The 148th Open at Royal Portrush

blackwhite · 23-07-2019 03:36PM

Leslie91 wrote: »

I was in there Sunday morning, saw no free caps nor balls... you get em before Sunday?

The balls were there both Saturday and Sunday - over at the demos to the right as you walked in. Needed to either do the VR putting game, or do the technology demos with them to get some balls.

Did the putting game on Sat and got a few balls.

Went back in on Sunday morning to get a coffee as queues at coffee shops were longer than the queue inside Mastercard tent. One of the mastercard reps approached us and said there were extra freebies if we went and did the demos - which was when we got few more balls as well as the hats. Sunday was around 10.45 or so.

alchemist33 · 23-07-2019 03:55PM

This was my first ever tournament, so was pleasantly surprised by there being scoreboards at all, and the info on the tee times sheet telling you which colour each caddy was wearing. This was just as well, given the poor mobile signal and poor wifi in the stands.

Leslie91 · 23-07-2019 03:58PM

blackwhite wrote: »

The balls were there both Saturday and Sunday - over at the demos to the right as you walked in. Needed to either do the VR putting game, or do the technology demos with them to get some balls.

Did the putting game on Sat and got a few balls.

Went back in on Sunday morning to get a coffee as queues at coffee shops were longer than the queue inside Mastercard tent. One of the mastercard reps approached us and said there were extra freebies if we went and did the demos - which was when we got few more balls as well as the hats. Sunday was around 10.45 or so.

Aha... yes I saw the craic going on on right hand side downstairs... didn't know there were freebies associated, ah well. It was a great set up though and like you said much quicker to get a coffee, esp upstairs. Cheers.

Cork Boy 53 · 23-07-2019 04:00PM

Chivito550 wrote: »

Anybody know why the presentation this year didn’t have any mention to the runner up and the presentation of the ‘silver salver’? I’ve watched the Open for years and this was always part of the tradition during the presentation ceremony.

There was also no reference to the silver medal for the leading amateur either, though I’m assuming that’s because no amateurs made the cut this year.

You are correct about the fact that no amateurs made the cut this year. As far as I know, the presentation of the silver salver to the runner up was dropped a year or two ago.

Chivito550 · 23-07-2019 05:12PM

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

You are correct about the fact that no amateurs made the cut this year. As far as I know, the presentation of the silver salver to the runner up was dropped a year or two ago.

That’s a pity. Wonder is it anything to do with Sky?

They save about 45 seconds by not presenting it. Are we that tight for time these days that traditions can be brushed aside?

MisterAnarchy · 23-07-2019 05:52PM

The Tetrarch wrote: »

I though the stands were fine.
Most people brought small binoculars to view players and scoreboards.

The ropes at golf tournaments seem to be getting pushed back further and further every year .
Its something I noticed at the Irish Open too ,alot of tee boxes were inaccessible to spectators and it was difficult to get close on alot of holes in general.

Its hard work following a group nowadays ,as the players can walk as the crow flies whereas spectators have to go on detours.

GreeBo · 23-07-2019 06:54PM

Miley Byrne wrote: »

He was hardly going to inconvenience a whole train load in the Enterprise just because 8 people on his train left their connection too tight and didn't allow for any delays

40 minutes on a 120 minute journey is leaving a connection too tight for a train?!

Actually the supervisor in Belfast said he should have waited since it was the last train of the day to Dublin, it was only going to be 5 minutes and it was Translinks fault, but I'm sure, as always, you know better and can explain why they paid for our taxis...:rolleyes:

slave1 · 23-07-2019 08:04PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

The ropes at golf tournaments seem to be getting pushed back further and further every year .
Its something I noticed at the Irish Open too ,alot of tee boxes were inaccessible to spectators and it was difficult to get close on alot of holes in general.

Its hard work following a group nowadays ,as the players can walk as the crow flies whereas spectators have to go on detours.

I think a lot has to do with the physical terrain, I was literally a driver length away from them teeing on the 15th, couldn’t believe I got so close

Messi19 · 24-07-2019 12:08AM

Went up for Saturday and Sunday and stayed in Belfast for 2 nights, getting the train up and back each day. The set up was so impressive. I've only been to the Irish open in Carton House a few years ago but this was light years ahead and I'll certainly go back when it returns.

Got a cap and towel in the shop for £40, pricey but nice little mementos to have. Really wanted one of those green Hugo Boss jackets but couldn't see them in the shop and I wanted one of the caps that the staff had with the large open logo but all sold out.

We made the decision to leave the course when Lowry was on 14 and go for a pint in the pub beside the station to watch the end and get the 6.35 train. Sounds like it was the right call if it was taking an hour to get out afterwards

Liamalone · 24-07-2019 12:17AM

Sounds like an immense success from all I've spoken to, and most on here, apart from a few Victor Meldrews.

Roll on the next one. Credit to Portrush and all involved. Well done.

Massive cherry on top courtesy of a certain Mr Lowry

Finlay Harp · 24-07-2019 08:37AM

I’m located in the North but didn’t go for various reasons. Hearing from friends and reading various reviews I’d go if and when it returns.
The practice days looked fairly laid back. Are they worth going to or just throw your lot in for the main event?

The Tetrarch · 24-07-2019 08:59AM

Finlay Harp wrote: »

I’m located in the North but didn’t go for various reasons. Hearing from friends and reading various reviews I’d go if and when it returns.
The practice days looked fairly laid back. Are they worth going to or just throw your lot in for the main event?

I went to three practice days, Mon, Tue, Wed, and four tournament days.
Players spent about ten minutes on each green. They stick tee pegs in four likely hole locations and chip and putt to those.
Not many players play full rounds, or even finish holes.
Often you follow a nice fourball (I did) and it ends up as one player when the others quit or go off to play other holes.
I found practice days useful to learn the holes, grandstand locations, buy souvenirs in the shop, learn the layout of the spectator village.
Monday I walked holes 1 to 9 (scorching day), Tuesday I walked 10 to 18 (hot day).

You can be lucky/unlucky if you go for one tournament day.
A marshal commented to me that he felt sorry for people who only came on Friday, a very wet day.
Thursday was good weather, Friday wet, Saturday good weather, Sunday wet.

dr.kenneth noisewater · 24-07-2019 09:09AM

was there Friday and it wasnt that wet, maybe rained for 60-90 mins with 1 heavy shower. Would definetly go on a Thursday/Friday again to see all the players you want and its easier follow a group around for 18 holes. Spoke to a few who went the weekend and said it was very heard follow the main pairings around and you just end up sitting in a grandstand for the afternoon.

munsterlegend · 24-07-2019 09:14AM

Chivito550 wrote: »

That’s a pity. Wonder is it anything to do with Sky?

They save about 45 seconds by not presenting it. Are we that tight for time these days that traditions can be brushed aside?

Yeah James Sugrue was so unlucky to miss the cut. Would have have been extra special he going up for his silver special then followed by Lowry.

prawnsambo · 24-07-2019 09:37AM

Chivito550 wrote: »

That’s a pity. Wonder is it anything to do with Sky?

They save about 45 seconds by not presenting it. Are we that tight for time these days that traditions can be brushed aside?

If no amateur makes the cut, the silver medal isn't awarded.

FixdePitchmark · 24-07-2019 10:08AM

The Tetrarch wrote: »

Finlay Harp wrote: »

I’m located in the North but didn’t go for various reasons. Hearing from friends and reading various reviews I’d go if and when it returns.
The practice days looked fairly laid back. Are they worth going to or just throw your lot in for the main event?

I went to three practice days, Mon, Tue, Wed, and four tournament days.
Players spent about ten minutes on each green. They stick tee pegs in four likely hole locations and chip and putt to those.
Not many players play full rounds, or even finish holes.
Often you follow a nice fourball (I did) and it ends up as one player when the others quit or go off to play other holes.
I found practice days useful to learn the holes, grandstand locations, buy souvenirs in the shop, learn the layout of the spectator village.
Monday I walked holes 1 to 9 (scorching day), Tuesday I walked 10 to 18 (hot day).

You can be lucky/unlucky if you go for one tournament day.
A marshal commented to me that he felt sorry for people who only came on Friday, a very wet day.
Thursday was good weather, Friday wet, Saturday good weather, Sunday wet.

wow. Did you take a weeks leave to go.

Or you just off all summer.

GreeBo · 24-07-2019 10:08AM

Finlay Harp wrote: »

I’m located in the North but didn’t go for various reasons. Hearing from friends and reading various reviews I’d go if and when it returns.
The practice days looked fairly laid back. Are they worth going to or just throw your lot in for the main event?

One issue with the practice days can be its hard to know where anyone is as, although they had somewhat prebooked tee slots, everyone was going everywhere at all times due to the rain.

One thing that worked well for us was to start at 18 and work your way backwards, better chance of seeing everyone that way as if you start on hole 1 you could be just behind someone all day.

slave1 · 24-07-2019 10:21AM

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

was there Friday and it wasnt that wet, maybe rained for 60-90 mins with 1 heavy shower. Would definetly go on a Thursday/Friday again to see all the players you want and its easier follow a group around for 18 holes. Spoke to a few who went the weekend and said it was very heard follow the main pairings around and you just end up sitting in a grandstand for the afternoon.

Agreed, there Friday too, cloudy but mild to start with then a few hours of blistering sunshine, then cloudy for a few hours followed by maybe 90minutes rain (but not sideways stuff, and I was 100% in my raingear camped by the 10th green), then rain cleared and it was cool for reminder of evening.
Apart from the rain piece I was in shorts and a tee shirt and it was perfectly comfortable, also had no problem exiting at the end of the day.

The Tetrarch · 24-07-2019 10:40AM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

wow. Did you take a weeks leave to go.
Or you just off all summer.

I am 69yo retired. I gave myself a week's leave.

PhuckHugh22 · 24-07-2019 10:41AM

The Tetrarch wrote: »

I am 69yo retired. I gave myself a week's leave.

Thats how you do it!!!!

FrancieBrady · 24-07-2019 10:42AM

The Tetrarch wrote: »

I am 69yo retired. I gave myself a week's leave.

Flippin' layabout!

Chivito550 · 24-07-2019 12:59PM

prawnsambo wrote: »

If no amateur makes the cut, the silver medal isn't awarded.

Yes, but why aren't they awarding the silver salver for runner-up anymore?

Miley Byrne · 24-07-2019 01:45PM

GreeBo wrote: »

40 minutes on a 120 minute journey is leaving a connection too tight for a train?!

Well you did miss your train so......

mighty magpie · 24-07-2019 08:42PM

Between contracts with work at the minute so loads of time off. Marshaled one of the holes on 5 of the days and went as a spectator on the 2nd practice day.

A great week and due a trip to the physio now with foot pain. Got inside the rope on 18 with all the other marshals and had great views of Lowry from 13th onwards.

Hopefully the rumours are true that it is returning in 2024.

M.T. Cranium · 24-07-2019 11:08PM

Rainy day project, I have extended my earlier posted table back to include all major winners since 1946. Previously the table went back to 1997 to include all of Tiger's victories. This now tracks 296 major wins since the end of the second world war.

____________________ 1997 to 2019 (23 yr 92 maj)____<>___ 1946 to 1996 (51 years 204 maj)

Country ______ Total _ Mas_USO_Open_PGA __ subtotal _____ Mas_USO_Open_PGA __ subtotal

USA _________203 ___ 14 __13 __12 _ 15 _____ 54 ________ 38__47__ 21 __43 _____149
South Africa ___ 22 ____ 2 __ 3 __ 3 __ --- ______ 8 ________ 3 __ 2 ___ 7 __ 2 ______ 14
Australia ______ 17____ 1 __ 1 __ -- __ 1 _______ 3 ________ --__ 1 ___ 9 __ 4 ______ 14
England _______12 ____ 1 __ 1 __ -- __ -- ______ 2 ________ 3 __ 1 ___ 6 __-- ______ 10
Ireland _______ 11 ___ --- __ 2 __ 5 __ 3 ______ 10 ________-- __ --___ 1 __ --_______ 1
__ NI _________(7) ___-- __(2)__(2)__(2) ______(6)________-- __ --___(1)__--______ (1)
__ ROI ________(4) ___-- __ --__(3)__(1) ______(4) ________-- __ --___--__ --_______(0)
Spain _________ 8 ____ 2 __-- __ -- __ -- _______ 2 ________ 3 __ --___ 3 __ -- _______ 6
Germany ______ 4 ____ -- __ 1 __ -- __ 1 _______ 2 ________ 2 __ --___ -- __-- _______ 2
Fiji ___________ 3 ____ 1 __ --__ -- __ 2 _______ 3 ________ -- __ --___--__ --________ 0
Argentina ______3 ____ 1 __ 1 __ -- __ -- _______ 2 ________ -- __ --___ 1 __-- _______ 1
Zimbabwe _____ 3 ____ -- __ -- __ -- __ -- _______0 ________ --__ --___ 1 __ 2 _______ 3
Scotland _______3 ____ -- __ -- __ 1 __ ---_______1 ________ 1 __ --___ 1 __-- ________2
New Zealand ___ 2 ____ -- __ 1 __ -- __ ---_______1 ________ --__ --___ 1 __ --________1
Canada ________1 ____ 1 __-- __ -- __ --- _______1 ________ --__ --___ --__ -- _______ 0
Italy __________ 1 ____ -- __-- __ 1 __ ---_______1 ________ --__ --___ --__ -- ________0
South Korea ____1 ____ -- __ -- __ -- __ 1 _______1 ________ --__ --___ -- __ -- _______ 0
Sweden _______ 1 ____ -- __ -- __ 1 __ ---_______1 ________ --__ --___ -- __ -- _______ 0
Wales _________1 ____ -- __ -- __ -- __ -- _______0 ________ 1 __ --___ -- __ -- _______ 1

========================================================

I don't know what this actually proves, but there you have it. Nick Price stands even with Scotland at this point.

(Germany includes one win for West Germany)

Order of these events goes back to the majority of years when PGA followed The Open. PGA was match play 1946 to 1957. (US 11, Aus 1).

M.T. Cranium · 24-07-2019 11:29PM

To total up the four majors, in 74 years this is the distribution of winners:

Country _____ TOTAL __ Masters __ USOpen __ TheOpen __ PGA Ch

USA _________203 _____ 52 _______ 60 ______ 33 ______ 48
South Africa ___ 22 ______ 5 ________ 5 ______ 10 _______ 2
Australia ______ 17______ 1 _________2 _______ 9 _______ 5
England _______12 ______ 4 ________ 2 _______ 6 _______ 0
Ireland _______ 11 ______ -- ________ 2 _______ 6 _______ 3
__ NI _________(7) ______-- ________(2)______(3) ______ (2)
__ ROI ________(4) ______-- ________-- ______ (3) ______(1)
Spain _________ 8 ______ 5 _________-- _______ 3 _______--
Germany ______ 4 ______ 2 _________ 1 _______ -- _______1
Fiji ___________ 3 ______ 1 _________ --_______ -- _______ 2
Argentina ______3 ______ 1 _________ 1 ________ 1 ______ --
Zimbabwe _____ 3 ______ -- _________-- ________1 ______ 2
Scotland _______3 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ 2 ______ --
New Zealand ___ 2 ______ -- _________ 1 ________1 ______ --
Canada ________1 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ -- ______ --
Italy __________ 1 ______ -- ________ -- ________1 _______ --
South Korea ____1 ______ -- _________-- _______ -- _______ 1
Sweden _______ 1 ______ -- _________-- _______ 1 _______ --
Wales _________1 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ -- _______ --

(U.K.) ________ 23 _____ 6 __________ 4 ______ 11 _______ 2

I don't know, would you consider Nick Price actually a South African golfer, an English golfer or an American golfer? I don't think Zimbabwe golf is a thing if you exclude him.

Deeper Blue · 25-07-2019 01:16AM

Sergio up to his old tricks I see

https://twitter.com/RayOwensMU20/status/1153651236996091905

DuckSlice · 25-07-2019 07:59AM

M.T. Cranium wrote: »

To total up the four majors, in 74 years this is the distribution of winners:

Country _____ TOTAL __ Masters __ USOpen __ TheOpen __ PGA Ch

USA _________203 _____ 52 _______ 60 ______ 33 ______ 48
South Africa ___ 22 ______ 5 ________ 5 ______ 10 _______ 2
Australia ______ 17______ 1 _________2 _______ 9 _______ 5
England _______12 ______ 4 ________ 2 _______ 6 _______ 0
Ireland _______ 11 ______ -- ________ 2 _______ 6 _______ 3
__ NI _________(7) ______-- ________(2)______(3) ______ (2)
__ ROI ________(4) ______-- ________-- ______ (3) ______(1)
Spain _________ 8 ______ 5 _________-- _______ 3 _______--
Germany ______ 4 ______ 2 _________ 1 _______ -- _______1
Fiji ___________ 3 ______ 1 _________ --_______ -- _______ 2
Argentina ______3 ______ 1 _________ 1 ________ 1 ______ --
Zimbabwe _____ 3 ______ -- _________-- ________1 ______ 2
Scotland _______3 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ 2 ______ --
New Zealand ___ 2 ______ -- _________ 1 ________1 ______ --
Canada ________1 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ -- ______ --
Italy __________ 1 ______ -- ________ -- ________1 _______ --
South Korea ____1 ______ -- _________-- _______ -- _______ 1
Sweden _______ 1 ______ -- _________-- _______ 1 _______ --
Wales _________1 ______ 1 _________ -- _______ -- _______ --

(U.K.) ________ 23 _____ 6 __________ 4 ______ 11 _______ 2

I don't know, would you consider Nick Price actually a South African golfer, an English golfer or an American golfer? I don't think Zimbabwe golf is a thing if you exclude him.

Americans are very good at golf.

slave1 · 25-07-2019 08:13AM

There are a lot of Americans and three of the Majors on US soil which were largely out of the reach (from a pure finanical standpoint) of everyone else up to the 70's

The Tetrarch · 25-07-2019 08:43AM

NDWC wrote: »

Sergio up to his old tricks I see

https://twitter.com/RayOwensMU20/status/1153651236996091905

The R&A could add a rule to stop this.
A two stroke penalty, a disqualification for a repeat, a holiday from that major if there is more.

The 148th Open at Royal Portrush

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