Showing posts with label British Open 1975. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Open 1975. Show all posts
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
British Open Preview
This year's British Open is at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in the northwest of England. I have never liked this course -- I think it's ugly and boring. It starts with a par-3, there are only two par-5's on the course, and it ends with six consecutive par-4's. Here is the list of holes:
1. par 3, 206 yds
2. par 4, 481 yds
3. par 4, 477 yds
4. par 4, 392 yds
5. par 3, 219 yds
6. par 4, 492 yds
7. par 5, 592 yds
8. par 4, 416 yds
9. par 3, 165 yds
Out: par 34, 3,440 yds
10. par 4, 387 yds
11. par 5, 598 yds
12. par 3, 198 yds
13. par 4, 355 yds
14. par 4, 444 yds
15. par 4, 462 yds
16. par 4, 336 yds
17. par 4, 453 yds
18. par 4, 413 yds
In: par 36, 3,646 yds
Total: par 70, 7,086 yds
Of course, the big story about this British Open -- as it is for all major golf tournaments these days -- is the interminable list of first-time winners through which we have suffered in recent years. Since Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2010, here are your major champions, with their current world ranking in parentheses:
2010 U.S. Open: Grame McDowell (NIR) (12)
2010 British Open: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (18)
2010 PGA: Margin Kaymer (GER) (15)
2011 Masters: Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (19)
2011 U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2)
2011 British Open: Darren Clarke (NIR) (84)
2011 PGA: Keegan Bradley (24)
2012 Masters: Bubba Watson (6)
2012 U.S. Open: Webb Simpson (5)
As you can see, these are all fine golfers -- Darren Clarke's ranking doesn't reflect the overall quality of his long career -- but none of them has been able to establish himself as a consistent threat in major championship golf. Remarkably, Webb Simpson won't even be at the British Open -- he's by-passing his chance at history for the birth of his second child.
So there's not a lot to look forward to -- although it's always nice to see British clouds and rain in a hot Kentucky July. Basically, this tournament is going to be judged by whether one of the four top-ranked golfers -- Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, or Tiger Woods -- can break through and lift the cup. That would be a big deal and would matter in the history of the game. Americans would also be interested to see a sentimental favorite like Phil Mickelson win. Otherwise, this tournament -- no matter how dramatic it appears -- will quickly be forgotten.
Here are the latest odds out of Britain for the top favorites. The bookies, at least, expect a fan favorite to prevail.
Woods: 15 to 2
Westwood: 14 to 1
McIlroy: 16 to 1
Donald: 14 to 1
Padraig Harrington: 16 to 1
Kaymer: 28 to 1
Mickelson: 28 to 1
1. par 3, 206 yds
2. par 4, 481 yds
3. par 4, 477 yds
4. par 4, 392 yds
5. par 3, 219 yds
6. par 4, 492 yds
7. par 5, 592 yds
8. par 4, 416 yds
9. par 3, 165 yds
Out: par 34, 3,440 yds
10. par 4, 387 yds
11. par 5, 598 yds
12. par 3, 198 yds
13. par 4, 355 yds
14. par 4, 444 yds
15. par 4, 462 yds
16. par 4, 336 yds
17. par 4, 453 yds
18. par 4, 413 yds
In: par 36, 3,646 yds
Total: par 70, 7,086 yds
Of course, the big story about this British Open -- as it is for all major golf tournaments these days -- is the interminable list of first-time winners through which we have suffered in recent years. Since Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2010, here are your major champions, with their current world ranking in parentheses:
2010 U.S. Open: Grame McDowell (NIR) (12)
2010 British Open: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (18)
2010 PGA: Margin Kaymer (GER) (15)
2011 Masters: Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (19)
2011 U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2)
2011 British Open: Darren Clarke (NIR) (84)
2011 PGA: Keegan Bradley (24)
2012 Masters: Bubba Watson (6)
2012 U.S. Open: Webb Simpson (5)
As you can see, these are all fine golfers -- Darren Clarke's ranking doesn't reflect the overall quality of his long career -- but none of them has been able to establish himself as a consistent threat in major championship golf. Remarkably, Webb Simpson won't even be at the British Open -- he's by-passing his chance at history for the birth of his second child.
So there's not a lot to look forward to -- although it's always nice to see British clouds and rain in a hot Kentucky July. Basically, this tournament is going to be judged by whether one of the four top-ranked golfers -- Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, or Tiger Woods -- can break through and lift the cup. That would be a big deal and would matter in the history of the game. Americans would also be interested to see a sentimental favorite like Phil Mickelson win. Otherwise, this tournament -- no matter how dramatic it appears -- will quickly be forgotten.
Here are the latest odds out of Britain for the top favorites. The bookies, at least, expect a fan favorite to prevail.
Woods: 15 to 2
Westwood: 14 to 1
McIlroy: 16 to 1
Donald: 14 to 1
Padraig Harrington: 16 to 1
Kaymer: 28 to 1
Mickelson: 28 to 1
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