Home course advantage? Your views

Addictedtogolf

With the Irish Open coming up next week I was trying to work out how much of an advantage is playing on your home course in competition?

Does this give Shane Lowry an advantage over the field?

Benny Cake

Undoubtedly. Has to work in Lowrys favour.

stockdam

Yes especially on the greens.

The only downside is that you may play every hole the same way as you've always done whereas a new player may see a better line.

eagle eye

Its a great advantage to an Amateur who plays his home course every week. His/her game will be well suited to that course because they are so used to it. They will know the greens very well, the way the ball will react on fairways, how tight they can cut a corner etc.

For a professional golfer who is globetrotting it has no advantage and that includes Shane Lowry because he has to prepare himself every week for a different test on different courses, different greens, different weather. There is no advantage to him because like everybody else he only has about the same length of time to get ready to play here now.

What might help him is the support he will get. If he enjoys big crowds following him then he will have an advantage.

OilBeefHooked2

Only if he is using a gold plated/encrusted putter.

ForeRight

Lowry had 11 pars and 7 birdies on the monty last week in that Ronnie Whealan charity event.

Obviously not a serious game with no pressure but still shows what he can score on the course.

Kace

ForeRight wrote: »

Lowry had 11 pars and 7 birdies on the monty last week in that Ronnie Whealan charity event.

Obviously not a serious game with no pressure but still shows what he can score on the course.

Ah that was off the Yellow's though

Felexicon

Even the fact that his preparation before each round will be in familiar surroundings will give him an advantage.
He'll know exactly where to go and what to expect from locker rooms, practice area etc.
Means he will be starting each day relaxed and should only have golf on his mind. It's the smallest things that make the difference at the highest level

Addictedtogolf

Looks like my theory is correct.
Shane was great value at 28/1 last week on Saturday.

kingcobra

Addictedtogolf wrote: »

Looks like my theory is correct.
Shane was great value at 28/1 last week on Saturday.

What about McIlroy though? I'm sure he has played Carton House tonnes of times with the GUI and he has still played pretty bad.

But I do agree with the theory, it's a no-brainer really!

DuckSlice

Addictedtogolf wrote: »

Looks like my theory is correct.
Shane was great value at 28/1 last week on Saturday.

Looks like your theory was wrong he is out of contention now!