146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale

[mallrat]

been watching more than 24 hours of the Open so far and have never seen so many golfers putting from off the green, hit so many controlled second shots and no driver from the tee..

 

i guess this is what links golf is all about and only those who can handle it will do well..

 

it is not the kind of golf you can play well unless you practice doing it or play these type of courses a lot..

 

kudos to those who can do it!!

 

What's funny is that this is really the only week of the year most of these guys have to play this way. The way golf was meant to be played? OK. Golf, however, is completely different now for the other 51 weeks of the year. The really great thing is that the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, the R&A, still purports to call the winner the world champion golfer of the year. It's like telling Tom Brady he's not the best QB unless he wins a flag football tournament played in parts unknown. (which, he probably would) Love watching it, though!

 

You're analogy is wrong. Playing in the wind is all about hitting the ball square. And, yes, sometimes it helps to take a 3/4 swing or 1/2 swing to hit the ball square. I saw Jordan take his fairway wood today, and put a half swing on it with a cut swing, and hit the ball right up onto the green that way. Might have been the best shot that I saw today, because he planned for it, and he hit it just the way that he thought that he could.

 

The very best players can hit shots like that when it counts; and there were times today when that was the shot.

 

The cream will come to the top in this one, just like it does at Augusta and most times at the US Open. It's the same game; it just looks different to your eye.

 

Please tell me you are not talking about the 3 wood he hit and then made the eagle putt? His own words "that was lucky" he stated what he was trying to do and where he wanted the ball to end up and it was nowhere near that. I should clarify, he said the result was lucky because it should have rolled into the pot bunker.

[fowlerscousin]

Why is everyone forgetting about KOEPKA? Tied for 3rd, playing in 2nd to last group. Played in the worst of it yesterday and shot +2, only 1 worse than Kuchar who everyone is drooling over. Hits it longer than Rory, and won the last major played. Not saying he's a sure thing at all, just wonder he's getting no attention

 

Ur right, koepka has plenty of game to win this. He just doent have the star power of kuchar or spieth so of course were writing him off for now

[mallrat]

Wait, Kuchar has star power? I've never heard someone say "I want to watch Kuchar." Like the guy but not sure about star power. I think more people would tune in to watch Koepka than Kuchar. Just because people like yelling his name doesn't mean he has a big following

[OBbogey5]

Spieth:

 

Chamblee goes on about about how tough holes 6-13 will on on Spieth...basically throws down the gauntlet...and BOOM! Spieth goes -1 (I think) through that stretch and shows everybody he's a fresh cut above the cast right now.

 

When he gets in these types of positions, he gets great breaks as well...chip ins, long putts, tee shots that just miss bad grass, thinned approaches to within eagle range. Talent, youth, mental grind, and luck are on the ends of that guys strings!

[scruffynick]

It's really calm out there, a little damp from the night rain but there's going to be good scoring especially the early starters. Can change as it's the coast but I just hope there's about 4-6 that can win it come tomorrow... Not bothered who either but Birkdale likes aussies and American winners!

[JD3]

anyone have internet link to live coverage?

[golf1010]

Spieth comes across as the luckiest golfer right now. So many bunkers and all of them decent lies and able to go at the hole, even lay ups in the right direction. That eagle was a horrible ball that just got lucky. Just my opinion and not saying he's not a great golfer but has a lot of things go his way on the course

He isn't a great golfer??? LOL.....

 

He's a great for sure. On form I think he, and Rory are without doubt the best. Just wish they would peak together and go head to head together more regularly. I personally see DJ, Day et al slightly lesser golfers. Brilliant without doubt but something they just don't posses that these two do. An X factor type thing

spieths putter makes him more consistent then rory

He's constantly in the hunt

Rory is anything but consistent

 

[Lancj1]

Spieth comes across as the luckiest golfer right now. So many bunkers and all of them decent lies and able to go at the hole, even lay ups in the right direction. That eagle was a horrible ball that just got lucky. Just my opinion and not saying he's not a great golfer but has a lot of things go his way on the course

He isn't a great golfer??? LOL.....

 

He's a great for sure. On form I think he, and Rory are without doubt the best. Just wish they would peak together and go head to head together more regularly. I personally see DJ, Day et al slightly lesser golfers. Brilliant without doubt but something they just don't posses that these two do. An X factor type thing

spieths putter makes him more consistent then rory

He's constantly in the hunt

Rory is anything but consistent

 

True. Anything but consistent. Remind me how last years Fedex was decided.....

[Roadking2003]

Why is everyone forgetting about KOEPKA? Tied for 3rd, playing in 2nd to last group. Played in the worst of it yesterday and shot +2, only 1 worse than Kuchar who everyone is drooling over. Hits it longer than Rory, and won the last major played. Not saying he's a sure thing at all, just wonder he's getting no attention

 

I think Koepka has a much better chance at winning than Kucher. Kucher is not a closer.

[ex0dus]

Why is everyone forgetting about KOEPKA? Tied for 3rd, playing in 2nd to last group. Played in the worst of it yesterday and shot +2, only 1 worse than Kuchar who everyone is drooling over. Hits it longer than Rory, and won the last major played. Not saying he's a sure thing at all, just wonder he's getting no attention

 

Ur right, koepka has plenty of game to win this. He just doent have the star power of kuchar or spieth so of course were writing him off for now

 

Let's not forget that Brooks got his start in professional golf on the Euro tour.

[tannyhoban]

Conditions today favor Brooks making a move.

[27x10.5]

This coverage sucks all they show are putts

[ebrasmus21]

I'm liking Bones thus far this morning

[moonshine]

This coverage sucks all they show are putts

Did ya' just see that bounce?

[ebrasmus21]

This coverage sucks all they show are putts

Did ya' just see that bounce?

 

I get bounces like that all the time

[Shankieboink]

Has there ever been a better chance for a sub 63 in a major then today? Easy conditions and par 70 with a drivande par 4.

[scruffynick]

Has there ever been a better chance for a sub 63 in a major then today? Easy conditions and par 70 with a drivande par 4.

Until you get the the back nine!

[braincramp52]

This coverage sucks all they show are putts

 

My TV is showing other shots.

[scruffynick]

This coverage sucks all they show are putts

 

My TV is showing other shots.

Mines ok....Johnson looking rather good!

[Fade to Black]

Brandon Grace having a great round of 5 under so far. Come on Brandon!!

[Justmuckit]

DJ with a dart.

[beachguy]

GO DJ!!!

[bscinstnct]

Johnnie has something written on his palm. Wonder what it says.

[Well Played]

Why would they allow the course to play so easy today? Can't control the weather obviously, but I like seeing these guys struggle for birdies and fight for pars in a major championship.

[Justmuckit]

Miller is already getting nervous about a sub 63 being out there...was stuttering and stammering talking about Grace just needing to par in for 64 with both Par 5's left.

[sbjinx]

Fun to see some of the early groups making a good run but not gong to matter if speith goes out and shoots a 65 also. Hopefully the winds pick up a little to make this interesting

[dlygrisse]

Miller is already getting nervous about a sub 63 being out there...was stuttering and stammering talking about Grace just needing to par in for 64 with both Par 5's left.

 

There have been lots of 63's. It's 62 that has him scared.

[braincramp52]

Why would they allow the course to play so easy today? Can't control the weather obviously, but I like seeing these guys struggle for birdies and fight for pars in a major championship.

 

There's not much they can do if there isn't wind. The Open really don't "trick up" their courses which I like.

[Justmuckit]

Miller is already getting nervous about a sub 63 being out there...was stuttering and stammering talking about Grace just needing to par in for 64 with both Par 5's left.

 

There have been lots of 63's. It's 62 that has him scared.

 

Which is why I said "sub 63".

[Well Played]

I just don't get the 63 talk... It should be score relative to par, so a 63 on a par 72 is more impressive than a 63 on a par 71 and even more so than on a par 70. Simple math will tell you this.

 

So for today, a 61 is needed to tie the best round in a major championship (i.e. 9 under), not a 63 or even a 62. The mark for best round in a major championship is simply 10 under right now, no matter what par is.