Davis Love III Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 “This championship is the oldest championship that we have and it's the most prestigious.” – Phil Mickelson Golf's greatest championship returns to England’s west coast and to one of the nation’s most historic courses. Royal Liverpool Golf Club, with its links being commonly referred to as Hoylake, has hosted 11 Open Championships and multiple editions of the Amateur Championship throughout a storied existence that began in the mid-19th century. With the Open returning for a 12th time, it is coming back to a venue that has been the site of many of the championship's most indelible moments. It was at Hoylake in 1930 when Bobby Jones, the game's greatest ever amateur, completed the second-leg of his legendary Grand Slam. He would return home to a hero’s welcome, while a similar reaction would be befitting the great Australian, Peter Thomson, who competed a historic hat-trick of Open triumphs here in 1956. Walter Hagen, J.H. Taylor and Roberto De Vicenzo are among the other great names who have lifted the Claret Jug in-front of the beautiful clubhouse. However, Hoylake would take a lengthy sabbatical from hosting the championship after the Argentine was victorious in 1967. It would be 39 years before the R&A brought the Open back to Merseyside, but it would prove to be one of the most memorable. With one of the hottest and driest British summers on record, 2006 would see Hoylake play as firm and fast as any Open in memory. In fact, the fairways were so yellow that even Sergio Garcia’s now infamous canary shirt began to blend in. The Spaniard would also quite figuratively blend into the background on that final day, with the greatest player of the generation at his most impressive. Tiger Woods arrived at Wirral still mourning the recent passing of his father, Earl. Weary with grief, a few weeks earlier he had missed the cut at Winged Foot in the U.S. Open. But he arrived in England still the man to beat, and the defending champion after his second triumph at St. Andrews. With the fairways baked, Tiger only used his driver once during the 72-holes of the 135th Championship. Observers will debate whether it was down to strategic genius or fear of using a club that had long been his weakness, but there is no disputing the brilliance of his execution. It was perhaps the best ball-striking week of his career, with his trademark ‘stinger’ shot sending the ball down shooting the concrete fairways. In the final round, as the challengers faded, Woods would complete an exquisite 67 to close out a third Open Championship victory. It was a performance that perhaps lacked the dominance of 1997 and 2000, but it was certainly among the most impressive performances in a career that has yielded 14 major championships. As he returns to Hoylake, nine years on, it is a very different Tiger Woods that will compete. Injuries and the passage of time have taken their toll, with little in the way of competitive action to suggest that a dramatic victory is likely. But this is a man who has so often achieved what many believed to be improbable. Regardless, eyes are firmly fixed upon a cosmopolitan collection of challengers at a course that will look very different to what it did in 2006. With a warm and wet year thus far, Hoylake is unrecognisably green and lush. The rough is most certainly going to present an entirely different challenge, with hitting fairways now at an absolute premium. Those who longed for thick long-grass at Pinehurst will not be disappointed here. As always, the weather will be a crucial factor to look on. With the ever changing conditions on the seaside, the unpredictability could favour one half of the draw. Not always, but it has defined some Opens in the past. Although the light winds that have been forecast will reduce that meteorological influence. There is certainly moisture in the forecast, with rainfall very likely on Friday and Saturday. A consequently softer course may prove to increase the number of potential winners, in what has already been coined one of the most ‘open’ championships in memory. World number one Adam Scott will headline the contenders, as he looks to redeem his character building loss at Lytham two years ago. Henrik Stenson has arguably been the strongest performer of the last 12 months, while Bubba Watson Martin Kaymer will be looking to add their major haul this year. And what of Justin Rose, who is coming off victory at Royal Aberdeen a fortnight after winning in the United States. Clearly for the form player entering the week, with a win on the wonderful Balgownie links adding even more confidence to an Englishman who appears to be in the prime of his career. This is his time. It may also be Rory McIlroy’s time to shine, with the former world number one aiming to follow in Phil Mickelson’s footsteps by finally mastering the purest form of the game after doubting his credentials on the links. The expected-soft conditions may prove to be more appealing to the Northern Irishman, although Jason Day and Rickie Fowler will also see themselves as potential contenders from the mid-20s crew. It is certainly wide open, and that makes this, the 143rd Open Championship, an extremely compelling proposition. One of these 156 players will have their name etched on the Claret Jug, as they are enshrined with golfing immortality. And they will forever be the leading character of this new chapter in Hoylake’s storied history that we shall soon witness being written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Superb as ever DL3! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acannidaeit captain Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Tiger totally diff player when winning previous Jug, out of form, can't take driver out bag, which he might have to if wind blows, injuries taking its toll, don't think he'll make Top 20 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bairn Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Only 6 past champions to make the cut: Woods Harrington Els Mickelson Calcavecchia Oosthuizen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 DL3 iv been waiting for this thread. Glorious as ever. Only wee bet iv got so far is £5 e/w on Dubuission (sp?) at 100/1 Looking forward to laying on the sofa watching this for 4 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiechick Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Cheeky wee bet on Kaymer. Would like Gallacher to do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Tiger bogeys the opening 2 holes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest honestrae95 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Good to see Tiger making an arse of it early doors. Splendid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest honestrae95 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I've £1 e/w on Ilonen, Warren and Lowry and also stuck £10 on Tiger to miss the cut at 5/2. I also have Schwartzel and Bourdy in the work sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshmallo Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I've gone for the following e/w Mickelson Spieth Cabrera Karlsson Harrington Blixt Stadler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiechick Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Good start by Sergio I'm just waiting on him imploding - might wait til 4th round right enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I've got Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, Patrick Reed, Martin Kaymer and Mark Warren. Very calm conditions this morning, could be a low score there for someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killiesquirrel Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 The ones I've backed E/W are; Mikko Illonen Padraig Harringotn Rafael Cabrera-Bello Shane Lowry All are long shots tbh, since it's 7 places I'm hoping to get 1/2 placing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestersKTID Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Backed my normal few bets and the scots Mickelson at 28-1 Kaymer at 22-1 Speith at 33-1 Warren at 250-1 Galagher at 80-1 Jaimeson at 350-1 Lawrie at 150-1 All each way with paddy power so 7 places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottMc77 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Manassero Cink Lawrie Gallagher Lowry Stenson All £1 each way, except Henrik who got £2 e/w. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Very enjoyable morning of golf. Some good scoring out there today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Tiger doing remarkably well seem as he has played so little golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigOutYourSoul Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Very little work done this morning with the golf on the split screen. Some pretty enjoyable stuff, wind looking like it would be getting up a little bit but still good weather for someone to make a good score. Blixt, Lowry, Ootshuizen Walker Each way so hoping for a couple of places over the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Ernie Els what are you doing??? Ridiculous 4 putt on the 1st Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Ernie Els what are you doing??? Ridiculous 4 putt on the 1st He's now 6 over thru 6 holes. Now a bit of wind blowing so the early starters have probably had the best chance to get a low score in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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