The Open Championship 2018

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The Open Championship thread.

Here’s a preview by some of the players.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ConorSketches/status/1018880460888428545/video/1

George1507 wrote:

Born Slippy wrote:I’m not a golf expert but I watch most of the bigger tournaments. Is it fair to say that the main difference between the current McIlroy and the one who looked the dominant player for years to come is in his short irons?

He still seems to have freakish length off the tee combined with accuracy and his putting was always slightly streaky. However, my memory is he used to constantly be flag-hunting with towering irons in his younger days. Now, particularly when it really matters, it seems he rarely gets it within 25 feet, with a propensity to miss the green inexplicably frequently at shortish range. Is this a technical issue he has developed or is it purely down to the mental side of the game?

I don't think it's anything technical. It may be mental, but I suspect he's much more comfortable with dartboard golf. Like a lot of players, he's so conditioned to hitting shots to receptive greens on the PGA Tour that he struggles to adapt when it bounces on. The two things that stood out for me at Carnoustie were that (more than any other player) Molinari was in the right position on the fairway to give himself the easiest (or least difficult) shot to the pin, and that downwind, a shot of 100 to 120 yards was far easier to stop than a chip from 50 or 60. Rory seemed to be too close to the green on numerous occasions.

Think this was true of quite a few players, commentators were often talking about players before by too close to generate any spin.
At the end of the day the difference between-6 and -8 could be a great long putt dropping and a lip out rolling on 6 feet, it’s fine margins. As Kwini points out Rory’s Open record would be the envy of many. What he isn’t doing anymore is blowing fields away, that’s what gave Tiger in his pomp a good few majors. As Tiger himself is finding, when you are one of half a dozen in the mix then tournaments are a lot harder to win.

NedB-H wrote:I’m not sure if I’ve ever arrived at work hungover in fairness. I try to time it so the hangover doesn’t kick in until an hour or so after I’ve got there.

George1507 wrote:

Born Slippy wrote:I’m not a golf expert but I watch most of the bigger tournaments. Is it fair to say that the main difference between the current McIlroy and the one who looked the dominant player for years to come is in his short irons?

He still seems to have freakish length off the tee combined with accuracy and his putting was always slightly streaky. However, my memory is he used to constantly be flag-hunting with towering irons in his younger days. Now, particularly when it really matters, it seems he rarely gets it within 25 feet, with a propensity to miss the green inexplicably frequently at shortish range. Is this a technical issue he has developed or is it purely down to the mental side of the game?

I don't think it's anything technical. It may be mental, but I suspect he's much more comfortable with dartboard golf. Like a lot of players, he's so conditioned to hitting shots to receptive greens on the PGA Tour that he struggles to adapt when it bounces on. The two things that stood out for me at Carnoustie were that (more than any other player) Molinari was in the right position on the fairway to give himself the easiest (or least difficult) shot to the pin, and that downwind, a shot of 100 to 120 yards was far easier to stop than a chip from 50 or 60. Rory seemed to be too close to the green on numerous occasions.

I only partly agree with this. I've seen Rory throwing darts with his wedges in the US and missing the board plenty of times when you would expect others to fire it close. At Carnoustie, Rory was allowing for the bounce and roll, but was missing his landing spot again and again.

I think he gets out of sync when he takes a bit off a wedge, often leads to a push. His full swing is so fluid but 3/4 shots he struggles with distance control. If Rory had Zach Johnson's wedge game he would be unbeatable.

Trouble is, we have such high expectations for Rory.

I wonder how much he practices his short, feel pitches?
Otherwise, I'd like to see him swallow his pride and hire a top professional caddie. Who knows whether that would help but it seems someone else carries the bag, paces out the distances, rakes the bunkers, and then Rory caddies himself. That's what JP was doing towards the end and I don't see much difference unfortunately.

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:

AlciG wrote:

LadyPutt wrote:Can you say, with hand on heart, that you've never arrived at work hungover, because I certainly can't.    Unless, of course, you are teetotal.

Sorry, I don't know what teetotal means, but I can honestly say I have never arrived at work hungover.

Teetotal means you wake up in the morning knowing that's the best you're going to feel all day.

Diggers wrote:When I started teaching I thought drinking the night before a school day was impossible, I now realise it’s a necessity.

kwinigolfer wrote:Trouble is, we have such high expectations for Rory.

I wonder how much he practices his short, feel pitches?
Otherwise, I'd like to see him swallow his pride and hire a top professional caddie. Who knows whether that would help but it seems someone else carries the bag, paces out the distances, rakes the bunkers, and then Rory caddies himself. That's what JP was doing towards the end and I don't see much difference unfortunately.

I have to 100% agree with this. When DJ focused on his wedges he became a much better player, Rory can get away with being a streaky putter if he consistently gives himself chances, but he needs to improve his proximity to the pin from 120yds and in. Imho he should have won this week, taking nothing away from Francesco who handled himself brilliantly and is a worthy Open Champion Rory had a real chance here and needs to ask himself some serious questions if he is going to fulfill his potential.

Who would you guys suggest on the bag?
Steve Williams?

Rory should get someone like Billy Foster, not like he can be making a decent living with Westwood these days.

Cruel Super, but yes I would agree there. Rory seems to need a bit of guidance or direction right now Billy could be a good shout.

Because Billy helped Westwood over the line to all those major wins...

You can pick the bones out of his "approach to the green stats", some good, some ghastly but, for someone who's second in driving distance, what's the point if he's 135th (out of about 200) in greens in regulation, hitting less than 65%?
A firm guiding hand/voice to suggest that accuracy trumps distance, on occasion at least, might go a long way.

Agree with the DJ comparison; if he can figure out that there's more than one way to skin a golf course then I'm sure Rory can.

ICYMI, Mark McCumber's son Tyler won on the Canadian Tour last week.

Looks like he had a big lead going into the final round and almost blew it.

GPB wrote:ICYMI, Mark McCumber's son Tyler won on the Canadian Tour last week.

Looks like he had a big lead going into the final round and almost blew it.

Wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness too.

It looks as if the Canadian Tour is stronger this year than in previous seasons . . . . . . quite a few familiar names.

And, on the subject of things Canadian, Graham DeLaet is going under the knife again, having another discotomy, this time on a different disc. Amazing ball-striker, but used to have the most horrendous chipping yips.

Diggers wrote:Because Billy helped Westwood over the line to all those major wins...

Westwood has about 10% of Mcilroys talent and has been close to winning quite a few majors, and has won tons of tournaments.
Someone with Foster's experience would be spot on for McIlroy.

McIlroy has his mate on the bag as if it's the club champ final.

Foster was also Seve's caddy for about 5 years

Oh, so he dragged Westwood to those near misses, OK. Did he win anything with Seve, caddied for him in the 90’s so am guessing not? Strikes me that’s Billy’s best feature is that he is everyone’s mate.
Foster is struggling to carry a bag these days, just read an article where he said Westwood's instructions to him where to shut up and hand me the club I ask for.
Yeah, sounds like a genius choice.

Diggers wrote:Because Billy helped Westwood over the line to all those major wins...

Yes, Westwood has had a scheiss career, hasn't he?

navyblueshorts wrote:

Diggers wrote:Because Billy helped Westwood over the line to all those major wins...

Yes, Westwood has had a scheiss career, hasn't he?

I read on here so many times that Lee was too good not to win a major. Well, look how that worked out. My point here is people are suggesting a caddie change to help those fine margins that will get Rory more majors. I’m suggesting that appointing a bloke who (as far as I know) has never helped any of the talented golfers he’s caddied for to cross that line (Seve, Stenson, Westy) seems a bizarre choice.
Also surely he needs a caddie who isn’t the matey type he currently has, someone more business like perhaps. Personally I think the whole caddie change idea is a bit of a crock, but this particular suggestion strikes me as a very poor one.

Who would you suggest Digs?

Perhaps Williams wouldn't be a bad choice after all? He got Scott into the right place after all. Not a likeable chap, but seems to do something right.

Williams is an a-hole but maybe that’s what Rory needs.

I would choose someone of Williams' generation, possibly Tony Navarro who I think is with Nick Watney now, but worked a long time for Greg Norman and Adam Scott, more recently for Woodland.
Someone who'd be short-term and not afraid to give his "man" a kick up the arse if appropriate.

Agree that Billy Foster would be too "matey". David Clark another possibility?

Do we believe DJ’s bro AJ is a better caddie than Harry Diamond?
And who told DJ to improve his short game and play better from 120 yds in? Is Rorys team that much weaker than DJ’s?

kwinigolfer wrote:

Wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness too.

Not the first question I would ask him. Probably not the 1000th question either.

peds,
The only thing I'd say to that is that Butch Harmon has not been with DJ all his life, like Michael Bannon seems to have been w/Rors.

It's one thing to be an out-and-out swing coach, like Bannon seems to be w/Rory, but something else to have a bloke that's not necessarily personally invested in him, like St. Butch is to DJ, barking out the facts of life to him.

AJ is just the guy that knows it's in both of their interests to take Harmon's message through 18 holes after St. Butch has said, as he does, that DJ takes his "balls in a wheelbarrow" to the first tee.
Don't think anyone spells out the facts of golfing life to Rory and, just perhaps, he needs that. No doubt he's the greatest talent in golf, but perhaps not yet in tournament golf.

Ryo Ishikawa is doubtless a bit passe these days, so the PGA has instead given Joaquin Niemann a special invite to the PGA Championship.

Be_the_ball wrote:Who would you suggest Digs?

Perhaps Williams wouldn't be a bad choice after all? He got Scott into the right place after all. Not a likeable chap, but seems to do something right.

I’m no caddie expert BTB, probably a no name one who quietly goes about his business.

Diggers wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:

Diggers wrote:Because Billy helped Westwood over the line to all those major wins...

Yes, Westwood has had a scheiss career, hasn't he?

I read on here so many times that Lee was too good not to win a major. Well, look how that worked out. My point here is people are suggesting a caddie change to help those fine margins that will get Rory more majors. I’m suggesting that appointing a bloke who (as far as I know) has never helped any of the talented golfers he’s caddied for to cross that line (Seve, Stenson, Westy) seems a bizarre choice.
Also surely he needs a caddie who isn’t the matey type he currently has, someone more business like perhaps. Personally I think the whole caddie change idea is a bit of a crock, but this particular suggestion strikes me as a very poor one.

My suggestion was "someone like" Billy Foster. That is to say someone who's been on a lot of bags, someone who knows the ropes etc. Winning a major isn't that necessary, but to think he wouldn't be better than someones mate who has precisely zero tour experience is pretty laughable.

Funny you don't think that caddying for Westwood being World Number 1 or having probably the 2nd or 3rd best Ryder Cup record on either side isn't relevant and that everything comes down to whether you've won a major or not.

Why not someone who's done that? Luke Donalds old caddie for instance (was it his brother)?

So swap a guy who has a big job as a caddie because he was a mate for one who got a big job by being a brother (who never won a major with Luke)... couldn’t make your logic up. You seem to be forgetting that Rory’s caddie also has experience of being on the bag of a world number 1 and multiple major winner.
Maybe, just maybe, Rory has the integrity to think the value of friendship is more important, we can only guess what support he gives Rory and therefore why Rory values him. If that’s the case then it might not be the best career choice (though for all we know a caddie change could have a negative effect) but it would mean I’d respect Rory more as a person.

Diggers, ultimately Rory can do whatever he wants for whatever reason. He's already had a successful career and if he never won another major he would still be the most successful European since Faldo. However Imho and it seems like general consensus, Rory could have won this one, we know his putting is streaky at best so proximity to the hole and lag putting is where he needs to mitigate that. His iron play and specifically his wedge play is not good enough for his level. "Yeah but what can his caddie do about that?" I hear you say. I think Rory at times needs focus and direction, a strong caddie could provide that. Harry on the bag is a great story, two childhood mates and all that. But it's not helping him win Majors, and that's Rory's level, he should be winning majors.

Maybe BTB, equally a caddie change could also make a guy who is not the strongest mentally weaker. I’ts all guess work on our part. You could say Speith needs a new bag man, he’s even more prone to losing the plot it seems. Does Rose need one, he can’t seem to turn good positions into major wins?
I’m not sure it was Rory’s to win this week, he wasn’t at his best, in fact he did really well to end up where he did. We know majors are hard to win, reality is there’s not a lot to choose between the top guys and the next tier of guys (like Molinari) aren’t far behind either.

Sunday the Masters just gone he missed a short putt on 2 and lost it mentally, personally I believe he could have won this week also. I think he's the most naturally talented ball striker playing today, and when he's on his "A" game no one out there can beat him. But when not on his "A" game he seems to make too many unnecessary mistakes. This is golf at the very highest level, and I think Rory should be giving himself every possible chance to get the best out of his game. I'd like to see him win ugly some time, emotionally right now I don't believe he has it in him to do that. The more I think about it the more I think Williams would be a good shout.

When was he really last on his A game for any consistent period? We might never see that again, I hope we do as he is great to watch when he’s flushing everything and holing putts, plus I like him, he does seem like a good guy.

Diggers
Foster was on Seve's bag for eight wins between '91 & '95, so he must have been of some value!

Surely the best bet for a caddie is someone the player feels comfortable with. I am guessing Rory had his pick after his split with his last guy. But he wanted to go with something different. He doesn't seem the sort of player who would want a kick up his arse on the course, he seems pretty self minded.

Its funny that he had an experienced caddie before and people said he needed a new one, he gets a new one, and people say he needs an experienced one.

Hatton and Fleetwood put mates on the bag, that worked out well, DJ has his brother, Spieth went with Greller from a young age, and he was not an experienced caddie, wasn't he a teacher?

Seve76 wrote:Diggers
Foster was on Seve's bag for eight wins between '91 & '95, so he must have been of some value!

I’m not saying he wasn’t a decent caddie, just that for many reasons he’d be a poor choice for Rory now. Would also have though if I was on the bag Seve would still have been winning tournaments in the early 90’s. Still had enough of the old genius left in him at that stage.

beninho wrote:Surely the best bet for a caddie is someone the player feels comfortable with. I am guessing Rory had his pick after his split with his last guy. But he wanted to go with something different. He doesn't seem the sort of player who would want a kick up his arse on the course, he seems pretty self minded.  

Its funny that he had an experienced caddie before and people said he needed a new one, he gets a new one, and people say he needs an experienced one.

Hatton and Fleetwood put mates on the bag, that worked out well, DJ has his brother, Spieth went with Greller from a young age, and he was not an experienced caddie, wasn't he a teacher?

ben,
Not sure how he is with Diamond, but Rory took less input from JP than any top pro I've ever followed. DJ might be close - but then he's got Butch around for some direction.
Personally I hope Rory proves us all wrong and dominates the remainder of the golfing year, he's got so much talent.

Read something that amused me. Phil was with Butch on the range and was striping everything perfectly. Strike, flight, distance control, shape. Everything. Scheduled to go out with DJ shortly afterwards Butch said something along the lines of just take this to the course, it'll be perfect as long as you ignore DJ and don't get involved in a long drive pi55ing contest.

Phil turns around and "I think we both know that's not going to happen"

Amused me in it's own right, but kind of highlights that it's what the player chooses to go inside the ropes with and I suspect that's the case with Rory, I think he'd react badly to being ushered/pushed one way or the other. Also he's comfortable that if (and recently when!) it doesn't result in a win he's happier that it's his fault and that he's been master of his own destiny (/downfall).

GPB wrote:Canadian Open Field

https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/field.html

Martin Kaymer is in the field. That will be event #11 for him
.

Kaymer must have figured out that he can't get to 15 events, w/o getting into the playoffs. He has WDed from Canada.

kwinigolfer wrote:

GPB wrote: Looks like he had a big lead going into the final round and almost blew it.

Wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness too.

At least he could always say he was knocking on the door.

GPB wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:

Wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness too.

Not the first question I would ask him.  Probably not the 1000th question either.

Always nice to know if you should bother to waste a bag of donor blood to try and save someones life.

Molinari recently got a (new?) mental coach. It shows on his play and his results. No more chokes on the green, and he doesn’t look like someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown anymore.

Don’t know if Rory has one, but maybe he should try that out first. It has helped many a player. I know for sure that was the only thing that stood between me and multiple golf and tennis majors.

pedro wrote:

GPB wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:

Wonder if he's a Jehovah's Witness too.

Not the first question I would ask him.  Probably not the 1000th question either.

Always nice to know if you should bother to waste a bag of donor blood to try and save someones life.

Strange thing about donated blood: I used to be a regular donor until they decided about 20 years ago that, because I lived in England in the early 80's, I am a Mad Cow Disease risk. It's true!
Wonder what happens when the t0ssp0t who made up that rule needs a transfusion in England? I tell ya . . . . . . And the Red Cross here is always short of an armful or three.


(I think GPB is more concerned about Martin Kaymer's PGA Tour career than Kaymer is. First priority for Martin is to find some form.)

Kaymer seems mentally very strong and not the kind of guy prone to complacency or loss of motivation. I know he has had a few injuries but could that be the explanation.

pedro wrote:Molinari recently got a (new?) mental coach. It shows on his play and his results. No more chokes on the green, and he doesn’t look like someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown anymore.

Don’t know if Rory has one, but maybe he should try that out first. It has helped many a player. I know for sure that was the only thing that stood between me and multiple golf and tennis majors.

Diggers wrote:When was he really last on his A game for any consistent period? We might never see that again, I hope we do as he is great to watch when he’s flushing everything and holing putts, plus I like him, he does seem like a good guy.

Round 3 of this year's Masters was pretty special from Rory.

raycastleunited wrote:

4putt wrote:All 71 shots of Woods televised.

I know - Wasn't it great! Fantastic to have Tiger back.

The more you see of him the more you realise what a douch bag he is. Example. Four times he hit his ball into the spectators. I'll let you guess how many times he shouted "fore".

Be_the_ball wrote:

Diggers wrote:When was he really last on his A game for any consistent period? We might never see that again, I hope we do as he is great to watch when he’s flushing everything and holing putts, plus I like him, he does seem like a good guy.

Round 3 of this year's Masters was pretty special from Rory.

I think Digs means A game for a tournament. Anyone can play a few outstanding holes, it's putting 4 rounds together which counts. Sadly Rory is not up to it right now.

For what it's worth, I don't believe a new caddie would really help Rory. His problem is controlling his wedges, he needs to go and practise his wedges until it becomes a strength of his. Just like DJ did.

4putt wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:

4putt wrote:All 71 shots of Woods televised.

I know - Wasn't it great! Fantastic to have Tiger back.

The more you see of him the more you realise what a douch bag he is. Example. Four times he hit his ball into the spectators. I'll let you guess how many times he shouted "fore".

I’m guessing it wasn’t fore

Maybe it will click with Rory and Harry, hopefully it does, in fairness the margins are that tight if he'd been a couple of shots better and won a playoff then we wouldn't be having this conversation. But I get the impression Rory is at times easily distracted. I also wonder who does Rory discuss strategy with for example? Who does he deconstruct his rounds with? He tried to out power Reid on Sunday at Augusta, that back fired on him and he lost his ball striking and putting. Imho he could be a winning machine if he was a bit more disciplined, Michael Bannon is not like Butch so I think a Williams esq caddie could provide that. But then again could be a clash of personalities and a disaster, we may never know.

raycastleunited wrote:For what it's worth, I don't believe a new caddie would really help Rory. His problem is controlling his wedges, he needs to go and practise his wedges until it becomes a strength of his. Just like DJ did.

Butch had to tell DJ to get the finger out and focus on his wedge play, Bannon is not that type of coach and I would never suggest Rory change coach, but who has Rory got to focus him like that? Maybe Harry will grow into that role, but he doesn't have the experience so at best it will take him time.

Out of interest why wouldn’t you suggest Rory change coach? Seems to be a consensus on here that he isn’t winning enough considering his talent and potential. The diagnosis is that his weaknesses, relative to other top players, are his wedge/short iron play and his putting. Neither of those are things a new caddie would help much with, a few reads aside. Molinari had a weakness in his putting, committed to working with Phil Kenyon and has improved no end. DJ had a weakness with his wedges, knuckled down on working on them with Butch and has improved no end.

A change of coach for Rory, either to a taskmaster like Butch or Leadbetter, or a rounded coaching team with specialists like Molinari has, would seem like a much better solution than changing a caddie.