British Open (Official Thread)

[LeftWideOpen]

Nothing like golf at 8 in the morning.

Bodog has Sergio has the favorite, at 8/1. Here's the players with the best odds:

Sergio Garcia 8/1
Ernie Els 14/1
Lee Westwood 14/1
Phil Mickelson 16/1
Jim Furyk 22/1
Adam Scott 25/1
Justin Rose 25/1
Geoff Ogilvy 25/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 28/1

I'd be all over Ogilvy at 25/1.

[StuGrimson]

Cant wait, TV coverage starts at 5am but I dont know if I can force myself to wakeup for that time.

I put 10 bucks down on each of the following. Im cheering for Els and Weir though.

Garcia 8/1
Els 14/1
Mickelson 16/1
Ogilvy 25/1
Jimenez 28/1
Stenson 40/1
Immelman 66/1'
Weir 66/1
Casey 50/1
Mahan 40/1

[we are cured]

excellent, another two days of work where i will accomplish nothing

[preppyak]

is it broadcast online anywhere?

cause i have a super fast connection at work and a ton of free time in the mornings

[StuGrimson]

Ya its online at tsn.ca (Canada) and http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2008/index.html for you American folks

[preppyak]

nice...so much for teaching digital video tomorrow to kids, its British Open time

[nfggc10]

A few thoughts:

1) I'd love to see Ernie get another Jug but I don't see it happening.
2) I think Mickelson has better odds of missing the cut than finishing in the top 10.
3) Rose will probably put up a good score tomorrow giving hope to those looking for a great story before fading during the 2nd/3rd rounds.
4) With Tiger out, I wouldn't be surprised if the top players blow this opportunity and let unknowns/3rd tier type players win these next two majors.

[LeftWideOpen]

Retief Goosen is the leader in the clubhouse at +1. That's 3 strokes better then anyone else who has finished their round.

Angel Cabrera and Robert Karlsson are the overall leaders at -1, but they just got started.

[StuGrimson]

It just looks like a complete bitch out there today

[preppyak]

Nice...just started watching, hopefully this is good

[preppyak]

Whats funny is that if Sergio wins this tourney, it will be hung over his head that Tiger had to be gone for him to win...which would suck for him

[preppyak]

And Phil Mickelson out of contention...good work on day 1 for him

And I wonder how an announcer can follow up his round with "he takes a lot of heat, but he's one of the best of all time"

[StuGrimson]

Nice to see Weir share the clubhouse lead so far and Scott at -1 is kind of surprising though he is probably my favourite golfer.

[preppyak]

I also love that Sergio with expectations, usually, falters horribly to start his round...while Sergio without plays very well to start.

[we are cured]

i dont get how greg norman can play well in these events, he was the primo high ball hitter

[preppyak]

yeah...its so windy out there, you'd think he'd get eaten alive. He is the prime candidate for being a suprise leader on Day 1, and have Day 2 be a +8 or +9 kind of round that puts him in the background

[StuGrimson]

I love Greg Norman I used to follow him at the Canadian Open every year and have a couple golf balls signed by him, I know he will fall apart miserably (generally the only old guy who can alaways keep it up is Tom Watson) but I hope he remains in contention.

[preppyak]

Goosen and Wier up there on the board...thats good to see

And Mediate finished strong...how crazy would it be for him to finish 2nd in both the US and British

[Smithers]

+9 lol.

before it started i figured Snedeker would be up there. he's currently +2.

[StuGrimson]

Its impressive to see some big names like Scott, Weir, Goosen, Furyk and Allenby all in the top 7 for the first round of a major. Generally some no name Euros and overacheving Americans should be dominating the top 5 now.

[nfggc10]

Whats funny is that if Sergio wins this tourney, it will be hung over his head that Tiger had to be gone for him to win...which would suck for himEh that won't last very long though. That story is more of a pre-tourney thing that writers use to fill their pages.

[LeftWideOpen]

freaking Greg Norman is the leader right now at E. Amazing.

Camilo Villegas shot a 65 today is one back at +1. Mediate and Furyk are among the notables at +2.

[StuGrimson]

Things look a little better today but I would have loved to see Normans round and Villegas with the 5 straight birds to finish it off. At least I can catch most of Weir, Goosen and Harrington today.

[StuGrimson]

Cant wait, TV coverage starts at 5am but I dont know if I can force myself to wakeup for that time.

I put 10 bucks down on each of the following. Im cheering for Els and Weir though.

Garcia 8/1
Els 14/1
Mickelson 16/1
Ogilvy 25/1
Jimenez 28/1
Stenson 40/1
Immelman 66/1'
Weir 66/1
Casey 50/1
Mahan 40/1

Nice picks cock head, should have just burned the money instead.

[Smithers]

+9 lol.

before it started i figured Snedeker would be up there. he's currently +2.
and i jinxed him. he shot a 79 today.

and no love for David Duval? he's at +2 through 10 holes today.

[ambiguous.dude]

I love Greg Norman I used to follow him at the Canadian Open every year and have a couple golf balls signed by him, I know he will fall apart miserably (generally the only old guy who can alaways keep it up is Tom Watson) but I hope he remains in contention.

I agree with you I don't think Norman can't keep the lead for a long time, I think that mister Mediate can cause another surprise as he did at the U.S. open, Villegas did really great today with a 65 while playing 76 (!!) on the first round.

I hope Mike Weir will win.

[LeftWideOpen]

Nice picks cock head, should have just burned the money instead.

you still have a shot with Weir

[Smithers]

I hope Mike Weir will win.
i always like when a lefty wins, but i'd probably prefer an American to Weir.

[StuGrimson]

Ya Im definately for Weir or Ames and I prefer when Americans dont win just because there arent many of them I actually like.

[StuGrimson]

Looks like Weir has decided to shit the bed

and how about Daly being 25 over

[Smithers]

Looks like Weir has decided to shit the bed

and how about Daly being 25 over
http://blog.kir.com/archives/johndalyteeingoff2.jpg

[rcrook]

lol john daly 18 over today

[LeftWideOpen]

you still have a shot with Weir

so much for that.

Choi looked great today. I have a feeling he's going to make Norman look silly in the last group tomorrow.

[wesgemm08]

Furyk is playing good like usual.. Sitting in a decent spot for the weekend

[StuGrimson]

Ya Im thinking Choi will pick up 4-5 more strokes on Norman tomorrow but I think at least one of the guys in the top 15 or so can pull out a -5 like Villegas did and set himself up for the final pair on Sunday. Im thinking Harrington or maybe Appleby but of course if its Appleby he will just collapse on Sunday anyway.

[LeftWideOpen]

The wind is supposed to be nuts tomorrow. I'd be surprised if anyone is under par after Round 3.

[StuGrimson]

Sweet I hope it is shit tomorrow, I love watching a good trainwreck. Though it seems the issues with most the guys this week is they dont know how to sink a 5 foot putt.

[xbrokendownx]

John Daly +29 for the tourney!

[nfggc10]

Ya Im thinking Choi will pick up 4-5 more strokes on Norman tomorrow but I think at least one of the guys in the top 15 or so can pull out a -5 like Villegas did and set himself up for the final pair on Sunday. Im thinking Harrington or maybe Appleby but of course if its Appleby he will just collapse on Sunday anyway.Awful pairing for Norman. Like Stu said I'm looking forward to the wind wrecking havoc but I won't get my hopes up since usually these types of forecasts are wrong over there. I'd like to see Duval hang around through tomorrow and it'll be interesting to see if Scott or Garcia make a move. I don't see Phil or Ernie being able to do much since they'll probably be most affected by the weather since it tends to ease later in the day which should create a lot of separation.

[LeftWideOpen]

I love the Duval/Harrington pairing.

[nfggc10]

I love the Duval/Harrington pairing.Yeah very good. If at least one of them plays well tomorrow then Sunday will be great.

[LeftWideOpen]

lol, nobody has a round under par yet.

[StuGrimson]

Looks like the Goose and Ben Curits are making a charge, if you call par golf a charge. This should be fun to watch. Looks brutal already.

[LeftWideOpen]

Duval triples the first. Ouch.

[StuGrimson]

Damn that 10th hole looks brutal. I think Wakefield at 5 over will have the lead by maybe even a couple shots after this round.

[vandalroyale]

My tube is down-- hows the Shark looking?

[vandalroyale]

i see he's tied for the lead...I'm pulling for him

[we are cured]

this course is playing absolutely ridiculous right now...i think the fact that the leaders have to go out later than everyone else opens up the door for someone at around +8 to +10 to shoot par or one over and still be in it tomorrow.

[LeftWideOpen]

Norman and Choi both rebounded and are back at +3. Crazy round.

[LeftWideOpen]

Duval, Villegas, Van de Velde and Rocco Mediate have completely shit the bed.

[StuGrimson]

Stenson should be within 4-5 of the lead after shooting E today so hopefully he can do that again tomorrow or a few under as it sounds like it will be a better day. Would at least earn my 400 bucks.

[LeftWideOpen]

Norman is taking a 2 stroke lead into tomorrow. Unreal.

Norman/Harrington will be an awesome final group.

[LeftWideOpen]

Course is playing nuts again. Norman has given 5 back, but remains tied with Harrington for the lead at +7. Ian Poulter is only one stroke back, though, and playing better than anyone in contention.

Furyk is the leader in the clubhouse at +10.

[we are cured]

my money would be on poulter or harrington at this point

[LeftWideOpen]

Poulter sinks the birdie! He's tied for the lead

[TheBaroness]

Haven't been following this and I just saw Greg Norman is in the lead. Greg fucking Norman, my god.

He'll choke, like always.

[LeftWideOpen]

wooow, Harrington hits a birdie and takes the outright lead at +6.

Norman bogeys 13, falling to +9.

[LeftWideOpen]

poulter sinks his long par putt on 18 and finishes at +7 .... what a round.

[StuGrimson]

I think Harrington is too steady to not birdie at least 1 of the par 5's, I think he will take this by 1-2 shots unless he collapses again on the 18th

[LeftWideOpen]

I think Harrington is too steady to not birdie at least 1 of the par 5's, I think he will take this by 1-2 shots unless he collapses again on the 18th

he just set himself up for a short birdie putt on 15.

[LeftWideOpen]

Harrington with an incredible 2nd shot on the 17th. About an 8 foot putt for eagle.

its over. Harrington may win this by 4 strokes.

edit: he made it. 4 stroke lead heading to 18.

[LeftWideOpen]

jim rome just said that they should replace the british open as a major with "TPC, Tucson Open, anything".

what an ignorant ass. the british open is brilliant golf for the mere fact that its unique. its an entirely different style of golf and, god forbid, jim rome has to wake up at 6 am for 4 days out of the year to watch it.

[StuGrimson]

I probably couldnt watch it every week but I love the British Open as much as any tournament there is because it is unique and rewards players who can play different styles of game rather than the usual driver off tee, long iron in and make sure you hit the fairway type of golf we get in North America.

[Smithers]

jim rome just said that they should replace the british open as a major with "TPC, Tucson Open, anything".

what an ignorant ass. the british open is brilliant golf for the mere fact that its unique. its an entirely different style of golf and, god forbid, jim rome has to wake up at 6 am for 4 days out of the year to watch it.

jim rome is one of the worst talking heads around. right up there with skip bayless and stephen a. smith.

[CubbyNick42]

jim rome just said that they should replace the british open as a major with "TPC, Tucson Open, anything".

what an ignorant ass. the british open is brilliant golf for the mere fact that its unique. its an entirely different style of golf and, god forbid, jim rome has to wake up at 6 am for 4 days out of the year to watch it.
Just be glad you don't have to resort to saying things like that in a vain attempt to stay relevant.