The Open Championship- St. Andrews

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Well this should be awesome. Spieth will be the talk of the tournament as he attempts to win his 3rd major in a row and continue his quest towards the grand slam. Fowler's taken the next step in 2015, and just won in Scotland this week, so he's trying to repeat Mickelson's 2013 and win the Scottish Open and Open in back-to-back weeks. Rory blew out his ankle, so that is sad.
 
Early odds:
 
http://sports.bovada.lv/sports-betting/golf-european-tour.jsp
 
Spieth 9/2
DJ 12/1
Fowler 16/1
Rose 18/1
Stenson 20/1
Woods 20/1
Scott 22/1
Oosthuizen 22/1
Day 28/1
Matsuyama 30/1
 
 

Number45forever

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2003
1,970
Vermont
I really hope it's not a calm four days wind wise.  If the course is soft like it's purported to be, and they get no wind, someone is shooting like -22.  Then we'd have a series of articles and analysis from talking heads saying St. Andrews can't stand up to the modern game.  I want to watch Opens here until I'm old an gray so I want to see the course put up a fight.  Just watched the reply of the 1978 and 1995 Opens on Golf Channel and the course played so difficult in both.  So much fun to watch.
 
Rickie and Spieth are too easy for me this week.  I think Tiger will play well.  I think a long hitter will win, Dustin Johnson has to be considered a favorite.  Could be a bounce back for DJ similar to how Rory won the '11 US Open after gagging away the Masters.
 
Can't.  Fucking.  Wait.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
Number45forever said:
I really hope it's not a calm four days wind wise.  If the course is soft like it's purported to be, and they get no wind, someone is shooting like -22.  Then we'd have a series of articles and analysis from talking heads saying St. Andrews can't stand up to the modern game.  I want to watch Opens here until I'm old an gray so I want to see the course put up a fight.  Just watched the reply of the 1978 and 1995 Opens on Golf Channel and the course played so difficult in both.  So much fun to watch.
 
Rickie and Spieth are too easy for me this week.  I think Tiger will play well.  I think a long hitter will win, Dustin Johnson has to be considered a favorite.  Could be a bounce back for DJ similar to how Rory won the '11 US Open after gagging away the Masters.
 
Can't.  Fucking.  Wait.
 
I don't think you need to worry about that. It's been in the rotation since 1873 and despite the total number at a given time, every five years since 1990, with the other courses varying in gap - Royal Portrush is being added in 2019 to bring it back to 10, but St. Andrew's will likely keep their every five years. The R&A isn't like the USGA that they feel the need to move it around so much. 
 

SoxJox

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2003
7,082
Rock > SoxJox < Hard Place
Corsi said:
Sergio wins his first major.
 
cshea said:
http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/news/2015/07/130/tee-times-the-open-championship.html

Tee times...notable groups
Early-late

Spieth/DJ/Matsuyama
Woods/Day/Oosty
Garcia/Westwood/Reed
Poulter/Schwartzel/Bubba

Late-Early

Kuchar/Mickelson/Stenson
Faldo/Rose/Fowler

Early forecast is that there could be some rain and wind late Thursday into Friday. Course will be soft.
The more likely scenario: Gusty morning winds calm in the afternoon on Thursday. Stemp at 13 in the AM.  A short mid-day rain softens the greens for afternoon play.  On Friday the forecasted wind and rain hold off until 30 minutes prior to Sergio's tee time.  Stemp at 10.  Garcia waa, waa, waas about the unfair playing conditions for the others that went out at different tee times than he did.  Wouldn't be like it's the first time he's done this.  He's 8 strokes off the lead going in Friday.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
FL4WL3SS said:
Tom Watson is saying goodbye to The Open and at the perfect venue. Possibly the greatest links golf player ever.
 
I'm hoping he makes the cut.
I believe it is also Faldo's last Open. Doubt he sniffs the cut.
 
SoxJox said:
 
The more likely scenario: Gusty morning winds calm in the afternoon on Thursday. Stemp at 13 in the AM.  A short mid-day rain softens the greens for afternoon play.  On Friday the forecasted wind and rain hold off until 30 minutes prior to Sergio's tee time.  Stemp at 10.  Garcia waa, waa, waas about the unfair playing conditions for the others that went out at different tee times than he did.  Wouldn't be like it's the first time he's done this.  He's 8 strokes off the lead going in Friday.
 
FWIW, the weather forecast for St. Andrews currently suggests light winds on Thursday morning which escalate into heavier winds on Thursday afternoon, followed by seriously blustery conditions on Friday and Saturday which may ultimately slacken on Sunday:
 
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gfn082rs6#?fcTime=1437004800
 
If this forecast proves accurate, players with Thursday morning tee times might have a very slight advantage over players with Thursday afternoon tee times...but more importantly, St. Andrews could have some real teeth for the first time at an Open since 1995.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
61,996
New York City
Sox and Rocks said:
Absolutely. I will offer this bet to anyone. Name the amount.
 
If I knew you, I would definitely lay a G on that, just for sport. But expecting an internet stranger to pay 20k on the off chance that Tiger wins is a level of trust I do not have.
 

fletcherpost

sosh's feckin' poet laureate
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,139
Glasgow, Scotland
They've got a 28 player champions trophy four ball on at the moment.  Arnie, Ernie, Phil, Tiger, Tom Watson, Tony Jacklin, Faldo etc etc...nice weather, live on the BBC. If there's a tie the oldest team wins. Everyone's in good spirits doing interviews on the fairways. I wanted to go this week but I'm up in Perth so I'll miss it, won't even be watching on TV. But i was in St Andrews last month and it's one of my favourite places and i hope I'll get my dad's hoose in Pittenweem cos I love the East Neuk, it's as beautiful as anywhere in the world and up and down the coast there's Americans playing the many links courses. We walked Elie golf course a couple of weeks back, great views.
 
I guess what we want is sunshine and wind. And normally you're more likely to get wind this time of year so here's hoping cos as some have said the course can get a bit soft if there's no wind.
 
No idea who's gonna win. Be nice to see a relative old timer do well. But Fowler would be a popular win too.
 
Edit: Tom Watson just said there's gonna be some stiff winds on Friday.
 

WayBackVazquez

white knight against high school nookie
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
8,294
Los Angeles
johnmd20 said:
If I knew you, I would definitely lay a G on that, just for sport. But expecting an internet stranger to pay 20k on the off chance that Tiger wins is a level of trust I do not have.
I will take this action. I have references. (Not to mention an ability to get 30:1.)
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
FL4WL3SS said:
My draft kings lineup:
 
Adam Scott
Ricky Fowler
Jimmy Walker
Hideki Matsuyama
Kevin Kisner
James Hahn
 
I went: 
 
Keegan Bradley
Jason Dufner
Rickie Fowler
Charley Hoffman
Kevin Na
Jordan Speith
 
Pretty sure I wasted $3, but that's nothing new, I suck at fantasy golf. 
 

McBride11

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
22,110
Durham, NC
Does / will ESPN replay the full round starting at like 4est or just highlights?

I am growing fan of golf as I get older but St Andrews I was always a fan of growing up. Sadly the only time I was there was to play in a soccer tournament and I was too young to really appreciate the course and history. I did play the putting course or whatever it was there. So if anyone does ask, I do say I played St Andrews.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
17 DraftKings lineups.  I think I have a problem.
 
Tommy Fleetwood, Rafael Cabrera Bello and David Howell are my sleepers for the week.
 
Looking for big things out of Hideki Matsuyama.  Wouldn't shock me if he won it.
 
I need to get to bed.  4AM wake up call.
 

Sox and Rocks

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2013
5,826
Northern Colorado
johnmd20 said:
 
If I knew you, I would definitely lay a G on that, just for sport. But expecting an internet stranger to pay 20k on the off chance that Tiger wins is a level of trust I do not have.
Any chance you'll be in or around Denver on Sunday? We can watch the final round over drinks and throw the cash on the table. I'll buy (with your money, via the winnings that is)
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
Lingmerth out to a -6 under start, with a birdie putt on 9 coming. Early tee times might have a big advantage of things get nasty because right now it's totally benign out there.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Tiger has chunked 3 of 4 full shots. His approach on 2 from 177 came up about 40 yards short. Birdies everywhere and he's got 2 squares on the card to start his day.

Spieth is off is at -2 through 3.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
This is fun. Golf and coffee. DJ is just incredible to watch. When Bubba hits it, he goes after it. When DJ hits it driver, it looks like a short iron swing.
 

Average Reds

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 24, 2007
35,330
Southwestern CT
PaulinMyrBch said:
This is fun. Golf and coffee. DJ is just incredible to watch. When Bubba hits it, he goes after it. When DJ hits it driver, it looks like a short iron swing.
Agreed. There are a bunch of players that I just get a tremendous kick out of watching, and DJ is at or close to the top of the list. Just effortless power.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Wow, Tiger just missed an 18 inch putt on the par 5, made bogey. He's a trainwreck. Hard to understand how he comes off a round at the Greenbrier where he didn't make a bogey and 2 weeks later, he can't hit short irons crisp or make gimmie putts. 
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
DJ just drove a green at 352 as Andy North was saying "he's got to fit it in between two bunkers that sit about 300 yards out". Flew it 330 at least, must have been soft or slightly uphill as it didn't roll much at all. The bunkers weren't is sight on the shot tracking his ball. 
 

Average Reds

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 24, 2007
35,330
Southwestern CT
Tiger is about to go +4 (if he misses the upcoming 5 footer) and head into the heart of the course. He may be in the 80s.

Exit: he missed. Holy crap he's bad.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Holy shit, DJ just 20 yards short on a par 4 measuring 386. Not sure if that is the true distance, but the on screen yardage said 386. 
 
I'm actually impressed guys like Jordan aren't effected by his length when playing in the same group. Crazy.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Azinger talking about distance control and Tiger like its a guy hitting a flyer occasionally. I wouldn't call chunked short irons distance control issues. He's not hitting it on the face. 
 
I doubt when he chunked it in the creek (can't spell bern) he looked at his caddy and complained about how the ball is just not coming off the club. 
 
Azinger and Strange approach Harold Reynolds and Erin Andrews level bad.
 

PaulinMyrBch

Don't touch his dog food
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2003
8,316
MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Average Reds said:
These announcers are ruthlessly bad.

Still better than Fox at the U.S. open, but inane all the same.
It's horrible. North, Strange, and Azinger feel the need to speak rather than give us credit for knowing what we are seeing. Van Pelt is the only one I enjoy on this telecast. 
 
Tiger = Trainwreck. Another missed 2 footer. I think I could play him straight up today and win.