Open Championship Preview

We love Open week. Once a year, always in the middle of July, the world’s best descend upon our shores in the hope of winning golf’s oldest Major. Royal Troon takes centre stage for the 145th Open Championship this week, 12 years since Todd Hamilton’s play-off triumph over Ernie Els on the same track.

What sort of test will Royal Troon provide?

Measuring a little over 7000 yards, this Ayrshire links boasts both the shortest and longest holes on the Open Championship rota. The 8th hole needs no introduction. At just 123 yards, the ‘Postage Stamp’ is one of the finest par-3s in the world. On the scorecard it has birdie written all over it, but, in reality, this is rarely the case. Miss the green left or right, and you’ll more than likely find yourself in one of the five greenside bunkers, struggling to save par. Hitting the green with your tee-shot, from way above the green, is an absolute must.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, two holes earlier you’ll find ‘Turnberry’ – the longest hole in Open Championship golf. At 601 yards long, only the biggest hitters will fancy taming this monster in two blows. For the rest of us mere mortals, negotiating our way between the fairway bunkers off the tee will prove pivotal if you wish to have a birdie putt.

So, who’s going to come out on top this time?

The name on many people’s lips is that of Johnson. No, not last year’s winner, Zach Johnson, but his namesake, Dustin. DJ, as he is widely known, won last month’s US Open to break his Major duck. He’d come so close on numerous occasions before, always being the bridesmaid but never the bride. With the hoodoo now off his back, plus the fact he’s won a WGC event since and is in the form of his life, makes the American a serious contender this week.

What of the home contingent?

Well, there’s the other Major winner from 2016, Danny Willett, but without much form to note it is unlikely that the Yorkshireman will repeat his extraordinary feat from Augusta. Then there are the likes of Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey who are regularly in the mix when it comes to the Majors, and all three certainly have the game that could see them lift the Claret Jug come Sunday evening. Don’t write off Monty either, the Scot is a member at Royal Troon and went through qualifying to secure a spot this week – could we be in for an almighty shock?

It’s one of the hardest- to-call Majors in a long time but one thing is for sure, it’s not going to be short of drama. Enjoy the week, we certainly will.