*** Official "The Open" thread ***

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

The final major of the year is here. Set at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

I believe the British oddsmakers have Rory as the favorite. I would love to see Rickie Fowler get that major monkey off his back.

You never know what kind of weather you can get when playing The Open and it can play a huge factor if you get caught in the worst of it.

Tee times start at 1:35am Eastern

https://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/

 

[cyclonpediaJoe]

Not a golfer, but that course is gorgeous.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'd love to get the chance to play at one of those courses just once. I'd almost certainly end up in triple digits, but it would still be cool.

 

[3TrueFans]

Forecast looks like rain every day, should be fun.

 

[Rural]

Luck of the draw could be huge.

 

[BigJCy]

Hope we get at least 1 day of what they had to practice in today (rain & wind). Would be VERY tough.

 

[3TrueFans]

Hope we get at least 1 day of what they had to practice in today (rain & wind). Would be VERY tough.

Tomorrow looks like rain and 15mph winds maybe

 

[Clonefan32]

Kind of interesting lead up. Tiger didn't exactly sound ready in his introductory press conference. Koepka discussed his lack of practice for anything other than a major. Phil is in the middle of a coffee and water cleanse and has lost 15 pounds. Should be interesting.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

20th anniversary of this disaster.

 

[bherren]

I think Jon Rahm gets his first Major win this weekend. He's been red hot lately.

 

[BigJCy]

I think Jon Rahm gets his for Major win this weekend. He's been red hot lately.

Think that's a good pick.

 

[jbindm]

20th anniversary of this disaster.

Just read a feature about this earlier today. Spectacular flameout. But you know something - I remember the collapse but damned if I know who ended up winning.

 

[BigJCy]

20th anniversary of this disaster.

Yep, and 10 years since Tom Watson almost pulled off winning at 59 years old.

 

[Cyclonepride]

20th anniversary of this disaster.

Man, that's still hard to watch.

 

[jbindm]

Man, that's still hard to watch.

Not gonna lie - part of me still wishes that he had decided to try to hit the ball out of six inches of water just to see what would have transpired from there. It's amazing to me that only after three straight absolutely horrible decisions he finally decided, "No, this is crazy. I need to play this conservatively right now." For a good minute or longer he's standing there calf deep in water thinking that he might be able to do it.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Not gonna lie - part of me still wishes that he had decided to try to hit the ball out of six inches of water just to see what would have transpired from there. It's amazing to me that only after three straight absolutely horrible decisions he finally decided, "No, this is crazy. I need to play this conservatively right now." For a good minute or longer he's standing there calf deep in water thinking that he might be able to do it.

This summer, I played a par 5 where I lost three balls. Next time out, same hole, I hit three extremely conservative shots (practically layups) and stuck an approach shot, then hit the putt to par it. I wish I was smart enough to do that more often.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Just read a feature about this earlier today. Spectacular flameout. But you know something - I remember the collapse but damned if I know who ended up winning.

I had to look it up, Paul Lawrie in a 3 person playoff

 

[jbindm]

This summer, I played a par 5 where I lost three balls. Next time out, same hole, I hit three extremely conservative shots (practically layups) and stuck an approach shot, then hit the putt to par it. I wish I was smart enough to do that more often.

I think it's just human nature that once you make a couple bad decisions it tends to snowball and get totally out of control. You don't normally check yourself mid-breakdown and realize that you need to turn things around and make the smart play. You just keep digging a hole, deeper and deeper. My biggest fault as a golfer is that if I find myself in the trees my first instinct is to want to thread the needle between a couple pines or whatever when the smart play is to just punch out onto the fairway. What would normally end up costing me one stroke ends up being two or three or worse because after I hit one tree trying to get out I stubbornly keep trying the same damn thing until I get lucky.

He choked badly, but I do give him credit for at least realizing in the midst of a total meltdown that if he just made one good decision he could still give himself a chance. I mean, after all that he did still manage to get to extra holes. That he regained even a semblance of control after things had gotten sideways so badly is kind of impressive in a way.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

What would normally end up costing me one stroke ends up being two or three or worse because after I hit one tree trying to get out I stubbornly keep trying the same damn thing until I get lucky.

That's one of the hardest parts of golf. Understanding when your best course of action is to set yourself up to take an extra stroke.

 

[jbindm]

That's one of the hardest parts of golf. Understanding when your best course of action is to set yourself up to take an extra stroke.

Agreed. I think it's a patience and maturity thing - two characteristics I sorely lacked in my twenties but that I'm gradually figuring out.