The 150th Open at St Andrews
Walterjn I didn’t see the drive on 18. On 17 I’d guess he was probably 60 - 80 yards left of where he wanted. He stood on the tee posing in disgust for what seemed like 10 or 15 seconds after he hit it. He ended up par-birdie though, so luck and skill pulled him out after the 4-putt on 16.
johnnydoom sounds like he's getting more scrambling practice...
johnnydoom I didn’t see the drive on 18
Duck hook, left of left into the fan barriers on the right of the first hole.
Free drop in drop zone, 60? yard spinny pitch that landed dead stop to about 2 feet max, kick in birdie.
We’re being treated to a cool shootout.
Some great driver players at the top.
There is no fear of the rough. Just grip it and rip it off the tees.
DonM There is no fear of the rough. Just grip it and rip it off the tees.
The challenge, if you're hitting an approach shot from the rough, is to have any control over where the approach shot is going when it hits the ground. A shot from a clean lie in the fairway is much easier to control when it's as firm as it is for this championship - still a challenge, but having an idea of the spin on the ball makes the bounce easier to predict.
Hopefully Rory and Victor put on a good show again tomorrow. That was fun to watch today.
DonM well, seeing how the rough isn't all that rough, more kinda sparse growth on sandy ground. Looks like the gorse is what should be avoided at all costs...
For the most part, those who have been in the rough look to have been able to get up and down about as easily as those off the fairway for their 2nd shot. The rough definitely is NOT like anything at Torrey, Augusta, Pebble, or the like.
DonM I guess it's been dr
Yes it has, the rough is dry and patchy. They're taking a chance as there's no guarantee of a decent lie but the odds are in their favour this year. McIlroy got a bit of a flyer lie on #17 but that's one of only a few I've seen (in the TV coverage groups).
Dry, patchy rough is no bad thing in my opinion, I've got a couple of rounds at Largs (another links course) coming up in the next couple of weeks, and Dundonald Links in August or September ...
Just watching a bit of the Barracuda Championship on the Golf Channel, it occurred to me how many
very good Tour players did not qualify or chose not to play in the Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Looks like match play today. I doubt anyone else can challenge.