Come on boys lets have your fancies. Fact; Since 1950 every Open played at Troon has been won by a Yank! A few ew forays; Rickie Fowler 33/1 Brandt Snedeker 100/1 Charley Hoffman 250/1
Old Tom Morris each way. Going well at home. Will put up a couple of selections tomorrow if I can. Was going to do the big write up but didn't find the time and I'm off to bed now soon.
Dustin Johnson. Dustin Johnson. Dustin Johnson. Why? He's the best player in the world. He walked the last major. He can reach all the par 5s with a 7 iron for his second shot. He can reach most of the par 4s with an iron. He is long and straight , should have won at st Andrews last year etc etc etc
Martin Kaymer 40/1 Jim Furyk 66/1 Padraig Harrington 100/1 Vijay Singh 250/1 All ew with Paddy Power paying 8 places
McIlroy, Finau, Day, Watson and most of the field will all be hitting driver driver to reach the par 5's The course is about as short as they play all season fusion, accuracy and not length is paramount around Troon.
Padraig summed up Royal Troon to a tee when he said " it's not long or straight hitters that it suits, this course suits everybody" the course management and how any prevailing winds are handled best will see a worthy winner. Johnson has a great chance the form he's in though. I couldn't back him at the 9's or anything under though. Not for me. I have a few in mind that could go well at nice prices, will hopefully give me a run for 4 days anyway. That's all you can ask.
Anyone who has watched the last 6 majors from start to finish will know why Dustin will walk this. He averages 68 odd shots every round. Hardly ever shots over 70. Can't underestimate just what winning a first major has done for him mentally.
Love The Open. Backed these lads all e/w, top 8 with Paddy. Rory 11/1 The mechanics of his swing isn't quite oiled properly as his inconsistent form supports. But when he's on it, he is REALLY on it and the one thing I've loved about his game since the Irish is his putting has been mustard. This kids game is just too good to ignore, the course being a bit soft is music to his ears as well. Scott 22/1 Apart from Rory, Scotty has the best swing in golf in my view. Loves this major, always goes well here. Have a feeling he's on the best side of the draw. Aside from a punting perspective I just would love him to win here after his demise in 2012, he's a truly class act. G McDowell 80/1 Played very well in France and in the US a few weeks back, he loves windy, tough conditions and could sneak a top 8 finish. I shall be adding a 4th before the off in the 3 figure category but am torn between 3 at the minute...
Agree Dustin could piss it but,taking him on with these 5. Spieth 12/1,just hope his driving improves. Scott 25/1 another high ball hitter with great iron play. Matsuyama 66/1 this guy's the real deal,it's only a matter of time. Casey 80/1 e.w.,he's returning to his best,too big a price not to have a dabble on. Chappell 150/1,love this guy,1st Open and he's very hit and miss.But when he hits he goes very close,enormous price worth a few bob e.w. ! Good luck everyone,hope it's more entertaining than the drab efforts of the Euro's !
Andy Sullivan @ 75s and Francesco Molinari @ 100s for a bit of interest. I found Rory's honesty regarding his motivation to play in the Olympic charade very refreshing today. Fair play to him.
Backed Colsaerts at 90s to lead the first round and 190s to win the tournament on the exchanges. Forgotten man since switching to the European Tour but has been reasonably well placed through most of his events, culminating in a 2nd place finish at the Scottish open recently. Bit of a tilt of course but I just wonder if his game may suit the course and conditions. Ricky Fowler was the other one I went for- we know he's talented but he has to show a bit more resolve.
Andy Sullivan's the big hit round here in Nuneaton. Some of my friends play at Nuneaton Golf Club but I play up the road at Atherstone ( home of former Ryder Cup stars, Paul Broadhurst, Geoff and Bernard Hunt). Andy has certainly got a great all round game and is very, very positive. Certainly worth a bet at around 70/1. He needs to be patient, though. Of the others, Zach Johnson may put up a good defence of his title. He putts well and drives straight. This tricky shortish course should suit. Of the favourites... Can Dustin Johnson's putting stand up when the pressure's on? Can Rory avoid a bad round? Can Jordan get his driving sorted out? As a betting medium, the bookies love it. No wonder-how difficult it is to find the winner, or even a place bet.
Jordan Spieth 12/1 Branden Grace 33/1- been there and thereabouts in the majors, likes links golf and come in under the radar Westy 50/1, need my head testing but done well in his previous two visits to Troon, 4th in 04 and 10th the one before, playing well, surely he's gonna get one eventually!! All E/W Like TC I've also had some on Colsaerts for near enough the exact same reasons, got him matched at 200 though as a cash out option cos he can blow hot and cold Would like to see Rose go well too, no bet for me tho.
I think this course could suit Spieth and I've backed him at 12/1. Others I've gone for are Grace, Rose and Stenson. I've been backing DJ for years in the majors and after a number of near misses, finally, got my payout last time but I'm now happy to abandon him now I've had a return at long last!
Lee Westwood 50/1 - like Talal El, I may need checking out. I have had Westwood in almost all those majors he placed in the top 5, many times throwing away golden opportunities but I really think he can contest at Royal Troon this week. Has arguably been in his best form this season for several years and his accuracy and course management with Foster on the bag should help him make a bold showing. Nice each way price. Danny Lee 125/1 Showed much improved form last week at Castle Stuart and more importantly he plotted his way around the links better than his MC in the Open last year. He has several wins down under and in New Zealand where many courses play very similar to the links in terms of shot making and feel. Decent each way outsider. Justin Rose 33/1 Superb ball striker who can make hay if conditions don't kick up badly during the 4 days. If it doesn't get too bad weather wise Rose will be close to winning his first Open championship. I fear for him if the wind kicks up though. Strong claims. Jon Rahm 200/1 What a story this would be. Jon was the number 1 amateur in the world until he turned pro after a T 23 finish at the US Open, relinquishing his Open invite as a result. Luckily for him, he managed a 3rd Place finish on his first Pro start at the Quicken Loans championship recently earning him his spot here anyway. This guy is the real deal, having followed a fair bit of his amateur career there's not much that he lacks in terms of all round game. Experience is all he lacks, but at 200/1 I'm willing to take a chance we could witness something special. Lively outside chance of placing. There's so many you want to pick and choose, you can make cases for most within the top 40 of the betting and a few after that too. Honourable mentions to Padraig Harrington, Andrew Johnston, Emiliano Grillo who can all have a good week. Truth be told, I think Spieth is the man to beat. He has the best course management of the entire field, the discipline and has all the shots, his putting is pretty useful too, and with greens he can be really aggressive on (probably only running 10 on the stimp) he'd be the one I think will likely win. Too short for me to back though Have a great one lads. No doubt one of us will bag the winner anyway. I like almost all the selections up so far and can't fault any Edit: All bets placed with Betfair 1/4 odds 7 places.
