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Less than 2 days before The Open starts, which for me, is the best televised sports event of the year.

Don't want to tread on the toes of those who frequent the regular golf thread, but think The Open deserves it's own space.

Great venue this year - as always - in Carnoustie, or Carnasty as I heard it referred to last night.




(http://i.imgur.com/4sUuAUc.jpg) (https://imgur.com/4sUuAUc)

Here's the Oddschecker link;

https://www.oddschecker.com/golf/open-championship/2018-open-championship/winner

Sky Sports will have full coverage from 0630 on Thursday & Friday, &, presumably, a little later over the weekend.

I'd prefer it to be on BBC, but it is what it is, & as long as we don't see or hear too much from Jenny Woodentop, I'm sure it will be OK.

Peter Alliss gets mixed reviews these days, whilst Ken Brown is the GOAT, but Sky's equivalents are Wayne Riley & Rich Beem, both of whom are very good.

Sky Sports are giving it the full works, & that includes a series "Chronicles of a Champion".

If you can catch the version that features Paul Lawrie, & the famous Jean van de Velde Open. As Sports Docs on TV go, I gave that 10/10, it was excellent, do try & watch it. 

Karabiner has already declared an interest on the regular golf thread for Brooks Koepka @ 28/1 ew, Zach Johnson @ 100/1 ew, & Kevin Na @ 260/1. 

Adzy, meanwhile, has chipped in with Southgate at 125/1, EW, 10 places, available at Next Door of all places. 

The 18th is brutal, as are some of them bunkers. Not sure I'd ever get out of buggers like this. 


(http://i.imgur.com/sRQ9zJW.jpg) (https://imgur.com/sRQ9zJW)

Tee times for Thursday, which I assume are reversed on Friday;


06:35: S Lyle (Sco), M Kaymer (Ger), A Sullivan (Eng)

06:46: E Van Rooyen (SA), B Schnell (US), M Southgate (Eng)

06:57: D Willett (Eng), E Grillo (Arg), L List (US)

07:08: M Calcavecchia (US), D Boonma (Tha), S Norris (SA)

07:19: K Chappell (US), O Wilson (Eng), E Pepperell (Eng)

07:30: P Dunne (Ire), R Fisher (Eng), A Cook (US)

07:41: P Cantlay (US), T Hatton (Eng), S Lowry (Ire)

07:52: T Pieters (Bel), K Kisner (US), M Kinhult (Swe)

08:03: S Kodaira (Jpn), P Mickelson (US), R Cabrera-Bello (Spa)

08:14: B Harman (US), Y Ikeda (Jpn), A Landry (US)

08:25: Si Woo Kim (Kor), W Simpson (US), N Hojgaard (Den) (a)

08:36: S Cink (US), B Stone (SA), H Tanihara (Jpn)

08:47: G Woodland (US), Y Miyazato (Jpn), Sung Kang (Kor)

09:03: A Hadwin (Can), E Els (SA), C Hadley (US)

09:14: P Perez (US), J Suri (US), G Coetzee (SA)

09:25: D Duval (US), S Jamieson (Sco), K Na (US)

09:36: B Langer (Ger), D Clarke (NI), R Goosen (SA)

09:47: M Kuchar (US), A Lahiri (Ind), P Uihlein (US)

09:58: J Rose (Eng), J Spieth (US), K Aphibarnrat (Tha)

10:09: R Fowler (US), J Rahm (Spa), C Wood (Eng)

10:20: L Oosthuizen (SA), P Casey (Eng), P Reed (US)

10:31: X Schauffele (US), T Finau (US), J Vegas (Ven)

10:42: Yuxin Lin (a) (Chn), A Bjork (Swe), Sang Hyun Park (Kor)

10:53: J Robinson (Eng), H Magnus (Isr), Z Lombard (SA)

11:04: K Ichihara (Jpn), R Enoch (Wal), M Armitage (Eng)

11:15: G Green (Mal), S Crocker (US), A Turner (Eng)

11:36: S Locke (Sco) (a), B Snedeker (US), C Davis (Aus)

11:47: P Kizzire (USA), J Blixt (Swe), C Howell III (US)

11:58: C Schwartzel (SA), D Berger (US), T Lewis (Eng)

12:09: R Moore (US), A Levy (Fra), Byeong-Hun An (Kor)

12:20: M Hendry (NZ), K Kraft (US), L Westwood (Eng)

12:31: T Fleetwood (Eng), H Stenson (Swe), J Walker (US)

12:42: R Henley (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Rebula (SA) (a)

12:53: R McIlroy (NI), M Leishman (Aus), T Olesen (Den)

13:04: A Noren (Swe), D Johnson (US), C Hoffman (US)

13:15: Z Johnson (US), A Scott (Aus), B Steele (US)

13:26: J Thomas (US), F Molinari (Ita), B Grace (SA)

13:37: J Day (Aus), S Akiyoshi (Jpn), Haotong Li (Chn)

13:48: B Hossler (US), T Hamilton (US), J Campillo (Spa)

14:04: C Reavie (US), R Tokimatsu (Jpn), M Kim (US)

14:15: K Stanley (US), N Colsaerts (Bel), J Dantorp (Swe)

14:26: D Frittelli (SA), T Lehman (US), G Forrest (Sco)

14:37: L Herbert (Aus), J Kokrak (US), Min Chel Choi (Kor)

14:48: P Harrington (Ire), M Wallace (Eng), B Watson (US)

14:59: C Smith (Aus), B Koepka (US), I Poulter (Eng)

15:10: S Garcia (Spa), S Sharma (Ind), B DeChambeau (US)

15:21: H Matsuyama (Jpn), R Knox (Sco), T Woods (US)

15:32: J Dufner (US), K Bradley (US), R Fox (NZ)

15:43: A Ancer (Mex), M Kawamura (Jpn), R Armour (US)

15:54: J Janewattananond (Tha), F Zanotti (Par), J Smith (Eng)

16:05: M Kobayashi (Jpn), J Senior (Eng), B Rumford (Aus)

16:16: T Curtis (Eng), B Burgoon (US), M Jones (Aus)

Thursday's weather is forecast to be cloudy, with winds averaging 15km/h, gusting to 24km/h.

I always think The Open is better when the weather is foul, & that'd be a stretch this year, but the wind will still play a part, especially late in the day, & when the tide turns. 

Betting Emporium's "Road to Riches" (free to view) have put a selection up, definitely worth a look. 

I don't have the mad skills of the golf experts, but here's my Ten to Follow. Well, eleven actually, but Eleven to Follow does not roll off the tongue too good.

Jason Day

Shane Lowry

Matt Kuchar

Ian Poulter

Tyrrell Hatton

Alex Noren

Patrick Reed

Henrik Stenson

Jordan Speith

Tommy Fleetwood

Justin Rose


11 selections then, what can possibly go wrong?

Here's the full range of Markets;

https://www.oddschecker.com/golf/open-championship/2018-open-championship/betting-markets

im a golf follower, but not an expert. if i could chuck a name out for thoughts, so someone with better knowledge might offer an opinion.

Luke List

Done quite well on the US tour and definitely one to follow. i as surprised he did so well in the Scottish Open, but maybe this type of golf course suits him as well. At 100s if thinking of having a wager.

Thoughts ?

Such a shame that this isn’t on the ‘protected list’

One of the sporting highlights of the year which has delivered some really dramatic moments over the years.

I think accuracy off the tee will be a problem. He looks great on SG driving but his accuracy is way down, might be just a few too many big numbers at Carnoustie. He’s becoming a decent scrambler, he ticks quite a few boxes but not for me this week.

Certainly agree with that, though what is, & is not covered under "Protected Events", the so-called "Crown Jewels", is a little confusing, & if I read it correctly, The Open IS a "protected event". What exactly that means is unclear, to me, at least.

1. What is a listed event? The Broadcasting Act 1996 (as amended) gives the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the power to draw up a list of sporting events of national interest.1 No definition of “national interest” has been included in the relevant legislation2 but the DCMS has said that a “listed event” is “one which is generally felt to have special national resonance” and which contains “an element which serves to unite the nation, a shared point on the national calendar, not solely of interest to those who follow the sport in question.”3  The purpose of listing an event is to make it available to all television viewers, particularly those who cannot afford the cost of subscription television.4 The current list is divided into two categories: Group A and Group B. For Group A events, full live coverage must be offered to qualifying broadcasters – broadcasters whose channels are available without payment to at least 95% of the UK population5 (i.e. BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, and Channel 5).6 Events listed in Group B may have live coverage on subscription television provided that secondary coverage is offered to qualifying broadcasters.



Group A: full live coverage protected

 • The Olympic Games • The FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament • The European Football Championship Finals Tournament • The FA Cup Final • The Scottish FA Cup Final (in Scotland) • The Grand National • The Derby • The Wimbledon Tennis Finals • The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final • The Rugby World Cup Final


Group B: secondary coverage protected

• Cricket Test matches played in England • Non-Finals play in the Wimbledon Tournament • All other matches in the Rugby World Cup Finals • Six Nations Rugby matches involving home countries • The Commonwealth Games • The World Athletics Championship • The Cricket World Cup - the final, semi-finals and matches involving home nations' teams • The Ryder Cup • The Open Golf Championship [/b]


Maybe the fact that the BBC show edited highlights of the Golf, & show bits of it online, satisfies the criteria, I really don't know.

That list makes no sense to me, as many of those events are not free to view. Maybe the key is "offered to qualifying broadcasters", so if they are offered to the BBC who then say "we can't afford to cover it", the requirement has been met.   

If that is one of The Spectacles, I have actually got out of that in one.  Just and only just.

I also finished that round 3, 4 (bounced over the bridge on the burn) 5.

Amazing stuff. I think I read that the last 3 holes at Carnoustie are "the toughest 3 closing holes at any Major course", & no less than Tom Watson said that the Par 3 16th was the toughest Par 3 in the world.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/44777487


(http://i.imgur.com/adtd8dG.jpg) (https://imgur.com/adtd8dG)


I'm a-guessing these are "the spectacles"?



(http://i.imgur.com/8x30JRw.jpg) (https://imgur.com/8x30JRw)


 

The 18th seems to be pretty testing, too;


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/44832864

Sergio has such a great links record overall, I find it hard to leave him out of my staking plan.

With Carnoustie being so notorious, I have tried to find some value outsiders who grind it out rather than the flash Rory types at the top of the list, who may not have the patience for this.

I pointed out local player Matty Southgate, who has a rep for performing at Links Golf, and hitting some form. The wind is predicted to be at its calmest tomorrow early doors and he is out second. With the course in perfect condition he will have no excuses tomorrow, so I have also backed him for first round leader. Along those same lines I have also backed Sully, Pieters and little known Saffa, Shaun Norris. All early birds. Sergio has the afternoon saver.

Next up is Hatong Li, who did so well last year, and just seems to seem more relaxed on the tour week on week, he too is 125-1.

I rarely back Poults, but he has the grinder mentality, and is back on form. In the demo area on Sky this week he has played every shot he has called to perfection. He is on top of his game.

Small arrows have been chucked at Knox(maybe knackered but playing beautiful Links golf), Grace(like Sergio, lovely links record), Leishman(back to lay) and Westwood(I know, but again he just seems close to hitting some proper consistentcy.Back to LAYYYYY).

Finally, despite all I said about avoiding flashy players, I am convinced John Rahm is going to win a monster soon. He loved it in Ireland, and has spent plenty of time here. It may not be this week, but if it isn't, its money lent.

Love it.

Jon Rahm lost his head completely in the US Open and again a couple of weeks ago. I'm no golf expert but I can't see him having the patience.

You're probably right. I hoped it was clear he wasn't my major interest, but as you point out, the reason for including him is the fact he is putting himself in these positions, and, I hope, as he matures, so will his chances of seeing out the trip!

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDODsQPrN0E


Get on the GOAT boat :D

Palmer does make me laugh.

Wayne Riley > Ken Brown for me. Not even close

Problem with Sky is having to put up with that goon Livingstone - Can’t think of worse anchor for major sports show / station.

I think I've thrown almost as many darts as you Tony. Like you I'm also on Day, Stenson and Hatton. Plus, Rahm, Molinari, Z.Johnson, Oost, Na and the fellas Betting Emporium tipped up. Here's hoping one of us finds our way to the winner's enclosure on Sunday.

And they are off.

Can't be too many big sports occasions which start at 0635 in front of packed grandstands.

Morning Nick,

Mad, isn't it?

I added the BE selections late last night, too, plus my punting guru and special friend got me on Carbrero-Bello at a three figure price.

I shall doubtless regret all the bets come Sunday night, but never mind, The Open is the absolute nuts.

PS - thank you for the PM, and the Vive le France winnings. Wish I could say they have been wisely reinvested.

What were the BE selections?

I saw the original one for Day but for some reason I can't log in to see Neil's free Open bets - perhaps I'm banned :)

That's odd Ralph - you could log in a few days ago to see the Road to Riches piece, but not now?

Anyway, for a man who is on Danny Willett (- 4 last time I saw) at the best part of 300/1, don't think you need any tips. ;)

I don't appear to have to log in to read RtR but when I try to read Neil's free Open bets it asks me to log in and tells me I'm doing something wrong.

PS You seem to be inferring that I could actually see them for some reason. Why would that be?

Well I assumed as much as you said you saw the original one for Jason Day.

Going back to the original problem, I have to log in to see anything on B-E, be it RtR or Neil's stuff, so it's a bit odd. 

Anyway, on matters of more import, you enjoying The Open so far?

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDODsQPrN0E

Let's go!

Some sympathy for the commentators getting their tongues round this fellas name;

Jazz Janewattananond

Sad to see Darren Clarke plum last (so far) at +11, & even David Duval at +9.

Both great players in their prime.

I'm sure they're alright with their lot.

No doubt enjoying themselves, too.

sandy was doing so well level par  up till the 13th and a double bogey
would of been good to see him make the cut in his final open
but +4 too far away i think

Rain - remember that stuff - overnight, & a light drizzle this morning.

The Open is a far better spectacle when the weather turns for the worse.

Yeah, still raining here and quite heavy overnight. First rain in about two months! Annoying drizzly stuff at the minute.

Good to see our hole in one specialist on board.

You enjoying The Open?

Anyone see those weird straps Tiger had on his neck yesterday?


(http://i.imgur.com/MMhs5g0.jpg) (https://imgur.com/MMhs5g0)


Well the BBC reported this today;

After Tiger wore that neck tape yesterday the brand's website reported a 300% increase in traffic

People more wary of Rory these days from a punting POV.

Current Leader and still 7s available.

A couple of years ago he would be almost odds on leading at this stage......

Was just thinking that, he's starting to look really ominous.

Meanwhile, Poults just had a triple bogey 7......

Of all my selections - way too many to even think about - Tommy Fleetwood might just be my saviour.

Go Tommy.

Captain Bok will do for Rory, but he was only leader on the course, there are plenty of people to finish.  

Well I'm not on Rory, so am in full bok mode.

The weather bias has certainly favoured the early starters yesterday, as the rain has stooped & the wind dropped to zero this afternoon, so the same guys, who are today's late starters, have got the best of it again.

I hate that stoopey rain.

At least the wind was not droopey.

Rahm appears to have a major tilt-issue.

Major as in big not as in majors.

10th of November child.

We all suffer the curse ;D

That was an ugly watch. I saw the triple bogey - bogey - double bogey sequence, & then saw him almost snap his driver in half, hopefully he calmed down after that.

Do any other sickos watch the sky coverage all day then the highlights show on BBC?

 ;indestructable;

Tomorrow's pin-positions are all tucked away in the corners - if it blows as expected it's going to be a fun one.

Never really been into golf but have been watching this whilst waiting for the  World Matchplay to start and have found  myself becoming increasingly  engrossed. Who do we fancy today? Is it a case of one from three or can someone from further back put something special together.

I don't have Sky sports so I've watched the highlights prog on the beeb every evening which has worked out fine because I've been busy during the day.

The only problem is I have been unable to watch any news programmes or open this thread because I needed to avoid spoilers.

Today I'm indoors all day so I've paid £7.99 for a one day Sky sports pass.

Watching the golf, playing poker online, waiting for me dinner, loving life.

A fella, hitting second, just teed off and his ball came to rest actually touching the ball of his playing partner, some 270 yards down the fairway.

The odds on that must be unimaginably huge.

Even more so as they were actually nestled side by side in the rough. Some fairways have a natural camber which results in a regular collecting position for tee shots but I don't think I've ever seen that happen in the rough before.

The angle I wanted was focussing on the truly excellent ball strikers. The top of the leaderboard (perhaps less so Kis/Xander) already is a who’s who of great ball striking though. I think we should also look at people who’ll be really comfortable shooting away from the tucked pins and biding their time. At the prices I do like Spieth, his course management is genuinely exceptional. Hoffman is a great ball striker and copes with the wind looks , OK at 150/1, maybe 125/1 for most. I’m also backing Rose at 40’s, he’ll stay patient and hit it great all day.

I would say that at least a quarter of the top 32 tennis and snooker players are left handed. I don't think there are nearly so many cack-handed golfers. Why is that I wonder?

Phil Mikelson is not even left-handed - he just copied his dad's swing like a mirror-image and played that way.

left handed clubs are less common, so people usual start playing using right handed ones.  I actually don't thing that golf is really a left/right handed game, certainly not so much as snooker and tennis for example.

That's a great factoid Ralph

Good point, but if that's the case why isn't it true of say, guitarists?

For starters you have both hands on the golf-club.

PS I mean you grip the club with both hands whichever way you play which is why I think Mikelson is a good example.

As opposed to one hand on the guitar?

Not sure what point you are making with the guitar, but cant you just reverse the strings and turn it round?

my bad most guitars aren't precisely symmetrical so that wouldn't work.

Yes.

The two hands gripping a golf cub are performing one function and are usually fully connected by either interlocking or ovelapping the little finger of one hand.

Now stop being obstreperous and watch the golf.

McGinley is dire

Ryder cup points for Jason Day??!!!

Yesterday he quoted three things as fact re scoring averages which turned out to be nothing like fact

Hang on Ralph, I'm really interested in this.

So are you saying that ~ 1/4 of golfers play right handed but they are actually left-handed, including the top 32?

It's not something I've ever researched but as Dave says it's much easier to get hold of right-handed clubs and it's not that hard for a left-hander to play right-handed.

You could not compare it to playing snooker or the guitar where the hands perform totally different functions.

Fair enough, I take your point.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDODsQPrN0E

Leggggggggggo!

OMG! It could happen.....

Whatever happens from here with Tiger, Steve Palmer is an absolute legend.

Oh my.

That was an amazing 20 minutes. It's almost as if it's meant to be.

Rory lurking in the background, too.

Heard one of the pundits predict Tiger or Rory this morning.

Rory's blown it.

It's all happening....

More ups and downs that Wayne Riley's intonation.

......and his place is taken by Justin Rose.

Incredible viewing. 

My gold knowledge poor but a few lads I used to work with put me on Molinari and Xander Schauffele I never backed them but I have them in my 5 man team in a work comp.  Sick. 

And unblown it......

Rory's unblown it...

Lol

Current favourite bit of commentary.

"A few moments ago we didn't know what was going on, now we really don't know what's going on".

Tiger's blown it.

I've been hugely impressed with how Molinari has maintained his composure throughout this round.

Darren Clarke has an uncanny knack of annoying me with almost each and every utterance(and he makes far too many of them).

Think Tiger will light the candle one more time, boys?

Heart says yes, head says no.

Unforch, the idiot who hollers IN THE HOLE at every tee shot has now changed it to LIGHT THE CANDLE.

I'd throw the daft bugger out.

The hospitality suite guy who shouted during Tiger's backswing? So ridic.

I sat with one of these golf shouters at a table in Vegas. He was convinced he was good for the atmosphere, that he was giving the players encouragement and that everyone needed to liven up.

I thought it was a fabulous competition, and I take nothing away from the winner, (Whoever he was) but if I'm honest, I thought the end was a bit of an anticlimax.

With the caveat that the winner thoroughly deserved it, yes, I agree. That 2 hour period mid-afternoon when so many different players got into contention - 4 or 5 different leaders or joint leaders? - was supreme entertainment & terrific TV, but it lost it's zing a little in the last hour.

Definitely taking nothing away from the winner though, he deserved it, & seems a nice sort of chap.

Mid-afternoon yesterday was the best few hours TV all year for me. Golf "fits" TV so well.

Commentator/analyst/pundit of the week for me was Paul Lawrie, not even close.

He's a genuinely good man, humble, honest & likeable in every way.

I quite enjoy Butch Harmon's musings, but only when he is "off-camera". When he is on-camera, I get distracted by the severe twitch he has in his right eye. Not noticed it before, but perhaps that is why he wears spectacles.

House points for Wayne Riley & Rich Beem, whilst over on BBC, I still enjoy Alliss (83 years old?) despite the fact I don't believe he is a very nice man. Ken Brown, of course, is the nuts.

Good read Tone. You just know Alliss is the sort of bloke who talks the talk, but would use your face as a stepping stone in a crisis.

I always thought the same about Terry Wogan.

If you have a spare 15 mins Tom you might enjoy Aliss’ golf hall of fame speech on YouTube.

Yesterday  was the first time that I have attended a golf tournament and thoroughly enjoyed it, the organisation was absolutely superb.
When Tiger was making his move the buzz around the course was fantastic, the majority of the crowd were definitely behind him. Fleetwood and Rory were well supported but nothing compared to Tiger, people were definitely wanting to have an "I was there" story.

Mid afternoon was crazy when there were so many in contention with Molinari a deserved winner especially being paired with Tiger

Oh wow, that's a great watch/listen.

Here;

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_HSJ8niuKE

Alliss comes out with the odd beauty but he and Ken Brown have certainly had their day.

Those silly graphics and music for Ken Brown's pieces are woeful.

Sky do a fantastic job , their Sky Cart and on the range clips with the pro's hitting
certain shot's and explaining how they do it is great to watch.

BBC still in the 80's and 90's for me. Very poor at innovation.

Sarah Stirk is the nuts  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WViKMtJ-xKU

+1

Enjoyed that ,thanks for sharing.

Fabulous.

I'd like to be more self deprecating but unfortunately I'm not very good at it.

+1

I think he'll definitely win a tournament/s again but might depend somewhat on timing as to whether it's a major.

I am left handed . Play Golf right handed , snooker left handed , darts right handed , table tennis left handed , tennis right handed , left footed at football and most importantly drink with my left hand  ;D 8)

That's interesting Craig and it kinda proves Ralph/Dave's point.

I'm right handed but dress to the left.

I play golf left handed as I did with cricket and baseball or rounders. I boxed southpaw.

Darts, snooker, table tennis, basketball, badminton and squash all right handed. I am a right handed writer.

Geo

I'm going to keep making this joke until someone acknowledges it.

Palmer would have won 300 large, if Tiger had won that  :o

Love his write up's , sounds a pretty degenerate punter , not sure how long he will last though !

Think he used to be, back when he wrote that book for the RP.

Seems to have settled down a bit now that he's married with a nipper.

Imagine that he's probably paid alright for his RP stuff, too.

He has been on a heater for the last 6 months or so but can remember articles
from last year when he was down and out virtually.

Would be interested to know how much he got paid by RP.

I suspect that it's not a fantastic amount.

Chompy would have more of a clue ?

I never get the RP, and have only been listening to the golf podcasts which are recent.

Be interesting to know the coup, and Chompy would probably be your man.