Davis Love III Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Twelve years after the largely unheralded journeyman Todd Hamilton snatched the Claret Jug from the grasp of former winner Ernie Els, the Open Championship makes a long-awaited return to Scotland’s West Coast, and more specifically; Royal Troon, for a ninth occasion. Few would consider the Ayrshire links, which succeeded nearby Prestwick on the revered rotation during the 1920s, as being their favourite venue, but it remains a solid examination of seaside golf, particularly the formidable back-nine, which is likely to provide a fearsome conclusion to the 145th Open if there is any semblance of breeze in the wearied faces of those in contention. There is little to dislike about Troon, but it lacks the romantic charm of the other venues. Unless, that is, you are American. Since 1962, when Arnold Palmer, whose appearances in Britain rejuvenated golf’s oldest major, successfully defended the title he had won 12 months previously at Royal Birkdale, there has been an inexplicable dominance on this respected old course by golfers from the United States. The legendary Pennsylvanian produced a masterful display to dominate the field, leading over the last three rounds to ultimately finish six clear of Australia’s Kel Nagle, who had ironically denied the game’s most popular exponent victory at St. Andrews during his debut bow across the pond in 1960. It would take more than a decade for the Open to make a return to Ayrshire, where England’s Arthur Havers and South Africa’s Bobby Locke had previously triumphed. Troon’s next championship, in 1973, would be remembered for two reasons; it was the only major title secured by sweet-swinging Tom Weiskopf, and it also saw the great Gene Sarazen, in his 72nd year, making a farewell hole-in-one on the famed eighth hole during the first round. The Postage Stamp, measuring a mere 123 yards on the scorecard, has long been established as one of the game’s finest and enduringly challenging par threes, ranking alongside Augusta National’s 12th, Pebble Beach’s seventh, and the brilliant 11th at the Old Course of St. Andrews. This hole, which punishes those who dare to hit an imperfect shot, and the brutally difficult 11th, The Railway, 490 yards of terror that was described by Palmer as being “the most dangerous hole I've ever seen”, are likely to be the most discussed during this year’s championship. Back to those Americans, however, and nine years after the tall Ohioan took the title from Johnny Miller, it would be the greatest links player of the modern era, Tom Watson, who found success at Troon, clinching his fourth victory by a solitary shot from England’s Peter Oosterhuis, and future champion Nick Price, with the Kansas-native being serenaded by applause and cheers from the Scottish galleries who respected his skill and fortitude to reign supreme on their historic courses. At the end of the decade, it would be another American, this time in the form of Mark Calcavecchia, who overcame two Australian major champions, Greg Norman and Wayne Grady, in a playoff that concluded a memorable Open. The Shark, who won at nearby Turnberry in 1986, had shot a course-record of 64 to secure his participation in extra holes, before disaster struck on the 18th to hand the Claret Jug to the burly 29-year-old from Nebraska. It would be the turn of Texas in 1997, with Justin Leonard holing putts from all directions to etch a scintillating final round of 65, which saw him take advantage of the struggles of Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik, who dragged each other down in the last pairing. For the 25-year-old from Dallas, who later played on three Ryder Cup teams, it would be the only major of a career that has brought 12 victories on the PGA Tour, with the finest being that day at Troon. The aforementioned Hamilton, a 38-year-old who had played for much of his career in Japan, had claimed his maiden title on the main tour in the States earlier in 2004 at the Honda Classic, but few could have seen him as a potential winner of the Open. But it was an era of surprise major victors, with the likes of Rich Beem, Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel all securing one of the game’s four most prestigious events around the same time. That would ultimately prove to usurp those who were hoping to witness a duel between Els and Phil Mickelson, just months after their dramatic contest at Augusta. It had looked like being a possibility during an unpredictable Sunday, but Hamilton made three birdies on the back-nine to take control, before a bogey on the 18th saw him fall into a playoff with the South African, who had made gains on the 16th and 17th to boost his chances of a second Open win. Onto those extra holes, with the 11-time Japan Tour champion continuing the solid golf he had displayed all week, relying on his trusty short game to make four pars to finish one ahead of the 2002 victor at Muirfield, who had dropped a shot after overshooting the green on the 17th. Afterwards, the surprise champion, who returns to Troon this week at the age of 50, said: “I was trying to look around as much as I could to soak it all in. So to be Open champion is very special.” It certainly is. And someone else will experience that moment on Sunday. Just remember to back an American winner.
Salvo Montalbano Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 As long as it isn't one of the moaners who have pulled out of Rio.
Poet of the Macabre Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Incredible OP. Should be interesting watching on Sky and seeing what they do with it. Will be strange having adverts but no Peter Alliss and Ken on the Course makes me happy. I fancy Luke Donald to win. I have no reason for this other than a strange feeling I have.
Poet of the Macabre Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Justin Rose is in the poll twice...taking it he's your pick Davis?
ICTJohnboy Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Great preview as always from Davis Love 111 Not sure about backing an American, so I'm going with Jason Day, Shane Lowry and Branden Grace.
lichtie23 Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Glorious as always DL3.Won't catch much of the 1st day but should be able to watch the rest of the tournament uninterrupted. Nice touch from the R&A to let Monty tee off 1st
lichtie23 Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Anyone been watching the Official Open films that they are showing in SS1?
Mark Connolly Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Although the Open regularly produces surprise winners, I can't remember the last time I didn't even have a clue who to stick my money on. No-one really standing out at the moment, could genuinely be most of the field.
Stu Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 5 hours ago, lichtie23 said: Anyone been watching the Official Open films that they are showing in SS1? Why are Sky showing the films - have they got the rights to the Open? You'd think they might have mentioned it... DJ for the win for me. Now that he's got one major under his belt I expect him to add a few more in the next few years. Anyone going to be heading to Troon? Hoping to go Friday/Sunday but might only go on the final day as the forecast for Friday is awful.
Dindeleux Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 Why are Sky showing the films - have they got the rights to the Open? You'd think they might have mentioned it... DJ for the win for me. Now that he's got one major under his belt I expect him to add a few more in the next few years. Anyone going to be heading to Troon? Hoping to go Friday/Sunday but might only go on the final day as the forecast for Friday is awful. Got Sunday tickets, I'm with you on DJ and he is one of those I'm looking forward to seeing the most.My brother in law is marshalling and is there all week for practise days, was out walking with Speith on Sunday just gone.
Davis Love III Posted July 12, 2016 Author Posted July 12, 2016 14 hours ago, Poet of the Macabre said: Justin Rose is in the poll twice...taking it he's your pick Davis? Ha! I've just noticed that. Believe he was my pick at the start of the year....
peasy23 Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 I was down today, will try and post some pictures tomorrow if I get the chance. Course looks in terrific condition, greens look fast but not ridiculously so. As usual the weather will play a big part in the Open, and what half of the draw you are in could be decisive. There was hardly any breeze at all this morning but there was a fairly stiff breeze in the early afternoon. I watched one fourball in the 12th which was straight upwind, and one of them had 3 goes at the green and was short every time, and he and his caddy looked utterly bemused. Saw Bubba, DJ, and Rory, all striking it well and looking comfortable with the pace of the greens. Longest drive I saw was by David Lingmerth on 6 which was around the 350 mark, and was further than both Bubba and DJ who were in the groups behind. Best shot was by David Duval, a low fizzer on the par 3 17th which ran about 10 ft past.
itzdrk Posted July 12, 2016 Posted July 12, 2016 First year it will be at Troon since i was born no going. Those prices
doulikefish Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 19 hours ago, lichtie23 said: Anyone been watching the Official Open films that they are showing in SS1? Some are good,but im enjoying the 'Chronicles of a champion golfer" more
dogmc Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 Although the Open regularly produces surprise winners, I can't remember the last time I didn't even have a clue who to stick my money on. No-one really standing out at the moment, could genuinely be most of the field. Darren clarke maybe?
ArabGaz Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 Anyone been watching the Official Open films that they are showing in SS1? I watched the Greg Norman. I loved that guy in the early 90's. What a ball striker and I find it hard to believe that he only has 2 majors to look back on. I've watched a fair bit of the preview shows with Rob Lee at the practice ground with Claude Harmon and the tracer machine. Really enjoyable.As for the tournament itself i've got money e/w on Furyk (70/1) and Chris Wood (90/1). I tend to shy away from backing the favourites and always look for outsiders who might be there or thereabouts. Furyk was pretty poor last time out at the WGC but he always seems to be in with a chance at the Majors come day 4. Also got a quid on Monty at 200/1 [emoji106]
peasy23 Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 Some pics from yesterday. The last pic is from next to the 11th tee, you can't see any of the fairway from the teeing ground. Pretty fearsome looking from there.
peasy23 Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 Been swithering all week who to back, finally went for Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. If anyone hasn't noticed the full first day is available free on Sky 1 as well as the Sky Open Channel.
CY2508 Posted July 13, 2016 Posted July 13, 2016 I'm Marshalling on the 11th this week. Lost count of the amount of balls going over the railway. This hole will make or break someone's title challenge over the weekend. Monster of a hole
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