Official Golf thread - Sport

Weeping Dreams · 14-07-2006, 16:53

Couldn't find a golf thread so thought I'd start one as the Scottish Open is currently underway and The Open Championship starts next week.

Darren Clark is 3 shots clear with one hole of his second round to play.
Monty is currently 7 shots behind but has recovered from his +1 in the first round and is -5 for his second round.
But will he ever recover from throwing away the last Major?

ash132 · 14-07-2006, 18:14

This Scottish Open has been a good tournament so far. Edfors is looking good for the win imo.

Onto the Open, I was talking to a pro who is almost certain Furyk will win, as the course really suits his game.
Personally I always back Mickelson in the majors, and I fancy Olazabal to go well also, he's been in great form this season. Out of the British hopefuls, I could only see Darren Clarke challenging at the top. Really looking forward to it though.

Curious Cat · 14-07-2006, 20:49

Clarke may do well, he's been challenging recently but is a serial choker so is never going to win. Monty's been 2nd in 2 of the last 3 majors and has been in great form over the past 3 months and barely been off the leaderboard.

I shall be backing David Duval.

Weeping Dreams · 15-07-2006, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash132

This Scottish Open has been a good tournament so far. Edfors is looking good for the win imo.

Edfors had a nightmare 3rd Round 74 and is 6 shots behind joint leaders Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke who are both 11 under.

ash132 · 15-07-2006, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weeping Dreams

Edfors had a nightmare 3rd Round 74 and is 6 shots behind joint leaders Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke who are both 11 under.

Yeah he did let it go a bit. Bjorn played superbly today, if he wasn't so inconsistent he'd be such a good player.

Got my bets on Furyk and Mickelson for The Open today.

bigstunnerdude · 15-07-2006, 22:36

Clarke to win the Scottish Open, because he's a nice fellow with a rotten luck on and off the course. He's played three good rounds, I hope he avoids the 'Choke' that many British Golfers suffer.

As far as the Open next week I'll only say who I'd like to see win. David Howell or Luke Donald. Its about time the English lads started winning majors. We've been without a serious contender since Faldo. Also it'd be good for my bank account if they win as that's where I've put my money this year.

If I had to pick a non-brit to win, guess I'd have to go with Big Ernie or Tiger. Think Tiger could do with a big win after the horrid year he's had. Its also time Ernie got back on the winners wagon, after an less then average season to date. Maybe that knee injury has took more out of him then he could have ever expected.

Hayden · 16-07-2006, 10:15

Brit to win the Open next week- Paul Casey, think Paul Broadhurst might do well also.
Overall favourite for me though would be Retief Goosen or Vijay Singh, with Tim Clark as a good outside bet.

pxd867 · 16-07-2006, 14:05

Would like to remind the likes of Tiger Woods, that the Open is NOT being staged in Scallyland (i.e. Liverpool), and is being staged on the Wirral. I don't blame him though as many people seem unaware of the location.

ash132 · 16-07-2006, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash132

This Scottish Open has been a good tournament so far. Edfors is looking good for the win imo.

I knew that rotund, crystal ornament would be handy one day

Seriously I picked Edfors out about 3 or 4 months ago, I'd heard a bit about him and said he'd be the best player in Europe within 2 years, might be sooner than that, the way he's going.

Curious Cat · 16-07-2006, 18:21

There's a story going round, seen it on a couple of sites and have no reason to doubt it that Edfors was a bit peeved that some bookies had him as much as 350/1 so he put £500 on himself which equates to £175,000 I think.

pxd867 · 16-07-2006, 19:14

My money is on Nick Faldo.

A legend!

swingaleg · 16-07-2006, 20:52

Strange innit..........I can't be really bothered watching golf during the day, but I like watching it from America at night.........usually only the majors.

I used to like those 'country' competitions, the Ryder cup and that one at St Andrews with 3 man teams........

Other than that the only European tournament i might watch is the Matchplay one ..........is it at 'the belfry' ? I was even took days off work to watch that on the telly..........

I prefer watching matchplay.........

swingaleg · 16-07-2006, 20:53

Having said the above, I might well watch some of the Open next weekend..........

ash132 · 17-07-2006, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingaleg

Strange innit..........I can't be really bothered watching golf during the day, but I like watching it from America at night.........usually only the majors.

I used to like those 'country' competitions, the Ryder cup and that one at St Andrews with 3 man teams........

Other than that the only European tournament i might watch is the Matchplay one ..........is it at 'the belfry' ? I was even took days off work to watch that on the telly..........

I prefer watching matchplay.........

The Ryder Cup is fantastic, and overall the best event in golf. As a whole though I much prefer stroke play. Matchplay is good as an occaisonal novelty, but I prefer to see players attacking the course, rather than just playing the opponent. The excitement on the last couple of holes of a major tournament, when its decisive between two players in the same pairing, is unmatched in Golf.

Btw anyone else think the same as me, in that The Open should be permanently at St Andrews?

david16 · 17-07-2006, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash132

The Ryder Cup is fantastic, and overall the best event in golf. As a whole though I much prefer stroke play. Matchplay is good as an occaisonal novelty, but I prefer to see players attacking the course, rather than just playing the opponent. The excitement on the last couple of holes of a major tournament, when its decisive between two players in the same pairing, is unmatched in Golf.

Btw anyone else think the same as me, in that The Open should be permanently at St Andrews?

I remember the old Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in the 3 man team medal matchplay event where coming to the 17th you could be 3 shots behind with 2 holes to go, yret in a blink of an eye you could be ahead by 3 with 1 hole to go, beczuse your opponent made a mess of the road hole.

I remember Roger Davis finding the hotel garden once for the Australians when he had what seemed unassailable lead, and ended up losing by enoiugh to his opponet on that hole to effectively hand vcoictory to the opponent.

Regarding the Open venues, it's great to see them rotating each year with the Old course appearing on the rota more than the others. BTW apart from 17, on the sheltered east coast of Scotland away from the wind and rain of the West, the Old Course with today's equipment is a bit too easy for modern day golf unless they drastically alter the setup. You're not supposed to find the green in 1, yet there is the 9th, 10 and 12th you can do just that so easily. Far too many 65's around there.

pxd867 · 17-07-2006, 13:05

Hoylak is derided as being an easy course, but I don't think its as easy as that. However the worrying thing at the moment is that, where I live (just 2 miles down the road from Hoylake) there is virtually no wind, although it is a lovely sunny day. So Tiger and others might find it easier than they thought.

ash132 · 17-07-2006, 16:54

Theres been some decent groupings drawn for The Open.

Woods/ Faldo/ Katayama
Mickleson and Darren Clarke are in the same group, as are Singh and David Howell. Also the threeball of Els/ Donald/ Mloinari should be decent as well.

I bet the burger bar will have a rush with both Monty and Daly finishing at the same time though!!

ash132 · 19-07-2006, 23:11

So tomorrow morning is when the action starts. i'm really glad i got money on Furyk. I backed him a few days ago, praying this heat wave would happen sp the ground would get hard and the ball would run on. Furyk is a great iron player and shapes his shots so well, he looks a great each way chance for me, even if he does have a dodgy record in The Open.

I've also got Mickleson for the win and if he starts well I reckon he'll be there or there abouts, he's good round the greens which you need with links golf.

Honourable mentions to Woods,who people will obviously back and Olazabal, who has the best chance of all the Europeans imo, and depending on what he does tomorrow I might have an each way flutter on him. He's been in great form this year.

Prediction: winning score of -14

ash132 · 19-07-2006, 23:27

I'm gonna set myself up for a fall and predict a top 10.

Phil Mickleson
Jim Furyk
Jose M Olazabal
Stuart Appleby
Tim Clark
Stephen Dodd
Tiger Woods
Retief Goosen
Brad Faxon
Paul Broadhurst

david16 · 20-07-2006, 08:41

Hopefully the winning total will be less than -10 to confound the crtitics who think it's going to be so easy this week of everybody going around low all 4 rounds.

Sometines the scoring doesn't prove to be as low as it may appear on all the experts 1st glances pre-event.

david16 · 20-07-2006, 08:51

Phil Yates was saying the last group was due to be starting at 4.21pm and now it will start at 4.51pm because of early thunderstrorms.

Do the last group out on the Thursday afternoon have to come out 1st on Friday morning?

bigstunnerdude · 20-07-2006, 21:07

Yeah tee-times are reversed first two days. So Tiger will be the 13th group out tomorrow morning. Maybe in the cool, less breezy conditions he'll really rip it up tomorrow instead of playing that conservative (No Beast of Power off the tee) style he used today.

david16 · 20-07-2006, 21:47

But -5, 1 off the lead he must be doing something right.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice the driver by using irons and 3w instead to get better results. Some of the holes today did not require use of the driver today, so I saw no reason why Tiger should have had to use the driver on all 10 par 4's and risk hacking it out of the thick stuff far too oiften because of wild driving.

Tiger has proved often enough doesn't have to be the straightest off the tee all the time (has he ever been?) anyway to be as successful as he has in the majors troughout his career. But even so there have been times he has used it where it's really ill advised to do so by most experts and got himself into such deep trouble where it's proved impossible for him to scramble a par from there even for him.

mlt11 · 20-07-2006, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigstunnerdude

Yeah tee-times are reversed first two days. So Tiger will be the 13th group out tomorrow morning. Maybe in the cool, less breezy conditions he'll really rip it up tomorrow instead of playing that conservative (No Beast of Power off the tee) style he used today.

No they are not reversed. They are split into 2 halves. There are 52 groups. It works like this:

DAY 1:

1,2,3,4 ....................52

DAY 2:

27,28,29,30.......52,1,2,3,4 .............26

So if you go last on Day 1 (ie group 52) you go just before halfway on Day 2.

The first group on Day 2 (ie group 27) goes just after halfway on Day 1.

ash132 · 21-07-2006, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by david16

But -5, 1 off the lead he must be doing something right.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice the driver by using irons and 3w instead to get better results. Some of the holes today did not require use of the driver today, so I saw no reason why Tiger should have had to use the driver on all 10 par 4's and risk hacking it out of the thick stuff far too oiften because of wild driving.

Tiger has proved often enough doesn't have to be the straightest off the tee all the time (has he ever been?) anyway to be as successful as he has in the majors troughout his career. But even so there have been times he has used it where it's really ill advised to do so by most experts and got himself into such deep trouble where it's proved impossible for him to scramble a par from there even for him.

I agree. His driver off the tee has been his main weakness the last couple of years, so using a couple of longer iron shots to get to the green probably suits him much more.

I did expect at least one score of 65 or 64, the way the course was playing and the conditions. I'm not too sure what the weather forecast for tomorrow and the weekend is, but if its similar to today we could see some low scoring, although with the amount of tricky bunkers, I doubt a player will really rip the course up and finish the tournament with a record score.

14-07-2006, 16:53	#1
Weeping Dreams Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,497	Official Golf thread Couldn't find a golf thread so thought I'd start one as the Scottish Open is currently underway and The Open Championship starts next week. Darren Clark is 3 shots clear with one hole of his second round to play. Monty is currently 7 shots behind but has recovered from his +1 in the first round and is -5 for his second round. But will he ever recover from throwing away the last Major?

20-07-2006, 08:41	#20
david16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Scotland Services: Telewest Broadband Posts: 5,399	Hopefully the winning total will be less than -10 to confound the crtitics who think it's going to be so easy this week of everybody going around low all 4 rounds. Sometines the scoring doesn't prove to be as low as it may appear on all the experts 1st glances pre-event. Last edited by david16 : 20-07-2006 at 09:35.

14-07-2006, 18:14	#2
ash132 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,078	This Scottish Open has been a good tournament so far. Edfors is looking good for the win imo. Onto the Open, I was talking to a pro who is almost certain Furyk will win, as the course really suits his game. Personally I always back Mickelson in the majors, and I fancy Olazabal to go well also, he's been in great form this season. Out of the British hopefuls, I could only see Darren Clarke challenging at the top. Really looking forward to it though.

14-07-2006, 20:49	#3
Curious Cat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 227	Clarke may do well, he's been challenging recently but is a serial choker so is never going to win. Monty's been 2nd in 2 of the last 3 majors and has been in great form over the past 3 months and barely been off the leaderboard. I shall be backing David Duval.

15-07-2006, 22:36	#6
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Services: Sky+, NTL2mb Broadband, Motorola V635 on T Mobile Posts: 3,665	Clarke to win the Scottish Open, because he's a nice fellow with a rotten luck on and off the course. He's played three good rounds, I hope he avoids the 'Choke' that many British Golfers suffer. As far as the Open next week I'll only say who I'd like to see win. David Howell or Luke Donald. Its about time the English lads started winning majors. We've been without a serious contender since Faldo. Also it'd be good for my bank account if they win as that's where I've put my money this year. If I had to pick a non-brit to win, guess I'd have to go with Big Ernie or Tiger. Think Tiger could do with a big win after the horrid year he's had. Its also time Ernie got back on the winners wagon, after an less then average season to date. Maybe that knee injury has took more out of him then he could have ever expected.

16-07-2006, 10:15	#7
Hayden Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Midlands Services: With A Smile Posts: 7,599	Brit to win the Open next week- Paul Casey, think Paul Broadhurst might do well also. Overall favourite for me though would be Retief Goosen or Vijay Singh, with Tim Clark as a good outside bet.

16-07-2006, 14:05	#8
pxd867 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Services: Broadband 2MB. Freeview, TUTV- Toppy 5800 PVR, PS2 + PSP Posts: 9,713	Would like to remind the likes of Tiger Woods, that the Open is NOT being staged in Scallyland (i.e. Liverpool), and is being staged on the Wirral. I don't blame him though as many people seem unaware of the location.

16-07-2006, 18:21	#10
Curious Cat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 227	There's a story going round, seen it on a couple of sites and have no reason to doubt it that Edfors was a bit peeved that some bookies had him as much as 350/1 so he put £500 on himself which equates to £175,000 I think.

16-07-2006, 19:14	#11
pxd867 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Services: Broadband 2MB. Freeview, TUTV- Toppy 5800 PVR, PS2 + PSP Posts: 9,713	My money is on Nick Faldo. A legend!

16-07-2006, 20:52	#12
swingaleg Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Services: Telewest Digital Malarky Posts: 44,721	Strange innit..........I can't be really bothered watching golf during the day, but I like watching it from America at night.........usually only the majors. I used to like those 'country' competitions, the Ryder cup and that one at St Andrews with 3 man teams........ Other than that the only European tournament i might watch is the Matchplay one ..........is it at 'the belfry' ? I was even took days off work to watch that on the telly.......... I prefer watching matchplay.........

16-07-2006, 20:53	#13
swingaleg Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Services: Telewest Digital Malarky Posts: 44,721	Having said the above, I might well watch some of the Open next weekend..........

17-07-2006, 13:05	#16
pxd867 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Services: Broadband 2MB. Freeview, TUTV- Toppy 5800 PVR, PS2 + PSP Posts: 9,713	Hoylak is derided as being an easy course, but I don't think its as easy as that. However the worrying thing at the moment is that, where I live (just 2 miles down the road from Hoylake) there is virtually no wind, although it is a lovely sunny day. So Tiger and others might find it easier than they thought.

17-07-2006, 16:54	#17
ash132 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,078	Theres been some decent groupings drawn for The Open. Woods/ Faldo/ Katayama Mickleson and Darren Clarke are in the same group, as are Singh and David Howell. Also the threeball of Els/ Donald/ Mloinari should be decent as well. I bet the burger bar will have a rush with both Monty and Daly finishing at the same time though!!

19-07-2006, 23:11	#18
ash132 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,078	So tomorrow morning is when the action starts. i'm really glad i got money on Furyk. I backed him a few days ago, praying this heat wave would happen sp the ground would get hard and the ball would run on. Furyk is a great iron player and shapes his shots so well, he looks a great each way chance for me, even if he does have a dodgy record in The Open. I've also got Mickleson for the win and if he starts well I reckon he'll be there or there abouts, he's good round the greens which you need with links golf. Honourable mentions to Woods,who people will obviously back and Olazabal, who has the best chance of all the Europeans imo, and depending on what he does tomorrow I might have an each way flutter on him. He's been in great form this year. Prediction: winning score of -14

19-07-2006, 23:27	#19
ash132 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,078	I'm gonna set myself up for a fall and predict a top 10. Phil Mickleson Jim Furyk Jose M Olazabal Stuart Appleby Tim Clark Stephen Dodd Tiger Woods Retief Goosen Brad Faxon Paul Broadhurst

20-07-2006, 08:51	#21
david16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Scotland Services: Telewest Broadband Posts: 5,399	Phil Yates was saying the last group was due to be starting at 4.21pm and now it will start at 4.51pm because of early thunderstrorms. Do the last group out on the Thursday afternoon have to come out 1st on Friday morning?

20-07-2006, 21:07	#22
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Services: Sky+, NTL2mb Broadband, Motorola V635 on T Mobile Posts: 3,665	Yeah tee-times are reversed first two days. So Tiger will be the 13th group out tomorrow morning. Maybe in the cool, less breezy conditions he'll really rip it up tomorrow instead of playing that conservative (No Beast of Power off the tee) style he used today.

20-07-2006, 21:47	#23
david16 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Scotland Services: Telewest Broadband Posts: 5,399	But -5, 1 off the lead he must be doing something right. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the driver by using irons and 3w instead to get better results. Some of the holes today did not require use of the driver today, so I saw no reason why Tiger should have had to use the driver on all 10 par 4's and risk hacking it out of the thick stuff far too oiften because of wild driving. Tiger has proved often enough doesn't have to be the straightest off the tee all the time (has he ever been?) anyway to be as successful as he has in the majors troughout his career. But even so there have been times he has used it where it's really ill advised to do so by most experts and got himself into such deep trouble where it's proved impossible for him to scramble a par from there even for him.