It is considered the ‘home of golf’ – the old course at St Andrews in Fife Scotland – and this week sees the best of the game battle the elements in the 144th edition of the British Open. The event comes only a couple of weeks after the US Open, so form coming into it must be considered. Jordan Spieth is the bookies favourite as he looks to bag his third major of the year. The interest factor from a South African point of view was also boosted by performances at the US Open as Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwarztel all finished in the top 10. And all 156 golfers teeing off on Thursday will have one eye on the Claret Jug. – Stuart Lowman
by *Phil Hird
The Old Course, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
A golf course created by the elements of nature – not man – and widely considered by many as the home of golf ever since the first blow in anger on its hallowed fairways in the early 1400’s.
You don’t get much more special than this and although our American friends across the Atlantic would strongly disagree, you won’t find a better advertisement for the game of golf than four days of intense British Open competition on this magnificent playing field.
Thursday 16 June 2015 couldn’t come sooner.
The 2010 British Open
South Africans look back fondly on the previous Open that took place at St. Andrews in 2010 as it was the moment that Louis Oosthuizen announced himself to the world with an emphatic seven stroke victory to claim the Claret Jug.
Oosthuizen learnt quickly on that occasion that when a golf course is created by the elements of nature, it must rely on the elements of nature to be its protector, as he took advantage of fortunate weather conditions on his allotted tee times on the Thursday and Friday to lay the platform.
Of course, so did half the field so let’s not take anything away from King Louis’ victory, but the point remains that 25 mile an hour winds with heavy rains in the morning can be quickly replaced by sunny skies in the afternoon.
A winner this weekend in all likelihood will need the element of luck with the weather together with luck with the bounce of the ball.
Jordan Spieth attempts to make history
21 year old Jordan Spieth certainly got lucky at the U.S. Open last month when fellow American Dustin Johnson three putted from 10 foot to hand Spieth his second major of 2015 and with conditions at St. Andrews likely to be similar to what he overcame at the U.S. Open, he has to be a strong favourite again.
It’s probably history more than weather and competition that will count against him though as he attempts to join Ben Hogan who is the only golfer in history to have won the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in the same calendar year.
On current form many believe that Spieth’s greatest obstacle to victory is defending British Open Champ and world number one, Rory McIlroy. However, after rupturing ankle ligaments in a friendly soccer game with friends, McIlroy withdrew late Thursday night meaning fans won’t be treated to another course joint-record 63 that he fired in his first round at St. Andrews in 2010.
On the face of things this appears to be a good thing for Spieth, however, many believe he is at his best under a strong challenge. For the neutral, hopefully there will be no shortage of challengers stepping up to the plate in the absence of Mcilroy.
South African’s in the hunt
When the dust had settled at the U.S. Open last month, three South Africans – Louis Oozthuizen (2nd), Branden Grace (4th) and Charl Schwartzel (7th) – were reflecting on a top ten finish but also what might have been.
Particularly in the cases of Oosthuizen and Grace, with the former bouncing back from a disappointing 7 over on day one to then go 10 under in the remaining three rounds. Had the U.S Open been decided on days two to four – Louis would quite simply have blown the rest of the field away on his march to victory.
Grace – who has declared his love for Links golf having grown up on the fairways of Fancourt – was tied with Spieth for the lead on the tee of his 70th hole, before an erratic tee shot left him with a double bogey effectively ending his tournament hopes.
Four consistent rounds – and coping with the pressure in the final two – seem to be the recipe for success if any of the nine South Africans in the field are going to add to our previous ten Open victories. The most recent of which came in 2012 at the hands of Ernie Els.
The most ‘open’ Open in years
Currently all four golfing majors are in the hands of two individuals – Mcilroy and Spieth. Despite this, picking a winner for the Open – or any tournament nowadays – is a lottery as the surge of young talent across the globe continues to jostle for pole position.
Take the first two majors of this year as an example. Only Cameron Smith – with a tied fourth placing at the U.S. Open – finished in the top 10 but was ranked outside of the top 50 in the World before the tournament.
In fact, at the Masters, only one man finishing in the top twenty was ranked outside of the top 50 in the World.
That man was Tiger Woods.
Add this together with the fact that since November last year there have been 73 different tournaments on the European and US tours that have yielded no less than 55 different winners, and you begin to see that a betting man might be better placed buying a lottery ticket than predicting a winner.
Three interesting facts
- This marks Tom Watson’s 41st and final participation in the Open. Watson is a five time champion and the only player to win the Claret Jug on five different courses, none of which were at St. Andrews. Maybe worth a flutter this weekend at odds of 250 to 1!
- The First Open Championship took place at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860 which saw Willie Park snr. triumph over the field of eight!
- Tiger Woods (1996), Justin Rose (1998) and Rory Mcilroy (2007) are all winners of the Silver medal which is awarded to the highest placed amateur in the field.
Thursday June 17th – never before will Ivor Robson’s voice be sweeter.
* Phil Hird is a co-founder of www.golfchamps.net – the world’s first live scoring golf prediction game started right here in South Africa.
