The 2016 Open Championship Discussion Thread

[mrt99]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

I'm not sure how this is in any way responsive to my post. But I hope you feel better for having gotten all of that out of your system...

I'm new to this playground and not looking to fight, but I've had a Scotch or two and don't agree with your earlier post. Apologies if that offended

 

I'm not offended by anything you said, just pointing out that your rant about shotgun starts was in no way responsive to the question I posed in my post.

[hdr_ric]

I look at the data and at the TV and the conditions are very similar now from what they were this morning. And yesterday they were super favourable all day for everyone. It's harder today, and has been all day. There have been BOs where it has been a major factor, but can't see that it is today.. It was heavy rain and basicly the same wind this morning. Fact is that people are playing pretty bad right now. I think that has to do with psychology. They are chasing a few guy who have played pretty flawless, but you can't chase at the BO, not even in conditions like these.

 

I disagree. Thursday was close to "even". Today was not . The guys out early got 9-12 holes of little wind and no rain. They did get hit with the rain their last few holes.

 

I don't care, b/c my guy is on the correct side of the draw - but even I will admit, the early/lates got screwed this year. Oh well. Luck of the draw.

[2putttom]

Jordan sounds neutered, like he has lost the will to live.

got hold of some tainted haggis last night.

[North Texas]

Justin Leonard looks like a Bernie Bro.

 

I almost didn't recognize him.

[larssonlegend]

Great putt by Willet to make the cut.

[larssonlegend]

Comon bubba do the same.

[sbeduckman]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

[TheKclub]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

As bad as hitting a 120 yards 5 iron for Jason Day.

[larssonlegend]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

[jmck]

I look at the data and at the TV and the conditions are very similar now from what they were this morning. And yesterday they were super favourable all day for everyone. It's harder today, and has been all day. There have been BOs where it has been a major factor, but can't see that it is today.. It was heavy rain and basicly the same wind this morning. Fact is that people are playing pretty bad right now. I think that has to do with psychology. They are chasing a few guy who have played pretty flawless, but you can't chase at the BO, not even in conditions like these.

 

??? Are you sure you're watching the 2016 version? Big, obvious weather advantage to the late/early guys. Funnily enough, same as it was a month back at Oakmont.

 

Phil played nearly perfect yesterday, and very good today. If he was early/late instead of late/early he's at 5 or 6, not 10.

[sbeduckman]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

Day just said 30mph gusting to 40. That's not odd in my part of the world in the spring (Kansas) we play in it often from February-May. Don't usually have the rain to go with it though. These guys chase the sun/low wind all season. I'm all for a week of the bad stuff for them.

[mrt99]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

You're misrepresenting (or perhaps you don't understand) the discussion a few of us have been having here. I think I saw only one poster who said that play should be stopped.

[hdr_ric]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

Day just said 30mph gusting to 40. That's not odd in my part of the world in the spring (Kansas) we play in it often from February-May. Don't usually have the rain to go with it though. These guys chase the sun/low wind all season. I'm all for a week of the bad stuff for them.

 

Do you play it during part of the day while your direct competitors get 10mph during a different part of the day??

 

Oh well, like I said earlier, my guy got the MUCH better half of the draw, so I am happy.

[larssonlegend]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

You're misrepresenting (or perhaps you don't understand) the discussion a few of us have been having here. I think I saw only one poster who said that play should be stopped.

 

I understand , you would like the oldest and best golf tournament with years of great champions and great drama to change its traditionst to a two tee start due to bad luck the players had in one half of the draw. You don't understand this weather came and went in two hours and can and would still advantage golfers from a two tee start. I understand but think you're wrong

[sbeduckman]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

Day just said 30mph gusting to 40. That's not odd in my part of the world in the spring (Kansas) we play in it often from February-May. Don't usually have the rain to go with it though. These guys chase the sun/low wind all season. I'm all for a week of the bad stuff for them.

 

Do you play it during part of the day while your direct competitors get 10mph during a different part of the day??

 

Oh well, like I said earlier, my guy got the MUCH better half of the draw, so I am happy.

 

I've played in several events that went down like that...I've been on both sides of it. That's the rub. It can happen anywhere at anytime. Part of playing an outdoor game.

[mrt99]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

You're misrepresenting (or perhaps you don't understand) the discussion a few of us have been having here. I think I saw only one poster who said that play should be stopped.

 

I understand , you would like the oldest and best golf tournament with years of great champions and great drama to change its traditionst to a two tee start due to bad luck the players had in one half of the draw. You don't understand this weather came and went in two hours and can and would still advantage golfers from a two tee start. I understand but think you're wrong

 

Oldest, yes. Best, not so much. And yes, changing to a two tee start won't always eliminate the problem we're seeing today (as a poster noted above, we ran into this same issue at the US Open a month ago), but it will make it a better, fairer tournament.

[hdr_ric]

Sounds like I missed some weather when I stepped out for a while (2 1/2 hours ago). Looks pretty calm out there at the moment...how bad did it get?

 

Very gusty and heavy rain for a while , I've played in that many a time but apparently some folk think it was too bad for the elite pros.

 

Well done Bubba

 

Day just said 30mph gusting to 40. That's not odd in my part of the world in the spring (Kansas) we play in it often from February-May. Don't usually have the rain to go with it though. These guys chase the sun/low wind all season. I'm all for a week of the bad stuff for them.

 

Do you play it during part of the day while your direct competitors get 10mph during a different part of the day??

 

Oh well, like I said earlier, my guy got the MUCH better half of the draw, so I am happy.

 

I've played in several events that went down like that...I've been on both sides of it. That's the rub. It can happen anywhere at anytime. Part of playing an outdoor game.

 

It is definitely the rub, but pretty sure it can't happen anywhere at anytime. Most of the rest of the year is scheduled for these guys specifically so it CAN'T/doesn't happen.

 

But like I said, my guy got on the lucky side. Lucky beats good a lot. I hope he wins.

[sbeduckman]

They could shotgun the thing and we'd still have an early wave and a late wave unless they cut the field in half and didn't have a cut...that would be idiotic. It's a "problem" without a solution IMO. So it goes.

[mrt99]

This is crazy. I have a Draftkings lineup with 5/6 who are going to make the cut. McDowell would have made it 6/6. When McDowell finished at +4 I lost hope, as he was T110+ or something. Now he's T72 with a chance to make it to the weekend.

 

+4 will make it easy.

 

It was +2 less than 90 minutes ago.

 

+4 might still make it, but it's now looking like it won't be easy...

[jay65]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

One thing that could (and should) be done is playing off split tees in the first two rounds. Everyone then tees off within a four or five hour window, instead of someone teeing off at 6:30 AM and the last guy going off 10 hours later.

 

I'm a traditionalist but over the last few years I've finally come around to this. The USGA went to split tees in 2002 (admittedly they were dealing with certain factors which the R&A really don't have to worry about) and the R&A should do the same in order to make it a better championship.

I

 

I take your point, but it's logistically almost impossible on old Links tracks which are often 'out and back' layouts, such as The Old Course, Troon etc. Fair point though, it would help with the whiners.

[vleisman]

I don't care what anyone says, you win this tournament, you completely deserve everything you get.

[mrt99]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

One thing that could (and should) be done is playing off split tees in the first two rounds. Everyone then tees off within a four or five hour window, instead of someone teeing off at 6:30 AM and the last guy going off 10 hours later.

 

I'm a traditionalist but over the last few years I've finally come around to this. The USGA went to split tees in 2002 (admittedly they were dealing with certain factors which the R&A really don't have to worry about) and the R&A should do the same in order to make it a better championship.

I

 

I take your point, but it's logistically almost impossible on old Links tracks which are often 'out and back' layouts, such as The Old Course, Troon etc. Fair point though, it would help with the whiners.

 

Yeah, wanting to see a better, fairer (note I didn't say fair) tournament that does the best job identifying the golfer playing the best that week is "whining".

[JaNelson38]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

One thing that could (and should) be done is playing off split tees in the first two rounds. Everyone then tees off within a four or five hour window, instead of someone teeing off at 6:30 AM and the last guy going off 10 hours later.

 

I'm a traditionalist but over the last few years I've finally come around to this. The USGA went to split tees in 2002 (admittedly they were dealing with certain factors which the R&A really don't have to worry about) and the R&A should do the same in order to make it a better championship.

I

 

I take your point, but it's logistically almost impossible on old Links tracks which are often 'out and back' layouts, such as The Old Course, Troon etc. Fair point though, it would help with the whiners.

 

Why is it logistically impossible? Shuttle the players who start their round on 10 from the clubhouse to their first tee. Its not 1890 anymore, we have powered carts.

 

For a tournament that prides itself on being the "true test", there is simply far too much luck involved in terms of determining the winner. Half the field was eliminated today from winning simply because of their tee time, and it doesnt have to be that way. Its ridiculous to have a 10-hour stretch between the first tee time and the last.

 

If you start on both tees at 6:30 AM, you can have the entire round for all players nearly done by the late afternoon. There are still golfers with 4 or 5 holes to play out at Troon right now despite the first tee time going off nearly FOURTEEN HOURS ago.

[larssonlegend]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

One thing that could (and should) be done is playing off split tees in the first two rounds. Everyone then tees off within a four or five hour window, instead of someone teeing off at 6:30 AM and the last guy going off 10 hours later.

 

I'm a traditionalist but over the last few years I've finally come around to this. The USGA went to split tees in 2002 (admittedly they were dealing with certain factors which the R&A really don't have to worry about) and the R&A should do the same in order to make it a better championship.

I

 

I take your point, but it's logistically almost impossible on old Links tracks which are often 'out and back' layouts, such as The Old Course, Troon etc. Fair point though, it would help with the whiners.

 

Why is it logistically impossible? Shuttle the players who start their round on 10 from the clubhouse to their first tee. Its not 1890 anymore, we have powered carts.

 

For a tournament that prides itself on being the "true test", there is simply far too much luck involved in terms of determining the winner. Half the field was eliminated today from winning simply because of their tee time, and it doesnt have to be that way. Its ridiculous to have a 10-hour stretch between the first tee time and the last.

 

And the two hour bad weather we had today would still disadvantage those who were out against those who had finished or not started.

[vleisman]

Sergio or Stenson would be nice. Phil must win the US Open, he doesn't need another Open Championship

[PZero]

Phil must win the US Open, he doesn't need another Open Championship

 

It would probably get him a spot in the Ryder Cup though.

[nichho]

Let's change to a shotgun start, that should be fair? Might need to reduce the field size a bit.. turn it into an invitational. Change the name to The Invitational Championship. Has a nice ring...

 

One thing that could (and should) be done is playing off split tees in the first two rounds. Everyone then tees off within a four or five hour window, instead of someone teeing off at 6:30 AM and the last guy going off 10 hours later.

 

I'm a traditionalist but over the last few years I've finally come around to this. The USGA went to split tees in 2002 (admittedly they were dealing with certain factors which the R&A really don't have to worry about) and the R&A should do the same in order to make it a better championship.

I

 

I take your point, but it's logistically almost impossible on old Links tracks which are often 'out and back' layouts, such as The Old Course, Troon etc. Fair point though, it would help with the whiners.

 

Yeah, wanting to see a better, fairer (note I didn't say fair) tournament that does the best job identifying the golfer playing the best that week is "whining".

 

From what I've seen it's what you do best.

[JaNelson38]

And the two hour bad weather we had today would still disadvantage those who were out against those who had finished or not started.

 

Everybody would have been pretty much done before the worst of the weather arrived if they had split tees and started at 6:30 AM their time.

 

Its after 8PM over there and some guys still have an hour of golf left.

[Shankieboink]

I look at the data and at the TV and the conditions are very similar now from what they were this morning. And yesterday they were super favourable all day for everyone. It's harder today, and has been all day. There have been BOs where it has been a major factor, but can't see that it is today.. It was heavy rain and basicly the same wind this morning. Fact is that people are playing pretty bad right now. I think that has to do with psychology. They are chasing a few guy who have played pretty flawless, but you can't chase at the BO, not even in conditions like these.

 

I disagree. Thursday was close to "even". Today was not . The guys out early got 9-12 holes of little wind and no rain. They did get hit with the rain their last few holes.

 

I don't care, b/c my guy is on the correct side of the draw - but even I will admit, the early/lates got screwed this year. Oh well. Luck of the draw.

 

Okey, I just read what I wrote. And I'll back off a bit :) What I want to say is this. Top 5 has played the best golf. I have hardly seen a bad swing from them during two days of golf. I saw a lof of bad swings from the featured groups during the late wave. I admit there was a few holes that played real gusty for a couple of holes. And it's posible they had worse weather overall. However, I also think people make way to much out of it. I have seen BOs where this has been a major factor (both days), and not about 6 holes as it was for some today. There are other things that cause the difference in scores today...chasing for example. You can't chase on that back 9.

[larssonlegend]

And the two hour bad weather we had today would still disadvantage those who were out against those who had finished or not started.

 

Everybody would have been pretty much done before the worst of the weather arrived if they had split tees and started at 6:30 AM their time.

 

Its after 8PM over there and some guys still have an hour of golf left.

Maybe but next time that two hours could be 9am . It's Scotland believe me the weather is unpredictable and at some point some will be lucky and unlucky no matter what time you tee off. Even finishing 1 hr ahead could be worth a few shots. It's always been that way yet all the great champions of golf have managed to ride their luck and win.