will be on the TV but I assume almost all the action will be available on the bbc sports website or the red button.

Is that confirmed Mac? I haven't even heard about it, though like The Open and Masters I would think it's the highlights package isn't it?

http://www.golfmagic.com/golf-news/golf-returns-bbc-us-pga-championship
/www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/18/us-pga-championship-bbc

It seems widely reported that they have the rights, just not formally announced yet.

The premier league model: live on sky / BT and highlights on terrestrial, has been in place a long time, and has now been extended to the Champions League. Cricket has followed this model for a number of years now for home test matches. I get the feeling that this is probably the best outcome for golf.

A 2 hour Open highlights package on BBC2 every evening is probably going to be more popular for the BBC than live coverage, it is more appealing to the casual fan, and it's certainly more practical to produce.

Like it or not, watching top level sport live is premium entertainment and so you have to pay for it. Blame it on the players, they're the one raking in the millions.

Whilst it is certainly more appealing to the casual fan or toe dippers checking it out for the first time, the infrastructure (commentary, editing, production etc) I presume is there in full for the full time regardless of the ultimate programming output.

If (big if!) that is the case, stick it on the otherwise shut BBC4 during the day or even just web and red button for those wanting more (ie me). That said, I have absolutely no idea of relative costs or operational difficulty involved in putting a full day on live versus a highlights package.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/19/future-open-golf-survive-modern-era

interesting.

beninho wrote:https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/19/future-open-golf-survive-modern-era

interesting.

Good read - thanks

Yeah excellent read, thank beninho

Rory McIlroy and Seamus Power getting bunker play coaching at GUI hq from Howard Bennett. Many moons ago.

Take a look at @GUIGolf's Tweet: https://twitter.com/GUIGolf/status/887260455525392386?s=09

beninho wrote:http://www.golfmagic.com/golf-news/golf-returns-bbc-us-pga-championship
/www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/18/us-pga-championship-bbc

It seems widely reported that they have the rights, just not formally announced yet.

Sounds like a good move... I read where Sky's 2016 Open UK viewership declined 75% from the prior years BBC viewership... so that means it may be likely the PGA will grow it's audience by about 4x moving it from SKY to BBC...

Roller_Coaster wrote:Whilst it is certainly more appealing to the casual fan or toe dippers checking it out for the first time, the infrastructure (commentary, editing, production etc) I presume is there in full for the full time regardless of the ultimate programming output.

If (big if!) that is the case, stick it on the otherwise shut BBC4 during the day or even just web and red button for those wanting more (ie me). That said, I have absolutely no idea of relative costs or operational difficulty involved in putting a full day on live versus a highlights package.

Surely the BBC just use all the sky infrastructure. Add their own faces and voices and there you go.

If you watch the C5 test match highlights they even use the sky commentators.

The coverage is produced by teh European Tour now for the Open, sky just provide commentary and a few of their on bits. So, the BBC should be able to do something similar and would save them a lot of money, i would guess. I would assume they will just beem the PGA coverage straight from the american host broadcaster but with their own commentators aswell.

I'm really looking forward to all the banal filling on the bbc when the host broadcaster goes on an Ad break every 5 minutes, at least in consolation it won't have the pikey betting adverts that we have to tolerate on Sky.

super_realist wrote:Maybe no one considerers Kucher to be a "primo" player. He's quiet and not flashy so his name just goes under the radar.

In what golf universe is Dufner and Grace primo players, and Kuchar is not?

super_realist wrote:I'm really looking forward to all the banal filling on the bbc when the host broadcaster goes on an Ad break every 5 minutes, at least in consolation it won't have the pikey betting adverts that we have to tolerate on Sky.

I also wonder what dreadful faux-pas Alliss will come out with this time

Sneds out of Birkdale. Ongoing Rib Injury

Hahn, James Hahn is in as first alternate

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:Maybe no one considerers Kucher to be a "primo" player. He's quiet and not flashy so his name just goes under the radar.

In what golf universe is Dufner and Grace primo players, and Kuchar is not?

I mean that Kuchar goes under the radar a bit, apart from being a grinning loon you wouldn't necessarily know who he is, mind you, I wouldn't agree that Fat Dufner and Grace are "primo" players, so I think whoever opined that they were a top pairing for someone to be out with is a bit far fetched. I did not at any time claim Grace and Dufner were "primo" players.

anyone see the Kuchar twitter video with beeps added because he doesnt swear! Its pretty good.

Brandt Snedeker has withdrawn and has been replaced by James Hahn

ive put my shillings against Kuchar, Spieth, Fox and Oosty, I think!

Is Snedeker playing?

Paired with curtis I think?

I just don't know what to make of Kuchar. Really consistently good player with 26 top-10's vs only 7 MC's in the last 3 years is stout, bit only 1 win with that resume isn't. The last few years seems like he just doesn't have that "extra gear" to turn a good finish into a win... It looks like he's trying to step on the gas, but the engine doesn't respond.... I dunno.

robopz wrote:I just don't know what to make of Kuchar. Really consistently good player with 26 top-10's vs only 7 MC's in the last 3 years is stout, bit only 1 win with that resume isn't. The last few years seems like he just doesn't have that "extra gear" to turn a good finish into a win... It looks like he's trying to step on the gas, but the engine doesn't respond....  I dunno.

. . . . . . and that one win was the Fiji Invitational, which coincidentally Snedeker has also won.
Having said which, Kuchar won the tournament with the worst PGA Tour weather I've ever experienced, so he has it in him to keep going in lousy conditions when others fall by the wayside. 39 though, and not getting any younger.

I think the Open are following the F1 model of controlling the lot.
Silverstone basically get the ticket money and the burger franchises and have to make that match the set up fee which is difficult to say the least

https://twitter.com/theopen/status/887779096654209026

First Round pin positions!!!

Enjoy everybody

O'Meara, McNealy and Wang all out of bounds so far on the first.....

It's 7:45am. I'm sitting with a mug of tea watching live Open Championship golf :-)

wiretapper wrote:It's 7:45am. I'm sitting with a mug of tea watching live Open Championship golf :-)

That's the life

Nice start from Noren! Really fancy him to go well this week tbh!

https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/887940792341471232

What do people make of Justin Thomas's day one outfit! Epic if you ask me!

https://twitter.com/WillGrayGC/status/887939636034650112

Ouch!

Who has played Birkdale then, is it as tough as it seems. Last two winners there had even and +3, I was reading predictions about -10/-12 winning, surely that is unlikely?

Friend of mine is in the chemical industry soap toothpaste etc and they have a golf day there every year.They have a rule if you loose a ball into the rough drop another in the semi and add a shot or they would never finish the day.Its tough

It really is a beast of a test! I agree, don't see how -10/12 will win it.

I have had the pleasure of playing Birkdale many times. When the wind blows it really is very difficult but on a calm day it is very playable.
If the wind doesn't blow -10 or better is certainly achievable.

I like Thomas' get up. Did Ryan Moore not wear a tie for a while? And that would have been the stickier US conditions. I reckon it's easier to play in one here in the UK.

Id like to think Thomas just got in from a night out in Blackpool and he will have a sleep later.
Mate of mine was at a little local driving range a few weeks back and Paul Broadhurst was cracking balls over the fence.He said would you mind if I stand behind and watch.Broady said sure but youre not going to learn a lot from this swing

It's been a long time since I've been out in Blackpool but I can't recall any of the establishments requiring that you wear a tie. Although I reckon Thomas goes to classier establishments than me

5 hours in, commentators starting to repeat themselves

Great round from Poulter...can someone say "rejuvenated"...he's had a new lease of life since his lucky break.

I think the course is their to be taken apart this afternoon by someone assuming conditions dont change too much. -5 or there abouts is a definite possibility.

My gut is telling me to go pick Rory for the fantasy league game...hes shown nothing to suggest he will even make the cut but i cant shake the feeling he may do something big this weekend. Id have to cut Fowler or Rahm though and given their form I would have to be stupid to kick them out for him..

Spieth seems to be in complete control of his game so far

Sometimes it takes a scare to remind you it can all be taken away very quickly. Poulter is a talented player, his Ryder Cup exploits confirm that, so it should come as no surprise that he is back challenging again.

In the past he has got caught up too much in being Ian Poulter rather than a talented golfer. His brush with lost status looks to have sharpened his focus considerably.

wiretapper wrote:Sometimes it takes a scare to remind you it can all be taken away very quickly. Poulter is a talented player, his Ryder Cup exploits confirm that, so it should come as no surprise that he is back challenging again.

In the past he has got caught up too much in being Ian Poulter rather than a talented golfer. His brush with lost status looks to have sharpened his focus considerably.

I'd say that is a very accurate assessment. No I don't think he was (or will be) a total world beater, but as you say he is undoubtedly a very talented golfer. Can he go on and have a better final day than last week (if still in contention on Sunday)? I'm not sure, but he certainly deserves a shot at it. Expect a Hollywood movie to come out of it if he goes on and wins ;-)

Stenson seems to be using the driver more doesn't he?

Davie wrote:

wiretapper wrote:Sometimes it takes a scare to remind you it can all be taken away very quickly. Poulter is a talented player, his Ryder Cup exploits confirm that, so it should come as no surprise that he is back challenging again.

In the past he has got caught up too much in being Ian Poulter rather than a talented golfer. His brush with lost status looks to have sharpened his focus considerably.

I'd say that is a very accurate assessment. No I don't think he was (or will be) a total world beater, but as you say he is undoubtedly a very talented golfer. Can he go on and have a better final day than last week (if still in contention on Sunday)? I'm not sure, but he certainly deserves a shot at it. Expect a Hollywood movie to come out of it if he goes on and wins ;-)

Do you both think Poulter may have got as much out of his game as he most possibly can?

sirbenson wrote:Spieth seems to be in complete control of his game so far

Boredan Spieth could win this unfortunately, Koepka looking good too.

I wish I was as boring as him....

Do you like any golfers Super...Kjeldsen is one I know you do like

I like plenty. Stenson, Mickelson, Fleetwood, Westwood, Donald, Snedeker etc.

Superb fightback from Pieters