- Sep 1, 2004
- 6,542
- 4,976
So Jordan and Ricky are both riding high coming into St. Andrews, with wins under their belts. And Dustin is looking good too. And with Rory sitting at home nursing his wonky ankle it looks like a lock for a Team Murica Open win, right?
Well, let's see. Cool temperatures and brisk winds will make things interesting as usual. The greens are soft so it will play more into the hands on the GIR men rather than the "chip and putt" merchants. The rough is very lush, so again FIR will help, none of the whispy burned rough from a hot dry summer. And someone who can flight their ball well in the wind will be at an advantage. This week will be very similar to the Scottish Open conditions from last week, not like Chambers Bay. Drivers will be more evident than long irons. Ricky seemed to relish the conditions.
As usual a wee bit of luck will be required, especially with tee-times. Factored with the tide, wind strength can vary from morning to afternoon (or vice versa) by 20mph or more. On the wrong side can mean missing a cut for even players in good form. Form certainly plays it's role, but this is the Open, meaning any number of players could win. Will it be an America, a European or an Aussie / Kiwi? Or indeed someone else? I would love to see Irish man Shane Lowry doing well this week, I have this feeling it is his time, so let's see.
I was lucky enough to be a member of the New Club at St. Andrews for a few years when I lived in Scotland, so I played this old lady several times. It was always a treat, so I'm especially looking forward to watching this week. Here's what I'm looking forward to:
Well, let's see. Cool temperatures and brisk winds will make things interesting as usual. The greens are soft so it will play more into the hands on the GIR men rather than the "chip and putt" merchants. The rough is very lush, so again FIR will help, none of the whispy burned rough from a hot dry summer. And someone who can flight their ball well in the wind will be at an advantage. This week will be very similar to the Scottish Open conditions from last week, not like Chambers Bay. Drivers will be more evident than long irons. Ricky seemed to relish the conditions.
As usual a wee bit of luck will be required, especially with tee-times. Factored with the tide, wind strength can vary from morning to afternoon (or vice versa) by 20mph or more. On the wrong side can mean missing a cut for even players in good form. Form certainly plays it's role, but this is the Open, meaning any number of players could win. Will it be an America, a European or an Aussie / Kiwi? Or indeed someone else? I would love to see Irish man Shane Lowry doing well this week, I have this feeling it is his time, so let's see.
I was lucky enough to be a member of the New Club at St. Andrews for a few years when I lived in Scotland, so I played this old lady several times. It was always a treat, so I'm especially looking forward to watching this week. Here's what I'm looking forward to:
- The potential to see modern day history if Jordan pulls this one off.
- The random stranger leading after the first few rounds? Who?
- Watching the Road Hole (17th), what a hole!
- Tom Watson's farewell to The Open, what a legend!
- It all coming down to the wire on the back nine of Sunday with 6 or 7 players in the mix, all of them with opportunities, and then for someone to burst through and become a fitting Champion on the 18th green.