The Open Championship, as DG has noted with delight, returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years this week. That apparent sleight isn't as bad as it seems - the Royal and Ancient had a list of just nine courses, five in Scotland and four in England, that they used in pretty regular rotation for sixty years, and it was only with the fuss about lady members at Muirfield and now grumblings about Donald Trump owning Turnberry that made them look further afield for a change. That, and the success of the Irish and Northern Irish players in recent years, with Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy all becoming the champion golfer this century.
McIlroy will start with a huge weight of expectation on him this week for obvious reasons, and he has every reason to be backed. He hasn't won a major for five years, but has won the players championship and the Canadian Open this year against world class fields. The man in major form is world number one Brooks Koepka, who has finished first or second in five of the last six major championships, a streak of form that only the very greats of the game have ever emulated.
Justin Rose will be the main hope for an English champion (still haven't had one of them since Nick Faldo, 27 years now) but keep an eye on Matt Wallace, who's had some solid finishes this year and is hovering around number 25 in the world, the position Gary Woodland came from to win the US Open last month. Also around there is Marc Leishmann, who always seems to have one good round per major and maybe will string four together this week.
Tiger? Not sure. He'll need perfect weather conditions. If not him or Koepka, an American winner could definitely come from either Xander Schaufelle or Bryson DeChambeau, who while maybe not quite satisfying GO's requirement for an "unknown" Yank, do at least have silly names. Patrick Cantlay could be more the unknown Yank GO's after, he's had a solid season.
It may also be an omen that the last winner in Portrush, Max Faulkner, was known for his colourful dress sense - the 'pastel dandy', one contemporary writer called him - so Ricky Fowler, anyone (or Ian Poulter)?.
Finally of course, there is a former major champion who crept in via the qualifiers, and was born and lives in Portrush itself, a certain Graham McDowell. He couldn't, could he?
McIlroy will start with a huge weight of expectation on him this week for obvious reasons, and he has every reason to be backed. He hasn't won a major for five years, but has won the players championship and the Canadian Open this year against world class fields. The man in major form is world number one Brooks Koepka, who has finished first or second in five of the last six major championships, a streak of form that only the very greats of the game have ever emulated.
Justin Rose will be the main hope for an English champion (still haven't had one of them since Nick Faldo, 27 years now) but keep an eye on Matt Wallace, who's had some solid finishes this year and is hovering around number 25 in the world, the position Gary Woodland came from to win the US Open last month. Also around there is Marc Leishmann, who always seems to have one good round per major and maybe will string four together this week.
Tiger? Not sure. He'll need perfect weather conditions. If not him or Koepka, an American winner could definitely come from either Xander Schaufelle or Bryson DeChambeau, who while maybe not quite satisfying GO's requirement for an "unknown" Yank, do at least have silly names. Patrick Cantlay could be more the unknown Yank GO's after, he's had a solid season.
It may also be an omen that the last winner in Portrush, Max Faulkner, was known for his colourful dress sense - the 'pastel dandy', one contemporary writer called him - so Ricky Fowler, anyone (or Ian Poulter)?.
Finally of course, there is a former major champion who crept in via the qualifiers, and was born and lives in Portrush itself, a certain Graham McDowell. He couldn't, could he?
Comment