The Open Championship 2018

First topic message reminder :

The Open Championship thread.

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

Watching Rahm, does anyone want such a sullen, defeatist moaner in the Ryder Cup team like him? Seems fragile mentally to me. Wouldn't want to rely on him against Reed or Spieth.

Diggers, Dwayne Chambers with a puny upper body? Are you mad?

This course is the perfect example of why St .Andrews doesn't deserve to hold it so often.

When you have closing holes like this, and actual drama, why would anyone want to see it at TOC so often?

-6 to be leading half way, winning score between 10/12 under?

Kevin Kisner looks a cheery fellow doesn't he?

What a misery, makes 9C look like Kriss Akabusi.

4putt wrote:Kisner playing well but hasn't smiled once.

Must be the spooning with Dufner. Or Zach’s bedtime stories...

https://www.golfchannel.com/article/rex-hoggard/super-7-living-–-and-loving-–-frat-life-carnoustie/

Years ago, there were opinions that the reason why Europe was winning so many Ryder Cups was the "esprit de corps" of the European Team. They traveled together, they drank together, they ate together, and they slept together, scratch that.

15-20 years later, 6 former US Ryder Cuppers (plus one Future US Ryder Cupper) are traveling together, drinking together, eating together, and now there is some thing wrong with the camaraderie. Or at least it is fodder for some European snark.

Two of them are tied for the lead, and two others are three shots back, T11th. Seems like it is a recipe for success.

And Kisner doesn't smile when he is playing.

Sacre Bleu!!!

Good thing Europeans always smile when they are playing. Guys like Faldo, and Monty, and Langer, and Poulter are always a barrel of laughs when they are in contention!

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

If he plays Reno, PGA, Wyndham, that will be 14 events, one short of the required 15 events,

At #215 in the FEX (at best), he better get about 350 pts in those 4 events if he wants to make event #15, Northern Trust.

HAIL MARY

Some other Euros include GMac, Fleetwood, Shane, and Sergio

Sergio is also in jeopardy of losing his tour card for not playing enough events. Carnoustie is event #11 for Sergio and he will be no better than #128 in the FEX after this week.

GPB wrote:Years ago, there were opinions that the reason why Europe was winning so many Ryder Cups was the "esprit de corps" of the European Team.  They traveled together, they drank together, they ate together, and they slept together, scratch that.

15-20 years later, 6 former US Ryder Cuppers (plus one Future US Ryder Cupper) are traveling together, drinking together, eating together, and now there is some thing wrong with the camaraderie.  Or at least it is fodder for some European snark.

Two of them are tied for the lead, and two others are three shots back, T11th.  Seems like it is a recipe for success.

And Kisner doesn't smile when he is playing.  

Sacre Bleu!!!

Good thing Europeans always smile when they are playing.  Guys like Faldo, and Monty, and Langer, and Poulter are always a barrel of laughs when they are in contention!

Love how you have to go back 20 years before you find a European who is sullen (I could have found plenty more recent than that, Rahm for instance) Poulter often smiles, so that's a poor example.

Amazing how defensive you are whenever an American is criticised. My poke at Kisner has NOTHING to do with him being American, but for having no personality or charisma whatsoever.
Before you run your flag up the flagpole every morning, or stand for the national anthem when you hear it on someones ringtone please realise that we're not out to get you and your country at every turn. Stop this hilarious persecution complex you have and this need to defend your kinship (or Kisnership) and stop being so triggered every time someone says something about a bloody American. They don't require your defence, and it doesn't mean we're having a go at you by default.

Kisner appears to be a miserable barstard, why couldn't you just agree instead of trying to defend him, when everything I've said appears true?

Mot sold om Kisner, hear him on a podcast and still not taken with him, same with dufner.

Do like Rahm though, I have no issues with a bit of petulance on the golf course. If you're a fiery character it stands to reason you will be fiery on thr course.

super_realist wrote:Watching Rahm, does anyone want such a sullen, defeatist moaner in the Ryder Cup team like him? Seems fragile mentally to me. Wouldn't want to rely on him against Reed or Spieth.

Diggers, Dwayne Chambers with a puny upper body? Are you mad?

Lower body, skinny legs. In fact I was having a chat with him on Sunday at the athletics World Cup. Big upper body, skinny legs, especially below the knees. He was wearing shorts so clear to see, unlike your imaginings of Tiger with no clothes on.

super_realist wrote:

GPB wrote:Years ago, there were opinions that the reason why Europe was winning so many Ryder Cups was the "esprit de corps" of the European Team.  They traveled together, they drank together, they ate together, and they slept together, scratch that.

15-20 years later, 6 former US Ryder Cuppers (plus one Future US Ryder Cupper) are traveling together, drinking together, eating together, and now there is some thing wrong with the camaraderie.  Or at least it is fodder for some European snark.

Two of them are tied for the lead, and two others are three shots back, T11th.  Seems like it is a recipe for success.

And Kisner doesn't smile when he is playing.  

Sacre Bleu!!!


Good thing Europeans always smile when they are playing.  Guys like Faldo, and Monty, and Langer, and Poulter are always a barrel of laughs when they are in contention!

Love how you have to go back 20 years before you find a European who is sullen (I could have found plenty more recent than that, Rahm for instance) Poulter often smiles, so that's a poor example.

Amazing how defensive you are whenever an American is criticised. My poke at Kisner has NOTHING to do with him being American, but for having no personality or charisma whatsoever.
Before you run your flag up the flagpole every  morning, or stand for the national anthem when you hear it on someones ringtone please realise that we're not out to get you and your country at every turn. Stop this hilarious persecution complex you have and this need to defend your kinship (or Kisnership) and stop being so triggered every time someone says something about a bloody American. They don't require your defence, and it doesn't mean we're having a go at you by default.

Kisner appears to be a miserable barstard, why couldn't you just agree instead of trying to defend him, when everything I've said appears true?

Kisner seems fine to me, just strolling around looking chilled but determined. How you can glean from that that he has no personality is beyond me. Very few golfers show (or generate) charisma. It's not that kind of game and a hard thing to define. The most obvious by a country mike in the past 20 years is Woods... who you (of course) say has none.

Did you not see his interview Diggers? Makes Dustin Johnson seem like a raconteur.

Woods doesn't have any charisma, his game might (at times) but personally he's more wooden than a Swiss Chalet.

Anyway, the main point is why GPB seems to jump on every slight on a yank as if it's a personal insult or why he has to be like Mac and react on his behalf.

Charisma - ability to inspire devotion and following. It's blatantly obvious who the crowds want to follow, he's the only golfer the world gives a toss about. Do a poll of the most charismatic golfer and one guy would get 99% of the vote. You'd say yes, well they only no one golfer...which is true because none of the rest have any charisma to allow them to transcend the game.

Just to clarify, personality and charisma...not the same thing...2 different abstract nouns...different meanings. The same way moobs and pecs are different things, another one you struggle with.

One hell of a round from Chris Wood!

Let’s hope Tiger Woods has a special round today!!!

https://m.independent.ie/sport/golf/shane-lowry-set-to-split-from-caddy-following-poor-run-of-form-37140147.html
Something need to happen with Shane! Not surprised at all the caddie has been fired

Wonder who really fired who??!!

Shane needs to figure out whether he wants to take the next step (last one was backwards) forwards as a professional golfer or just be one of the lads - nothing but reverse since his disappointment from Oakmont.

Hope he gets his sh1t together before it's too late.

Kisner appears to be a miserable barstard [sic], why couldn't you just agree instead of trying to defend him, when everything I've said appears true?

Because I don't agree? I find nothing wrong with Kisner. I like him even though he went to the UGA, my rival school.

Appears to be true? Not very many are seeing what you are seeing. reading other blogs, I see no criticism of him anywhere. Not a polarizing figure by any stretch, very vanilla. He is well liked among his fellow pros or else he would not have been invited to stay with Spieth, Thomas etc.

Super, you seldom (if ever) post anything positive about any golfer. you are highly critical of superficial qualities like body types. If some how they have an acceptable body type, you have to find another unacceptable feature. Too Many chins (Woods), A weak chin (Berger), no charisma (Kisner).

The constant negative posting about golfers fits my definition of a miserable human bieng

Tiger is charging up the leaderboard!!

You'd think someone (possibly a few) will post -10 or better, maybe anyone around -6 will be in with a chance?

Woods on -6
Spieth on -6

Great to see tiger top if the leaderboard. What a round.

So many people are in this tournament. Its brilliant.

Spieth is so good, probably the best currently when on form.

I really hope the wind blows tomorrow, I want to see the course show its teeth.

beninho wrote:So many people are in this tournament. Its brilliant.

Well, it would be if the majority could actually watch it live...

Molinari and Woods tomorrow - Celtic Manor & Medinah all over again. So far a Tiger win, an honourable draw, so Franny is due.
Comfortable pairings I would have thought for Rory (Kooch), Tommy (Zach), Noren (Simpson) and JR (Cook). But all too far back barring a miracle or a 4-man meltdown.

If the wind gets up late in the day couldn't be anyone's Open I guess. Spieth the favourite but also has previous for last day nerves, as does Rory. Love to see Woods properly back in the mix on a back 9 but suspect if it is windy that won't suit him.
Been good so far, I usually find the Open the least interesting of the majors but am enjoying this one.

My head was very fuzzy this morning but I’m pretty sure that in the early part of the Sky coverage in the studio when discussing potential challengers David Howell called Xander Schauffele, Xander Soufflé

GPB wrote:else he would not have been invited to stay with Spieth, Thomas etc.

Yes they seem to have invited creme de la creme..

Story of the Europeans towards the top starting the day bottling it and the americans in and around them bringing their A game except for Zach. If I was a European I'd be considering whether to take up a Ryder Cup spot because as it stands we are in for an absolute trouncing!!

Rory & Fleetwood had disastrous days when others around them put it together, seems to be a theme with the former when entering the weekend. Be it a Saturday or a Sunday one day sees his scoring look like hes stuck in the mud while others around him are shooting low.

Great to see Woods firing on all cyclinders, agreed with the SKY train of thought that should he have been a little more offensive around the course then he may well have found himself a couple of shots better off.

What can you say about Spieth that hasn't already been said....seems to bring his A Game when it really matters. Others say he gets the lucky breaks a lot (he certainly had a few over the first two rounds) but what he does is capitalise on them better than probably anyone in the game.

Honourable mentions also to Xander who continues to show his talent, of which he has an abundance and also to Wood and Rose who at least gave the Brits something to shout about out their.

Sadly I don't see as many in contention as either the pundits or some of the fans seem to think. Anyone 5 under and below can wave goodbye to this years Open, even Molinari and Chappell's chances are low.

One of the leading 3 will take this, 95% certain it will Spieth. He will only need to shoot -3 under I think. Think Kisner & Xander will fold given the lack of experience on this grand a stage, one will likely have a collapse and the other possible shoot -1/-2 and fall short.

As an aside...listened to a lot of the media in the build up to this years open. Of the oft spoken about big 4 golfers (Woods,Spieth,Rory,Johnson) I found it fascinating to listen to them talk about winning and the mentality heading into these. For anyone wondering why Rory seems to have fallen off a cliff when it comes to Majors, his mindset in comparison to those around him is a big indicator as to why he can longer find the success he did years ago.

Golf Channel Analyst Brandel Chamblee is Monday Qualifying for the Senior British. And so is Jerry Foltz, a foot soldier on Golf Channel.

Anyone have the links to the qualifying?

GPB wrote:Golf Channel Analyst Brandel Chamblee is Monday Qualifying for the Senior British.  And so is Jerry Foltz, a foot soldier on Golf Channel.

Anyone have the links to the qualifying?

I'm not sure how they'll keep up with the scoring, but think this is the most likely option:

http://www.europeantour.com/staysuretour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018848/news/newsid=351996.html

beninho wrote:So many people are in this tournament. Its brilliant.

Yep, and you never get to see them. TV coverage dominated by Woods.

Forecast for 15-17mph winds. Could be enough to make things interesting.

Paul Lawrie doing work for Sky, BBC TV, and 5Live this weekend and probably making more money than if he was fit and playing

Paul Lawrie turns 50 on Jan 1st.
Imagine he'll be able to make a little cash in Senior golf, though don't think a Major Championship is sufficient to earn any Champions Tour exemption, unlike DC who has a free ride for a couple of years, longer if he should gain a spot in the WGHOF.

Future exemptions as consolation prizes:
Top 4 get a Masters invite.
Top 10 earn a spot in the field for Portrush.

Wind getting up, no one making a charge. I wonder if Day’s 68 will be the round of the day?

Bizarrely the guy with dreadful course management and no charisma seems to be managing the course better than anyone and drawing massive galleries. How odd.

The way Sky are showing every move Woods makes, i’m surprised they don’t have a pre-show feature on him getting up, taking a dump and brushing his teeth! That would have filled in the almost two hours of garbage we had before coverage actually started Thank goodness for recording so you can whizz through it all, and watch the Grand Prix as well!

To be fair, Woods is currently the hot player to be watching, I know that isn't always the case of course. The pack can afford the odd mistake now. Never know which Spieth you'll get, he needs to find the other one for the rest of this round.

Impressive from Woods so far, what a comeback it would make.

My brother texted me last night to ask if thought Tiger had a chance of winning. He doesn’t watch golf normally but has this week because of Tiger.

Might just be Rory's day. If Woods can't do it then I hope Rory can. I know he's popular on here but find Molinari to be a bit vanilla.

Molinari to Faldo it?

That bogey from McIlroy was an absolute shocker. First time it looks like he’s in with a shot and he chokes a short iron and three putts without even threatening the hole with the first two.

Woods should have this from here although he’s making heavy weather of the last few holes.

Going wrong for Woods now

Awful double for Woods on a relatively short hole. Will be interesting to see how he bounces back...

We're stuck watching Woods TV but looking increasingly as if that's all missing the point, hasn't actually played a good hole since the 7th.

Eight guys still well in it.

It was terrible from McIlroy Slippy,