04/19/24
July 17, 2006
The world's most famous hacker,: Maurice Flitcroft, bought a half-set of mail-order clubs and set a tournament record of 49-over for 18 holes in trying to qualify for the 1976 Open Championship. At the age of 75, he has reluctantly called it a day. Twenty years after winning his first Open, Greg Norman has had to withdraw from this year's tournament due to injury. John Daly, winner of the 1995 Open at St Andrews will be there though, as will Mr Preparation, Phil Mickelson. The lesser-spotted Tiger has even been seen prowling the course.
Flitcroft shoulda changed his name to Mitty long ago. I would like to see Monty finally win a major, it would be nice to see, especially at The Open, but I like Darren Clarke's chances too. I suspect Tiger and Phil will both make some noise as well.
posted by mjkredliner at 09:07 AM on July 17, 2006
Clarke has no chance - quite aside from his domestic situation, he lacks the botle to win this (or anything else these days). It would take a big choke on someone else's part and Clarke to be the one to win by accident. Not that I'm not secretly trying to make a Clarke win more likely by saying he can't do it (worked for Phil at Augusta in 04).
posted by JJ at 09:28 AM on July 17, 2006
Well, he played pretty well this weekend past, and his domestic situation is another reason I would like to see him win.... I love this tournament, as I am sure you do, too. I think the Tiger/ Faldo pairing will be fun to watch.
posted by mjkredliner at 09:54 AM on July 17, 2006
That is an awesome story, JJ. It reminded me of my (late) grandfather, a Scot who hacked around hell and creation, and who taught me to play when I was wee.
posted by smithers at 10:05 AM on July 17, 2006
Well he's at it again. I suppose he's a long shot at best and I'm picking another Aussie (Adam Scott) to Win this thing but you have to respect his bravado, don't you?
posted by skydivedad at 10:12 AM on July 17, 2006
Here's a link to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club and some historic video footage of past open winners at Hoylake. Walter Hagan, Bobby Jones, Alf Padgham, Fred Daly, Peter Thompson, Roberto De Vicenzo....... Awesome stuff.
posted by skydivedad at 11:02 AM on July 17, 2006
This is a difficult one to handicap but I'll go with a bit of a long shot; Paul Casey.
posted by swobe at 11:14 AM on July 17, 2006
Just a hunch, but I'm thinking a good Canadian boy might pull through here. Stephen Ames has a real shot.
posted by tommybiden at 01:52 PM on July 17, 2006
You people can say what you want...but Tiger is still the man to beat in a major.
posted by tdheiland at 10:03 PM on July 17, 2006
Tiger and Phil are way too wild off the tee to win at Royal Liverpool. Monty has a great chance if he is on.
posted by judgedread at 10:53 PM on July 17, 2006
Great link JJ, as always. I'll take David Howell at 40-1.
posted by YukonGold at 07:34 AM on July 18, 2006
I keep telling myself to go with Howell, but I've got to agree with tdh...... When Tiger is playing in a major, it's tough to go against him. Even with his erratic driving. Phil on the other hand just needs to have four good rounds so he can get past the US Open in his own mind. He was not fun to watch at the Western.
posted by sublime4390116 at 08:29 AM on July 18, 2006
The article linked in the FPP about Mickelson's meticulous preparation is interesting - it's good that he does it, and it certainly has paid dividends in recent years, but there are certain things you can't practice and certain circumstances under which he still looks suspect. If he holds his discipline, he could be a factor. If he does what he did at the US (and resort to Old Phil Panic Mode towards the end) he will flounder. I've also put a fiver each way (which, with Paddpy Power online means quarter odds for top six) on Johan Edfors at (I think) a very overpriced 100/1. He has just shot 63 to win last week's tournament and seems to have nerves of steel. It could be the year of the Puma clothing sponsored new boys! Or I could have thrown away a tenner. (My final bets were £5 e/w on Furyk @33/1, £5 e/w on Tim Clark @ 50/1, and £5 e/w on Edfors @100/1 - if all three finish top six, I might spend the winnings on going up to Hoylake to play the course).
posted by JJ at 09:28 AM on July 18, 2006
I read an article Tiger isn't bringing his driver to the tournament. That alone tells me he wins in a romp
posted by tomb333 at 02:52 PM on July 18, 2006
I read an article Tiger isn't bringing his driver to the tournament. posted by tomb333 at 2:52 PM CDT on July 18 Link Please.
posted by skydivedad at 03:18 PM on July 18, 2006
I read an article Tiger isn't bringing his driver to the tournament. That seems to be pretty unlikely seeing as one of JJ's links said that in a practice round at Hoylake, Tiger "used a driver on the par-five 10th as well as the final three holes".
posted by squealy at 06:34 PM on July 18, 2006
Regarding Faldo and Woods being in the same group... "British bookmaking company William Hill is offering 6-4 odds they will not shake hands on the first tee Thursday, and 25-1 odds Woods and Faldo will come to blows at some point during the first round. Those odds started at 100-1."
posted by SummersEve at 05:37 AM on July 19, 2006
So if Tiger calls Nick a spaz (sorry my European friends) will the golf world implode around them? Seriously though, having never played a round of golf with someone I didn’t get along with, how do these pairings effect the players?
posted by Folkways at 07:40 AM on July 19, 2006
It won't affect Faldo (who hasn't an ice cube's chance in hell of contending for this one), but it might rumble Tiger a bit. He really doesn't like it when people don't bow down to his greatness, and Faldo has never been one to do that. I think it's hilarious.
posted by JJ at 08:24 AM on July 19, 2006
Doesn't Faldo need to hurry up and miss the cut so he can get a paycheck from ABC on Saturday and Sunday? JJ, I'm with you on Edfors. He's the lynchpin in my best ball lineup, super cheap price assumingly because no one here in the States knows his name.
posted by YukonGold at 02:24 PM on July 19, 2006
The bookies are catching on - he's come in from 100s to a high of 80/1 and a low of 66/1. I still think he's over-priced at that. For anyone who does fancy a punt, I can highly recommend Paddy Power - their odds are competitive, but they also offer each way bets on a top six (rather than a top four or even top three) finish.
posted by JJ at 04:20 PM on July 19, 2006
Naw, I bet Paddy Power against Strongbow, Cromwell and the B Specials. Not falling for that again.
posted by yerfatma at 07:12 PM on July 19, 2006
I have to say - I'm loving the Real Time Flash Scoring thing here - in particular, the feature that lets me highlight the scores I want to pay special attention to.
posted by JJ at 04:09 AM on July 20, 2006
73 for Monty, he's done. Clipped Ballesteros by a shot, lol.
posted by mjkredliner at 11:51 AM on July 20, 2006
Who do you fancy to win at Hoylake? My money's on Jim Furyk, with perhaps an each way punt on Bjorn and Tim Clark. The latest odds are here.