1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Thursday “British Open–Wide Open”
“The Open–Wide Open”
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They are teeing off at this hour there in Scotland, the 150th playing of the British Open at St. Andrew’s in Scotland, the home of golf
There will be heat, high winds, then some rain over the next four days. The 7200-yard course is flat, and that wind will blow in off the Irish Sea, changing the course from morning to afternoon impacting all the groups.
If the winds don’t come uip, par will take a beating. If the rain and wind shows, everyone will be taking bogeys.
The Open is wide open. Age, injury, the distraction of the Saudi Super League war are all part of the storylines.
TIGER WOODS is here and had good practice rounds, but no one knows his ability to walk 18-holes each day. He has played just 7-rounds of golf this year.
PHIL MICKELSON is here, but has been distant to the media, some of it because of his stance on the PGA, the other because of 33rd and 42nd place finishes in his last two tournaments. He has lost his game.
DUSTIN JOHNSON has not shown the strong personality dominance on the LIV tour that he has shown when he was on the GA
XANDER SCHAUFFELE is hot, having won the last two stops on the tour.
JON RAHM seems to be at the peak of his game right now, but can he do that on the Scottish links course.
BRYSON DE CHAMBEAU is fightting thru wrist issues and does not seem at the top of his game.
BROOKS KOEPKA does not seem to be the same golfer he was prior to knee surgeries.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER had the hot start but hasn’t won in a couple of months after his emotional major wins.
RORY MC ILROY has been blazing, on the course and under the collar over the golf-money wars. He has not been distracted but strongly opinionated about the tour and the upstart rival.
PATRICK CANTLAY seems on the brink of a breakthru with his career and stringing four good rounds together could still happen.
Players are tired of answering questions about the guys who defected. This civil war is not over. The leaders of the Grand Slam events are under pressure to expel those who jumped for the guaranteed paydays.
But as they play today, that is going to be put aside for the next four days.
Golfers vs the course; vs the weather; vs each other.
Scotland will offer up its legendary tradition, it’s volatile weather and its wind.
Going to be fun on the course for sure.
The Open will be wide open as to who wins.
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