The Open Championship 2018 at Carnoustie

[stringertom]

Play begins Thursday at one of Scotland's toughest tracks, site of the French Flop by Van de Velde in 1999.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth is in the field but has struggled this year a bit at the majors (even year jinx?). Dustin Johnson leads the list from the bookies at a 12-1 payout number.

Tiger Woods is brimming with confidence in his pressers.

Weather along the North Sea coastline in Scotland looks fairly benign with mild temperatures and not too heavy winds. Rain chances are worst on Friday (70%) but little chance of precipitation on Thursday or over the weekend.

Who ya got and why?

@r2473 goes long with John Daly, of course

 

[jaggy]

As a young boy I went to a football (sacker) match at Arbroath which is just up the coast. It wasn't winter and should have been tolerable but if my memory serves me correctly it was so cold everyone in attendance lost at least a limb to frostbite. It is a very very cold, blowy part of a country kind of famous for cold and blowy. Here is the locale in a pic. Good luck to all the brave sportsmen attending.

 

[stringertom]

As a young boy I went to a football (sacker) match at Arbroath which is just up the coast. It wasn't winter and should have been tolerable but if my memory serves me correctly it was so cold everyone in attendance lost at least a limb to frostbite. It is a very very cold, blowy part of a country kind of famous for cold and blowy. Here is the locale in a pic. Good luck to all the brave sportsmen attending.

Tomorrow's high will be 70F with winds at 12mph. The temperatures are supposed to be fairly close to that, even with the expected rain on Friday. Sunday's "air" will be the strongest at 17mph.

 

[MarcusInKensington]

I think Rickie Fowler might win. But then again he might not. He will either win, or he won’t.

 

[stringertom]

I think Rickie Fowler might win. But then again he might not. He will either win, or he won’t.

What's your lesson rate on fence straddling??

Rickie is due and I would be happy if he wins. ABR for me though...anyone but Reed.

Every time I pick Rory on a windy links course he flops. I'm taking him to break that jinx this week.

 

[MarcusInKensington]

What's your lesson rate on fence straddling??

Rickie is due and I would be happy if he wins. ABR for me though...anyone but Reed.

Every time I pick Rory on a windy links course he flops. I'm taking him to break that jinx this week.

These splinters are quite painful.

Reed could be in with a shout. He controls his balls very well, and could be in contention on Sunday if it’s a bit blowy and/or he gets away with cheating to victory.

Rory... no chance. Until he gets a decent caddy he won’t be winning any more majors.

 

[THE MAN]

Ben Hogan.....if he was alive.

 

[r2473]

Play begins Thursday at one of Scotland's toughest tracks, site of the French Flop by Van de Velde in 1999.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth is in the field but has struggled this year a bit at the majors (even year jinx?). Dustin Johnson leads the list from the bookies at a 12-1 payout number.

Tiger Woods is brimming with confidence in his pressers.

Weather along the North Sea coastline in Scotland looks fairly benign with mild temperatures and not too heavy winds. Rain chances are worst on Friday (70%) but little chance of precipitation on Thursday or over the weekend.

Who ya got and why?

@r2473 goes long with John Daly, of course

Big John is long overdue for a win. I think this might be his time

I’ll say Justin Thomas

 

[fireandwind]

You again.

I think there will be a surprising new winner this time.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Heart with Tiger as usual even if you know it ain't happening.

 

[stringertom]

The course looks like the desert! A lot of roll out if you find the fairway but the greens are also not receptive. Gonna take a good short game to win in these conditions.

 

[stringertom]

@r2473 has a second favorite after Long John...it's Twinkle Toes Tony and the Finau is phenomenal at -4, just one shot off the lead!

 

[stringertom]

Tiger taped up with Kinesio tape from sleeping badly on his neck. It's working so far...2 under through five and his tee shot on #6 rolled out 91 yards from landing in the rock hard fairway.

 

[stringertom]

#15 is almost unplayable for Justin Thomas...his drive found a he one bit of green in the fescue rough and he made too good of his contact when his shot landed 20 or more yards short of the green and wound up running all the way off the tabletop surface and came to rest 30 yards past the pin.

 

[stringertom]

JT will save par on a chip to a foot from the hole. He heads to #16 just two back of Kevin Kisner.

Rory is headed to #18 at -2, three back.

 

[r2473]

As a side note, the Web.com tour was in Salt Lake last week. Monday qualifying hopefuls had to shoot a 64 or better to qualify outright. 65’s played sudden death playoff holes for the remaining spots. The winning score was -24 under par (only because the winner, Cameron Champ was playing conservative on Sunday).

Remember, that’s how good to have to be just to play in golf’s minor leagues. Mind blowing!!

Also, Cameron Champ AVERAGED 390 yards driving distance for the week. Yes, averaged. Sure, Salt Lake City is at 4,200 altitude, so that inflated it by 7%. So at sea level, he must average 365 yards.

 

[stringertom]

As a result of the harder baked afternoon conditions and the fresher winds, none of the last 16 groups (48 players) finished under par. Tiger led that pack with an even par 71, five shots behind leader Kisner. Finau and two young South Africans are one back. Three more at -3. The large pack at -2 include major winners Rory, Zach Johnson and Justin Thomas as well as big Jon Rahm.

Rain overnight and early morning with wind could really hurt those starting early. That could widen the gap and secure another Open at Carnastie won by someone within the top 12 after the first round.

 

[fireandwind]

The course looks like the desert! A lot of roll out if you find the fairway but the greens are also not receptive. Gonna take a good short game to win in these conditions.

You know British courses are so dry and ugly compare to well groomed American or Dubai golf courses.

 

[stringertom]

You know British courses are so dry and ugly compare to well groomed American or Dubai golf courses.

They are normally much greener but there's been a drought in the hottest summer on record. Nature is their normal irrigation system, unlike the locations you mentioned that rely on sprinklers to keep everything pretty to the eye.

Give me a links course any day!

 

[r2473]

You know British are so dry and ugly compare to well groomed American .

 

[fireandwind]

lol. you are not agreeing with me?

They are normally much greener but there's been a drought in the hottest summer on record. Nature is their normal irrigation system, unlike the locations you mentioned that rely on sprinklers to keep everything pretty to the eye.

Give me a links course any day!

I think most golf courses are maintained by sprinkler system to make it pretty. Just like many women depend on the makeup to look good. Unfortunately British is depending on the nature to maintain their courses, it is inevitable to be ugly when weather is uncooperative.

 

[stringertom]

Rain came overnight as predicted to soften conditions and scores have dropped with about half the field now in the clubhouse.

The cut will be about +3 or lower if the scores continue to drop now that all the rain has cleared.

The co-leaders are 1R leader Kisner (still playing) and Open'15 champion Zach Johnson. Low scoring (63 at USO) Tommy Fleetwood is one back after a 65. Rory Baggins shot another 69 is at -4. Tiger is a bit further back at even par but safely in the weekend field.

Notable casualties headed home early are #1 and #2 Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas. Sergio will also say, "Adios!"

 

[stringertom]

@r2473 , band with me bro to help form the Official Julian SURI Phan Club. He walked off #18 today having maid the cut and will play the weekend!!!

 

[stringertom]

What a great leaderboard as we head to the weekend! Co-leaders are Kevin Kisner and Open'15 champion Zach Johnson at -6, one stroke better than the trio of PGA 2017 ROY Xander Schauffele, veteran Pat Perez and go-very-low Tommy Fleetwood, who shot a bogey-free 65 in the poor morning weather. We've also got Rory Baggins, Twinkle Toes Finau and Matt Kuchar two back with defending champion Jordan Spieth and always a leaderboard resident Rickie Fowler three back. All in all, 39 players at even par and within six shots of the lead.

 

[jaggy]

Saw some highlights, lot of sweaters and jackets being worn

 

[stringertom]

Saw some highlights, lot of sweaters and jackets being worn

Rainy day of the four...back to the broiler for the weekend with highs 18 C tomorrow and 23 C on Championship Sunday. Winds under 15 mph the whole time. It's Carnicetie time!!!

 

[fireandwind]

Go Rickie !
go Jordan!

 

[stringertom]

Go low. Chris Wood! The tall Englishman started early today but has shinnied up the leaderboard to within one shot of the leaders as he plays the par 5 14th hole.

 

[stringertom]

Go low, Justin Rose! Shot a 64 to get within two strokes of the lead at -4.

 

[stringertom]

Stars heating up...Tiger charging and Spieth eagled #1 after driving the green and sinking his putt in a dramatic 360 spin around the cup.

Spieth is one back and Tiger is one more behind the defending champion.

 

[stringertom]

Fowler birdies #2 and is two back.

I have a feeling someone is going really low today!

 

[stringertom]

Spieth has a kick in at #4 to tie the leaders! Tiger has a 25 foot birdie at #13 to also tie but it just misses.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

How did that stay out? So close for a share of the lead.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Pat Perez ftw

 

[Mr.Lob]

Wow, Tiger only one back. Yipee.

Has eagle putt for lead.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Barely misses. Makes the bird.Tied for lead

 

[stringertom]

Six-pack at the top at -6.

Fowler fouls up at #4 and makes a snowman.

Chappell bogeys to drop out of the lead.

Tiger so close to -7 but pars and heads to the toughest three closing holes in golf as the winds pick up a bit.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I want to see Tiger in contention on the final day. Come on.

 

[stringertom]

Kisner (rhymes with Isner) the first to -7 today as Tiger bogeys #16 for a two-shot swing.

 

[rainingaces]

Kevin Kisner's success is a carry off from the epic wimbledon semi final.

 

[rainingaces]

Tiger in trouble on 18 but he should make par after a good recovery.

 

[rainingaces]

Zach Johnson makes a 60 foot eagle put to go to -7.

 

[stringertom]

Zach Johnson rams in a very long Eagle putt to briefly tie for the lead before Kisner two-putts the same green for a birdie and a one-shot lead at -8.

 

[rainingaces]

Zach Johnson rams in a very long Eagle putt to briefly tie for the lead before Kisner two-putts the same green for a birdie and a one-shot lead at -8.

2nd time Johnson has eagled that hole this week, maybe Jesus is on his side.

Everyone seemed to expect Kisner to fall away but he is playing very solid golf around here.

 

[stringertom]

2nd time Johnson has eagled that hole this week, maybe Jesus is on his side.

Everyone seemed to expect Kisner to fall away but he is playing very solid golf around here.

His double bogey on #18 yesterday was Van der Veldian. Otherwise, he has been rock solid.

Surrounded by major winners, it will be a surprise if he or Schauffele wind up champion golfer of the year though.

 

[stringertom]

Spieth vaults into the solo lead but he has had problems on the closing holes in the first two rounds.

 

[stringertom]

Spieth navigates the minefield and finishes at -9. Schauffele has joined him as he tees off at the long par-3 16th.

 

[fireandwind]

Go Rickie !
go Jordan!

I don't know where Rickie go. But look Jordan. He is the top again

 

[Mr.Lob]

Tiger in a tie for 6th, 4 shots back. Only 5 players in front of him. Log jam of players at -5. Surprised? Predict where he finishes. I'm guessing starts strong, fades on back 9. Still good enough for top 10.

 

[clout]

If I had to put my bet on anyone winning tomorrow, I'd pick Speith. This kid can flat out play and when the stakes rise high, Speith's mental game rises even higher! Every golf fans dream though is to see Speith vs Woods in the final 9 holes of a major tournament. If the trophy for grabs comes down between those two, man the golf world would likely explode