I’m surprised there’s not a thread yet…
Hoylake is one of the less dramatic but most charming (and friendly) of The Open’s venues. Most of it is very flat but has really bold, direct mowing lines and doglegs, and its often blank canvas might just help identify the best player.
Most of the dunes and excitement are on the back 9 and much of the talk will be about the new 17th… Having visited both of its green side bunkers I can confirm they are horrific. They are deep enough that you can’t play a splash/explosion shot, I skimmed mine from the right (pictured) and ended up in the deep one on the left. Harrington in an Open Twitter vid showed that the best play should be to land it on the up-slope and skip the ball on to the green.
I’m putting my money on Scheffler. He just looks like an Open champion and is playing with Tiger like consistency up until the greens. So when his putter works he’s going to win, either here or in the playoffs.
Harrington looks good value for an each way bet.
Comments
I've played the real Hoylake.....over the road from "Royal Liverpool" and is a municipal course. Or should I say WAS as I believe it is no longer in use & this week is being used as a practice area.
I have a list of about 8 so far but not placed any yet and still refining.
I'll swerve Rory and Scottie even though most likely, they are way too short with question marks over both. Rory in a major, always has a bad round in him (usually the first). Scottie has the game to wipe the floor with anyone but currently his putting has let him down, if he turns up and putts better than average he will be the one to beat.
If Rory plays like last week and gets the putter going though, he'll walk it. Greens aren't as up n down as The Renaissance so he has every chance.
However gonna wait until tomorrow evening and see the weather compared to t-off times.
Rickie Fowler
Morikawa
Both EW, 10 places and a little boost on RF. Both feel a bit of value, as i stated before the 2 faves are probably the ones to beat, but no value and too short for my liking.
Will likely add another 6-8 by tomorrow morning, a couple of good long shots too
Koepka
Scott
Conners
Mccarty
possibly 2-3 longer shots still looking at.
Rose, Scottie, Fitzpatrick, Lowry, Fleetwood, Rory, Speith and Rahm.
Virgin are paying to 8th place, so have done those 8 above.
I've got about 11 in the end but also a few first round leaders, gone hard but quietly confident i should get a decent return.
on sky 90/1 Scottie wire to wire, if he gets his putting going feels far too big. Good start -2 from 4, but a long way to go.
Rahm, Rory and JT all forced to play away from the green in the past 20 minutes.
Which I'm not sure I'm a fan of, feels a little too penal. I've never seen so many backwards shots in one day.
I think because todays play of the Ashes is more important & that its only the 1st day of the Open meant that I mainly watched the cricket (especially before Rory tee'd off). I also agree with @RedPanda that the coverage was nowhere near as good as usual. Glad I didn't get up too early & turned on at 9am to watch Spieth tee off, only to find Dame Laura & Andrew Coltart having a chinwag by the side of the course.
If I hadn't of known the groupings I would have assumed Rose wasn't playing - once he was +3 they never showed his shots or putts.
Lamprecht is very tall and his swing is a little ugly but he played very well. The marquee groups had huge crowds following them.
I think Tommy stands a hell of a chance!
It is bizarre some of the coverage and a few players going under the radar/ not being shown. However i do still like it and i am watching again from now, interesting leaderboard with a few of the big names not too far away and then another well fancied really struggled. I enjoyed the bit at the end with Rahm/Thomas and Rory having to play out backwards, it made it interesting and also makes it harder, although as Golfie suggests they should be going past the pin really as there isn't much danger so maybe change of tactic from those today.
Still far too early to call but normally shapes up the end of 2nd round.
They just mentioned how they are raking the bunkers hopefully to give a bit more give so it comes back a bit more and not straight under the lip (whatever its called) should come back a few inches to allow for someone to get out easier.