The Open 2016 - Official Thread - Read OP before you go on!

Brilliant final round. I tend to root for Mickelson, but delighted for Stenson. Two really classy final rounds.

I was away, but got to see the BBC highlights each evening, without hearing the results for the day's play in advance - very enjoyable.

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Yep, I recorded it then watched it once the kids were in bed - the quality of the golf from them both was mind blowing - got to feel a bit for Phil but Stenson was just that bit better.

Stat at the end saying Phil's -17 would have won 140 of the previous 144 Opens!!!

Recorded it as well. The fact there were only 2 of them in it made it easier to fast forward to the important bits

Breath-taking golf by both. A joy to watch

McIlroy's last 10 tournament results: T3 4 T10 T4 T12 1 T4 MC 3 T5

He's finished inside top 10 in 2 majors, been top 5 in both WCG events, just outside top 10 at the Players. Not earth shattering by his high standards, but there's not a huge amount wrong with his game. Wouldn't be surprised if he went on one of those streaky runs we know he's prone towards, PGA will be more up his street than the Open in my opinion.

Seve OB wrote: »

But he didn't play ropey golf. He played good golf. Not his best, but good. He finished 5th!!

His putting was poor, but (by his standards) was about the same as most weeks for him.

The rest of his game was excellent. He dropped so many approaches close enough for genuine birdie chances and just couldn't convert all of them.

I think his reading of the pace of the greens was a bit off. A lot of his putts were just an ounce off in pace and would have dropped but for that. A lot of players had difficulty with the slow greens which makes Phil and Stenson's scores even more impressive.

The average loss for those on the wrong side of the draw was just over two shots according to Sky. But that's the average for morning v afternoon. In the thick of it as Rory was, could have been more than double that.

Loved the full event.

In fact one of the earliest golf memories I have, is an Open at Troon in 1989, that was a brilliant tournament too. So Troon has something about it.

This year - between the enhanced coverage and pre-coverage by Sky - the modern technology like 3D graphics - drones - wire cameras - the actual more green colour of the course , you got a far better feel for the course sitting at home. I fell in love with the course and would love to play it, parts of it remind me of Royal County Down - say at the turn , from 8 to 13. Looked up price to play -£220 , sort of ends ideas of that - crazy money.

Anyway - incredible performances from top 2.

At an even higher level than other top performances I can think of,
Oosthuizen 2010
Woods wins
You could be partisan and say Paddy's 2nd win was very impressive.

I'd be up for Phil - what he has done in the game , I remember saying to someone he deserves as many and maybe more majors than Seve and Faldo.

Phil is a joy to watch. Short game like watching Ronnie O'Sullivan - it often makes me want to go to a lob wedge for a season.

Very disappointing week for the Irish , that week is the way Open's were until our recent upgrade.

Hard to know what to say about Rory (as everything is said every day by everyone in every place) - it is just his putting isn't it. I also think he tries to force things too much - but his putting is very poor - many times the ball is not even toward hole at all , it is maybe 1 foot left etc on mid range stuff - likes of Day is short or at edge or in.

But we all know he can turn things around faster than most he is very unpredictable - emotional etc.

Class stuff from Stension - didn't think he had it in him - but with age and experience and damage , you get more and more use to the situation - likes of Clarke did it - we are waiting for Westwood and Garcia.

To hole on last - when was needed for record was unreal - normally opens end with a horrible weak putt - incredible finish.
The 3 wood at last was sort of the wrong club - but it is his most reliable club so makes sense too. Hit the club you are most comfortable with and do what you have done 10,000s of times. The way he was playing he would have most likely won from bunker anyway.

The open was always a favourite event of mine - but the more majors I watch, the more you can understand the criticism. I love links golf , but the weather in Scotland is terrible - I'm not sure I will complain about Ireland again - the place is bloody freezing, more windy and unpredictable.

But - you'd have to admire the yanks - they put the English and Irish players to shame at times. This absolute fallacy that they are not up to it - is a thing I heard as a young lad - it is bollix. In fact some of them embrace it. Who on earth would have picked out JB Holmes, Bill Hass, Stricker.

So - off again to our almost 50 week year of non Links.

I can't wait to play a few Open courses, I've played them in my head at this stage.

But at that price - I'll wait till the next Open - British Open

A super Open it has to be said.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Hard to know what to say about Rory (as everything is said every day by everyone in every place) - it is just his putting isn't it.

I noticed that Rory spent the last hour before teeing off yest & Sat at the range hitting irons and driver. Far be it for me to offer opinion, but if it was me I think I would have spent at least half that time on 3-6 footers.

Seve OB wrote: »

Only looking on the phone so can't really see..... Cause I can't bloody zoom!

But is that feherty in there at the back?

Does look a bit like him alright. And he's the only guy in the pic not dressed to play golf.

Seve OB wrote: »

Only looking on the phone so can't really see..... Cause I can't bloody zoom!

But is that feherty in there at the back?

it's him alright, he tweeted a pic of Stenson landing with the claret locked up in a case this morning.

Loving ZJ wearing shorts too, between that and his confused face when he couldn't find the peak of his cap to acknowledge the crowd on the 1st (he was wearing a beanie) I'll overlook the God bothering stuff.

Jawgap wrote: »

Well I think the interest was there, but the money wasn't - with their (the BBC's) funding model the pot is fairly finite and when it gets cut the bigger ticket items like rights driven sports coverage probably bear a disproportionate burden.

Interestingly, the Open is a List B event ("may be shown on a subscription channel if highlights are made available to a free-to-air channel") so when bidding for it the terrestrial channels are in a much 'weaker' position as the awarding body isn't compelled to award live primary coverage on a shared or exclusive basis to them.

If the interest really was there why did they classify it a List B event?

Jawgap wrote: »

Open viewing figures dip 75 per cent in first year on Sky Sports



I don't doubt the deal with Sky Sports makes a lot of financial sense, and I thought their coverage was excellent, but you'd wonder if it makes sporting sense?

Was always going to happen. I thought Skys coverage was superb but I think the lack of it on free to air is always going to affect audiences and that is a pity. Especially the younger generation, like Westwood or Poulter, who could get into golf in this way

Satellite channels were traditionally banned from bidding for live tv rights on listed events, but the sports bodies themselves lobbied to have that ban removed, not necessarily because they wanted to do business with the pay channels, but because it would enhance their bargaining power with the terrestrials. Same with the GAA here. They probably didn't envisage the scenario where the terrestrials would just cut their losses and step away, but that's what's happened anyway.