The Open [SPOILERS]

Mister Sifter

Getting quite excited about it starting. The Scottish Open has whetted the appetite nicely...

Quite fancy Jimenez at 45-1 as a longer shot. Westwood is in good shape too, and i have a sneaky feeling that Harrington might just do it again.

pd101

I have that same feeling about Harrington too, but I dont want to get my hopes up. I think a European should win it as most of the form players at the moment are Europeans. The two in form Americans are Kim, who has never played in the Open before and Perry who isnt playing.

kenco

I'll be away until Sunday lunch time so hoping not to miss most of the action.

Not sure about Harrington doing a repeat but then again he might not have to be at his best to win this time round...

Personally I have a feeling its going to be a Brit and one of the outsiders. I thought maybe Fisher until he went into meltdown today. Its the kind of competition were one of the outsiders could well sneak it (e.g. Crane and Hamilton).

Sandwich

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Getting quite excited about it starting.

I'm the opposite.
Most years I really look forward to it. Its the number one Major for me (especially since Augusta has been toughened and low scoring rarer) and watching them cope with links courses always adds extra interest.

But this one, and the upcoming PGA are always going to be slightly devalued ones with a little unwritten asterisk beside them in the record books:

*Woods did not enter due to injury.

irishtoffee

I am going to all 4 days of it.I think Sergio will do it after what happened last year.

JMB88

I'm sticking 10euro on Kaymer EW @ 60/1. I'd love to see Harrington defend his title though.

stockdam

Westwood and Garcia will be up there I think.

Kaymer and Fisher.......I don't think they will challenge.

Jiminez.......possibly. Harrington........nope.

Pity Jeev Milkha Singh and Rory didn't get through.

However my favourite must be McDowell.

Mister Sifter

McDowell is in great form and it was great seeing him win the Scottish. i just hope burnout doesn't hit him this week. That's four weeks in a row he's played i think, and he's been bang in contention for much of them. I'd imagine that must take some kind of toll.

Hope i'm wrong and he puts in a good showing though!

Paulusmaximus

I'm going with Richard Green again this week. Obviously 4 solid rounds in loch lomond, and he shot a 64 in the last round in Carnoustie last year. He drives it straight and he hits a lot of greens. i think that will be the key this week. He's 110's on Betfair at the minute. I've also gone for Justin Leonard and another few, who i'll aim to trade later in the week..

stockdam

Paulusmaximus wrote: »

I've also gone for Justin Leonard and another few, who i'll aim to trade later in the week..

Yes Leonard is a solid player and a good putter so his price may drop.

billy3sheets

Winner
Oliver Wilson to break his duck @150/1
Cabrera @65/1

Top10
McGrane @20/1
Appleby 7/1

All on Betfair

Marshy

Seems that Padraig has a bit of a wrist problem so remains to be seen if that affects him...

Westwood and Karlsson will do well I reckon. I'm still amazed Kenny Perry has elected to play in the states instead this week. The form he's in, having won 3 tournaments in the last couple of months, he'd surely go in as one of the favourites. Very strange indeed.

Stuart Appleby is good value as an outsider at 90-1, but the way he collapsed after the 3rd round of the US Open mighn't bode well.

ant043

definitely not the same without tiger. i went to it the last three years but pulled out this year due to his absence. Without the best player ever there, it just ain't the same. i will watch it on sunday though.

Mister Sifter

I haven't even given Tiger a thought. Not missing all the hype at all. Can't believe anyone would decide not to go and watch it simply because he's not there...

A.Partridge

Let's be honest about it. The Open is about as easy to predict as the Grand National at Aintree every April.

Even the most unlikely horse (i.e. Lawrie, Curtis, Hamilton etc) can win because if you hit straight drives on a links course they can take an unlucky bounce off a hogs back fairway and end up in the rough.

I know that this makes it more exciting in a way, but as regards accurately predicting a winner I'd say it is nearly impossible to narrow it down as one might be able to do with a parkland set up.

WHIP IT!

A.Partridge wrote: »

Let's be honest about it. The Open is about as easy to predict as the Grand National at Aintree every April.

Even the most unlikely horse (i.e. Lawrie, Curtis, Hamilton etc) can win because if you hit straight drives on a links course they can take an unlucky bounce off a hogs back fairway and end up in the rough.

I know that this makes it more exciting in a way, but as regards accurately predicting a winner I'd say it is nearly impossible to narrow it down as one might be able to do with a parkland set up.

That's golf though, isn't it? Personally I don't think it's any easier to pick a winner on a parkland course. In fact, you can rule out players because of their inability to plot their way around links courses - you can't necessarily do that on a parkland course, as all players are familiar with parkland courses but some never get to grips with links golf.

A.Partridge

WHIP IT! wrote: »

That's golf though, isn't it? Personally I don't think it's any easier to pick a winner on a parkland course. In fact, you can rule out players because of their inability to plot their way around links courses - you can't necessarily do that on a parkland course, as all players are familiar with parkland courses but some never get to grips with links golf.

Yeah, that's a fair point.

Jjoe

Harrington to win again...I don't think so..he's not being playing enough and has a wrist problem. My money is on Westwood.

C0SM0

Sergio is in good form, Westwood should go close to for my money.. i think Harrington will really struggle if he finds the rough,

Adiaga 2

Yeah not looking good for Harrington. Pity. Hard to pick a winner. Would like to see Michelson do it but his Open record is poor. Garcia and Els should be well up there at the end. Would be great to see McDowell continue his brilliant form! Hope it's as good as last year to watch.

stockdam

Well without Tiger then it is an "Open".

Hopefully we'll get some local interest and for me there's nobody playing better than McDowell.

ShriekingSheet

I'm sh1te at gambling but threw a small few quid on a few players just incase I get a bit of interest on the last day.

Have a gut feeling the USA contingent won't have much to offfer so I have Sergio, MA Jiminez, Westwood and Poulter at 80-1 just to have someone a bit longer odds.

Also took Green to top the Austrailians and NZ at 9-1.

Gillie

Not looking good for Harry at the mo!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7507189.stm

madds

I've e/w bets on Westwood, Jimenez, Mahan, Weekley, Furyk, Cejka, and Allenby. Probably should have named the players I wasn't backing...

f22

I've had a few win bets, the largest of which on Karlsson and Ogilvy, the rest just for fun (but with nice little payouts). Harrington hasn't a hope in hell in my opinion, injured or not.

Geoff Ogilvy 30
Robert Karlsson 42
Retief Goosen 46
Andres Romero 48
Steve Stricker 80
Boo Weekley 95

corban

i went for:
weekly
jimenez
garcia
leonard
ogilvy
boyles doin first 7 and refund losin bets if harri/garcia win.. not bad i reckon

FlawedGenius

Jimenez outright winner 30/1 have a score on em.Furyk E/W and Howell to be top Britain and Ireland 40/1.I know hes been out and hasnt played great, but last week he showed a bit of form.Damien McGrane was 8/1 to be top Irish until yesterday.Thought that was a great price.McGrane is underrated, hes not a big hitter atal but ya dont need to be in British Open.Casey hits it real long, hence why he never does well in OPEN.

WHIP IT!

I'd agree, I think McGrane is a good bet. His biggest asset is he's so level-headed. Knows what he can and can't do and plays accordingly.

One Cold Hand

And they're off!

Have have a few quid on Jiminez and Baddeley e/w, and Scott for the win.
I'm in Oz, so had to go with and Aussie for the win!

JerryHandbag

Awful weather and scores are soaring....4 over would be a decent score in these conditions....sandy lyle has walked off the course! Why did he bother taking part? Lots of players wouldve gladly accepted his spot in the field....

Mister Sifter

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I'd agree, I think McGrane is a good bet. His biggest asset is he's so level-headed. Knows what he can and can't do and plays accordingly.

Struggling so far...

That's bad form by Sandy Lyle. There's hundreds of pros who would love to take that spot.

Adiaga 2

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Awful weather and scores are soaring....4 over would be a decent score in these conditions....sandy lyle has walked off the course! Why did he bother taking part? Lots of players wouldve gladly accepted his spot in the field....

Wrist injury aside, Harrington must be delighted with the conditions - pretty much like last weekend for him.. Very early days but he's doing ok so far. Conditions could improve for the later starters though so the draw could prove to be very cruel to some players.

scout353

Heath Slocum who was hanging around the range this morning waiting for Harrington's decision finally got into the Open after one of the Japanese withdrew due to a back injury!

premierstone

Harrington going very well at the moment +2 after 16 in them conditions, if he can get in the clubhouse on +2 that would be a very encouraging start.

ShriekingSheet

I'm told that McGrane didn't reach 2 fairways and made another by a few inches - and he's apparently not the only one.

He also hit a 3 wood to the 6th par 3 which hit the middle of the green and came all the way back down. You just can't hit the green apparently...

Mad stuff

Adiaga 2

Anyone watching the live coverage? Are the weather conditions improving? Bogey, bogey finish for Harrington. Still a very good score looks like.

Riskymove

good score for Harrington alright

an interesting +2 after twelve from David Duval, hopefully he continues, would be nice to see a return

Monty and Mike weir hangin in well too at +3 and +1 after 12

stockdam

Vijay and Els shot an 80.

Looks like anything better than 75 is a good score.

(sorry I got my figures wrong so have edited my post).

ShriekingSheet

stockdam wrote: »

Vijay and Els shot a 77.

Looks like anything better than this is a good score.

SEVEN OVER!!??

Where are my clubs..!? I'm going over there!!!!

On the Green

Simon Dyson shot 9 on the 10th hole. Ouch! Think he finished up +14

Marshy

Riskymove wrote: »

an interesting +2 after twelve from David Duval, hopefully he continues, would be nice to see a return

Yeah I really hope he can keep it going.

Jean Van de Velde has had one of the best front nines so far. Level Par 34, Allez Jean!

stockdam wrote: »

Vijay and Els shot a 77.

Looks like anything better than this is a good score.

They both actually shot 80 and Vijay was +11 after 14. Conditions must be treacherous, so frustrated I'm missing it.

stockdam

Marshy wrote: »

They both actually shot 80 and Vijay was +11 after 14. Conditions must be treacherous, so frustrated I'm missing it.

Yes I completely messed up my post.......sorry.

But it looks like anyone who is a couple over will be up with the leaders.

Mister Sifter

Monty and Harrington did very well to hang in there. They look far back at the moment but i'd imagine they end up a lot high as only something like 5-6 players in the top are through 10 holes.

Marshy

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Monty and Harrington did very well to hang in there. They look far back at the moment but i'd imagine they end up a lot high as only something like 5-6 players in the top are through 10 holes.

Yeah thats right, its quite funny. The players who have parred the first are automatically becoming the leaders. Someone might shoot level but don't see anyone breaking par. Having said that Adam Scott just shot 33 to go out in -1.

Good rounds of 73 from Monty and Duval. And Greg Norman's rolling back the years, he's level after 11.

JerryHandbag

Its like US Open scoring...but Im loving it, beats watching someone shoot 25 under....I think Craig Parry said it all when he said he shot a 3 under par 77

Blunder

Mediate in with a 69! Excellent score. Equivalent to a 63 on a normal day!

My Da is over at it and from talking to him and some of the competitors it was totally crazy this morning. One player was hitting a 3 wood 180yards into the wind today. Normally they can hit it 230/240 in normal conditions :eek:.

Good test of golf for the lads though! Dont think if tiger was here he'd have faired much better! 17 looks like an absolutely crazy green. There will be fun there over the weekend!:D

copacetic

good round for Rocco, but not sure it was as good as a 63. All the late starters got waaayyyy better weather, 2 to 4 shots better off imo. Scores seem to be showing the same too. Rain stopped and wind died way down.

Goosens and Weirs rounds are far more impressive imo.

Coverage on BBC hasn't been as good as usual and disgusted they have nothing on BBC HD..

Blunder

Well possibly not. His front 9 would have been in the worse side of the day though so a good return. Agree with you about Goosen and Weir.

McDowell just birdied last 2 holes to go to 1 under. Great form from Greame of Late. Hope he continues till sunday for my bet!

Its going to be tough to predict the cut in this one. Depends on the weather tommorrow. If its like today, Bad in the morning and good in the evening then I think McGrane and those who suffered in the morning today, Els, Big Phil, Vjay etc., are in with a chance of making it! If its fair weather in the morning then I think the lads can pack their bags!

stockdam

Well done Graeme McD.

Oh and nice to see Rocco doing well also.

copacetic

stockdam wrote: »

Well done Graeme McD.

agreed, great finish and impressed with his interview also, he basically said
he played well but got very lucky with the weather.

Marshy

copacetic wrote: »

agreed, great finish and impressed with his interview also, he basically said
he played well but got very lucky with the weather.

He's probably got one of the most annoying accents I've ever heard though. Its a terrible northie-american mix, find it hard to listen to him. Wonder if he can keep up the great play.

The conditions most definitely eased for those in the afternoon. Looked like 71 wouldn't be beaten at one stage. Great to see Greg Norman playing well too, seemed to look in superb shape from what I saw.

Its very hard to predict how it'll go from here. I guess it was just a case today of not playing your way out of the championship, as the likes of Singh, Els and Mickelson seem to have all but done.