2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Discussion Thread

[onthehunt526]

8 minutes ago, Shindig said:

It won't exist?

Yes, but he also might win with a driver.  And just because he wins with it doesn't mean it's the better strategy. 

I will buy that. It might not be. Probably isn't. There's a few holes he will be missing his driver, especially if 6 plays into a strong gale. 

What happened to the Phrankenwood? Did that die as quick as he used it?

[NCGolfer]

14 hours ago, jamo said:

Yuck. I hate internal OB. 

(In my own play, at least. It sounds like they have a solid reason for applying it here.)

+1

Would really not like to internal OB but they have to do it given the situation.  Perhaps if they didn't have the grandstand and players had some sort of line-of-sight to the 10th fairway they could allow them to play it that way.  Little too late for that...

[MuniGrit]

1 hour ago, Shindig said:

It won't exist?

Yes, but he also might win with a driver.  And just because he wins with it doesn't mean it's the better strategy. 

Isn't that the goal to win? How can you say it isn't the right strategy if it results in ultimate goal? Have you been watching any of the interviews after practice rounds? Most of the guys say they aren't hitting driver until back 9.

[BallStriker]

And just because Phil doesn't win, doesn't mean it isn't the best strategy........maybe he got an early view of "Summer of '76" and saw Johnny Miller say the Seve would have won had he taken Johnny's approach of hitting long irons of the tees instead of driver

[Shindig]

1 hour ago, MuniGrit said:

Isn't that the goal to win? How can you say it isn't the right strategy if it results in ultimate goal? Have you been watching any of the interviews after practice rounds? Most of the guys say they aren't hitting driver until back 9.

This answer, exactly:

1 hour ago, BallStriker said:

And just because Phil doesn't win, doesn't mean it isn't the best strategy........maybe he got an early view of "Summer of '76" and saw Johnny Miller say the Seve would have won had he taken Johnny's approach of hitting long irons of the tees instead of driver

Right.  You can win without following the strategy that will maximize your chances of winning.  Similarly, you can follow a strategy that maximizes your chances of winning without being successful in the endeavor.  The outcome is just a small sample size.

[ChrisP]

Dustin Johnson's odds at 18/1? Sorry, those are too good to pass up. DJ may not win this week, but anytime you get the #1 player in the world at those odds, you can't pass them up. Also put $15 on Rickie Fowler at 16/1. And this is it, Rickie. I've put money on you on almost every major the last few years and you never come through. If you fail this week, our relationship is over :(

Edited July 19, 2017 by ChrisP

[Shindig]

19 minutes ago, ChrisP said:

Dustin Johnson's odds at 18/1? Sorry, those are too good to pass up. DJ may not win this week, but anytime you get the #1 player in the world at those odds, you can't pass them up. Also put $15 on Rickie Fowler at 16/1. And this is it, Rickie. I've put money on you on almost every major the last few years and you never come through. If you fail this week, our relationship is over :(

No no no.  Continue putting money on Rickie at every major so that if he eventually wins one, and I think he will, you can tell people you knew it and were right.

I'm not anywhere I can put money on the game, nor am I much of a gambler, but I'd put a few bucks down given a legit opportunity to do so at those odds. 

[Antneye]

Can Phil play day 1 without a driver and then decide to put it in the bag on day 2?

[Golfingdad]

17 minutes ago, Antneye said:

Can Phil play day 1 without a driver and then decide to put it in the bag on day 2?

Yes.

[ChrisP]

If you like windy and rainy conditions at the British Open, Friday is gonna be like Christmas Day for you.

[Vinsk]

1 hour ago, Antneye said:

Can Phil play day 1 without a driver and then decide to put it in the bag on day 2?

 

43 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Yes.

Soooo, I'm guessing we'll get @Antneye's bet on Phil anytime soon.....lol.

[BallStriker]

4 hours folks........in the past, I really hated The Open because the television coverage was so bad....now, I love it.....seemed to start with Duval's win......and love being on the west coast and getting BIA at 10:35 local.....then never really getting into a deep sleep during the night and even when dozing I am still "hearing" critical things and kind of keeping track 

Edited July 20, 2017 by BallStriker

[Rsuslow]

I'm going to eat up my mobile data watching it on my phone at work.

There are so many I feel could win coming in to this.  I really hope it's another first time Major Champion like Fowler or Kuchar.

[BallStriker]

Prediction time..................based on world rankings

Top 50.....Speith

51-100.....Ulhlien

100+......Harrington

[ChrisP]

So it looks like the draw that may get the shaft this go around is the late Thursday/early Friday guys. Wind supposed to be gusting over 40mph+ Friday morning but could lay down to 10-15mph by afternoon. The one thing, though, about Birkdale is it's such a tough test of golf that even in benign conditions scoring is tough. So I don't think you're see a separation like last year where the early Friday scoring was some 3-4 shots better than the afternoon wave.

[Vinsk]

20 minutes ago, ChrisP said:

So it looks like the draw that may get the shaft this go around is the late Thursday/early Friday guys. Wind supposed to be gusting over 40mph+ Friday morning but could lay down to 10-15mph by afternoon. The one thing, though, about Birkdale is it's such a tough test of golf that even in benign conditions scoring is tough. So I don't think you're see a separation like last year where the early Friday scoring was some 3-4 shots better than the afternoon wave.

Wow! 40mph+? That's pretty damn significant. I'm really anxious for this Open. It sucks for these guys who get the lousy draws, but I guess that's just part of this sport. I'd like to see the big guys show up at this one. I'd also like to see DeChambeau struggle...lol. 

[BallStriker]

1 hour ago, Vinsk said:

 I'd also like to see DeChambeau struggle...lol. 

Dr. frenchy is a genius...the wind and other variables only helps the thinking man...geaux chambeau!!!

[Vinsk]

48 minutes ago, BallStriker said:

Dr. frenchy is a genius...the wind and other variables only helps the thinking man...geaux chambeau!!!

That's "h.s. Frenchy."