Marsh and I Carnoustie 1975 – click to open
With the beginning of the 2018 Open Championship now just two weeks away, memories of my experience at Carnoustie and the great golfing layout she is come flooding back.
In 1975 I caddied at Carnoustie in the third of three Open Championships I was involved in in that role and her great subtlety and demands provide an endearing memory for me.
I had caddied at Royal Troon in 1973 where the lasting memory of that year was when I finally set eyes on Jack Nicklaus for the very first time which for a 19-year old from New Zealand was an experience in itself.
Seeing Nicklaus in the flesh playing the 18th hole in a practice round for the very first occasion after having only seen him in the limited television coverage of events we had in New Zealand at that time was an image that remains with me.
In later years I would caddy in groups in which Nicklaus was a member and thus you could say the experience became significantly more ‘up close and personal’ but that initial image of Nicklaus walking down the 18th fairway at Royal Troon gave me goose bumps.
A year later it was Royal Lytham and St Annes near Blackpool where perhaps the most endearing memory for me that year was heading out on the final day after my boss that week, Graham Marsh, had finished his tournament a few hours earlier. I wanted to watch the looming battle between the eventual winner, Gary Player, and England’s Peter Oosterhuis.
The drama of Player so nearly losing his ball at the 17th and the panic that ensued remains in my mind after standing on the other side of the fairway to that where Players and his caddie ‘Rabbit’ Dwyer frantically searched for the ball in long rough to the left of the green.
Player eventually found that ball (some would say it was not his ball although I do not concur) and would go on to win comfortably by four shots but that moment was perhaps a pivotal point and the one that stood out that week.
Then in 1975 it would be Carnoustie which hosted the Open Championship, the outstanding layout having first played host to the great championship in 1931 and in 1975 it was the chosen venue for the 5th occasion.
Graham Marsh and I arrived in Carnoustie after qualifying for the Open Championship at the New Course at St Andrews just a few days earlier. Few golfers were actually exempt for the Open in those days and even a player of Marsh’s standing was forced to go through the process, gaining one of the few spots available at his particular venue with some impressive golf.
Carnoustie has gained a perhaps unfair reputation courtesy of the drama of the 1999 Open Championship but the tagging of Carnoustie as ‘Carnastie’ from that week on was more a result of poor course set-up and preparation rather than the layout itself.
A perhaps overzealous golf course superintendent in the lead-up to the 1999 version was left to his own devices rather than working with the overseeing role that the R&A now undertakes in such events. Consequently, the rough got out of hand and combined with inclement weather that week brought the world class field to its knees.
In 1975, however, Carnoustie was presented in outstanding condition and was blessed for the opening three days with perfect weather. In fact, all four days of the tournament were blessed with good weather that year. On day four the wind did arrive although not, as I recall, to any great extent.
Scoring was excellent over the opening three days and by Saturday evening (they played the Open from Wednesday through Sunday in those days) South African Bobby Cole, at 12 under, had a one-shot lead over Australian Jack Newton with another shot back to Johnny Miller, another shot again back to Tom Watson with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin in the group four shots from the lead.
On day four the wind both changed direction and strengthened from what had been virtually the gentlest of breezes over the opening three days to one which would make a significant difference to the outcome.
Only three players would break par on the final day, my own boss, Graham Marsh, being one of them when he recorded a round of 71 to move into what would eventually be 6th place on his own and only two shots from a playoff between the man who would win the first of five Open Championships, Tom Watson and Jack Newton.
Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus and Bobby Cole tied for 3rd one shot from the playoff.
No better example was there of the impact the change in wind direction and strength would have on the final day than that which occurred when Jack Newton arrived at the 17th tee edging towards victory. He had bogeyed the previous two holes and stood on the tee at the 17th, a hole on which a burn crosses the fairway on two occasions.
Earlier in the week it required just an iron from the tee finishing between the snake like water body and then a mid-iron into the par 4 but on the final day it required a lot more just to clear the burn from the tee. Newton, however, misjudged the wind and took the iron and failed to carry the burn.
The shot dropped there proved costly as it would cost him outright victory and highlighted an example of the false sense of security the more benign conditions of the opening three days had offered.
Newton would lose a playoff to Watson over 18 holes the following day.
The fine line between pleasure and pain, so often prevalent in links golf where the degree of difficulty on any given day is determined by the overhead conditions as much as those underfoot, was perfectly illustrated by Carnoustie that day. She can be stunningly beautiful and playable one day and one of golf’s most demanding tests the next.
Links golf is like that but Carnoustie is one of the better examples.
WGC Bridgestone Championship – A Look At The Prospects
I take a look at some of those in the field for this week’s this week’s WGC Bridgestone Championship event in Akron in Ohio and try an sort out those who could do well.
Headed by Dustin Johnson the US$10 million event leads into next week’s final major of the year at the PGA Championship at Bellrive C.C in St Louis.
The appearance of eight time winner Tiger Woods adds another dimension to the event following his showing at the Open Championship.
Ian Stanley – a Fine Golfer And a Great Character
Huntingdale Golf Club where Ian Stanley honed many of his amateur and early professional skills
The news today that Victorian golfer Ian Stanley has passed away at the age of 69 after a long battle with illness makes for another sad day in Australian golf so soon after the passing of one of its greatest, Peter Thomson.
Stanley, or ‘Stan’ as he was known to his friends, won events on the European and European Senior Tour, including perhaps his greatest moment when defeating Bob Charles in a playoff for the Senior Open Championship at Royal County Down.
I caddied in Europe in 1973, 74 and 75 and was often exposed to the golfing and social exploits of Stan. He was a great character and one of those people who could say something and get away with it when others might find themselves in a lot of grief. That’s not saying he did not have his share of grief and that he got away with it all the time.
My traveling companion in Europe caddied for Stan for the first half of 1973 but at the Open Championship they had a bust up during the second round and I was asked if I would caddy for him after he had made the first cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon that year.
He did not progress any further as in those days there was also a 54 hole cut and so that was my one and only exposure to Stan from a caddying point of view.
I did, though, caddy for Bob Shearer on a regular basis in those early years and, together, they along with Jack Newton and Stewart Ginn were very much the ‘likely lads’ as they played and ‘ploughed’ their way through Great Britain and Europe.
We would often load the Spalding bag and clubs of Stanley and those of Shearer into our mini as they travelled by other means to the next event barely leaving enough room for our own gear as we drove between tournaments.
In 1975 Stanley won his only European Tour event when he defeated Christy O.Connor Jnr in a playoff to win the Martini International at the amazingly historic Westward Ho in Devon.
Finishing one behind him in a share of 3rd in that event was his good mate Bob Shearer.
He would also finish runner-up behind Seve Ballesteros at the 1977 French Open.
He was a prolific winner of titles domestically including the Victorian, Tasmanian and Queensland Opens amongst others. He also won the 1988 New Zealand Open.
Stanley played a role in television commentary in Australia for some time but was never really able to break into it on a regular basis and in 1999 headed to the relatively fledgling European Senior Tour to try his luck.
He was an almost immediate success having kept his game in shape through until the age of 50. He did not win in his first season although recording several top tens but he would win in 2000 and 2001 culminating in what was his great win in Northern Ireland where he defeated a star studded field.
He would also win the Senior PGA Championship that same year but played just another four years before his last season in 2005.
I will remember Ian Stanley as a cheeky, likeable rogue and quite the character. He could at times be irritating but also very funny.
The one story of many that sticks in my mind when I think of Stan was during practice rounds for the Sumrie Fourball Championship at the delightful Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire in Scotland.
Stanley was teamed with Shearer for the week and during a practice round when neither Ian, Bob or the rest of us had seen the course he asked the question on a dogleg left par 4 as to what line he should take from the tee.
An older Scotsman was standing behind the tee observing what was going on and suggested, in his broad Scottish accent, Stan should hit it at the ‘forking’ (divided) tree on the corner. Well Stan didn’t need any more ammunition than that and quickly retorted in an aggressive manner that there was no need for the man to swear.
You kind of had to be there but it was one of those typical Stanley moments when he was having a laugh with someone and he quickly defused the situation by going over and engaging in a warm way with the spectator.
Ian Stanley might not have received the accolades of Jack Newton, Bob Shearer and even Stewart Ginn amongst the likeable rogues of the day but he was a very successful player all the same.
He is very much part of the rich history of Victorian and Australian golf.
Audio Betting Guide for Week Commencing July 23rd
The golfing world returns to some level or normality this week with the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open, the European Tour’s Porsche Open and the LPGA Tour’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open the focus of our attention as we try and find a winner or two amongst the myriad of chances in each of the events.
Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Ariya Jutanugarn head the respective fields in terms of favouritism but we delve deeper in order to try and find some better value.
Francesco Molinari – The Game’s Hottest Player
Molinari – file photo
Francesco Molinari’s brilliant victory at Carnoustie today has swept him inside the top 10 in the world for the very first occasion and he is undoubtedly the game’s hottest player right now.
Molinari has now won or been runner-up in five of his last six starts in events in the US and the UK and jumped from 15th place last week to 6th place as a result of his two-shot win.
Molinari’s previous best ranking was when 14th following his win at the 2010 HSBC Championship in China, his second European Tour victory following his win in his own national open in 2006.
“It’s a big relief to be honest,” said Molinari following his win. “I knew I was coming in with some good golf but my record around here was terrible so that didn’t make me too optimistic about the week but I just tried to not think about it and focus on hitting good shots. To go the weekended bogey free was unthinkable to be honest.
“Very proud of today very proud of playing with Tiger which was another challenge.
“Tiger himself was great today. Really good sportsmanship playing with me.”
The Open and Barbasol Championships Audio Betting Guide
Open Championship Form Guide for Carnoustie
Jordan Spieth is the defending champion but is a little below his best
The Open Championship begins on Thursday July 19th at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, the first time the event has been played at the venue since 2007 and the 8th occasion overall.
The layout has developed a reputation for being one of the most demanding on the Open Championship rota and has created some great history in the event including Ben Hogan’s victory in 1953 and the bizarre win by Paul Lawrie in 1999 when he became the beneficiary of a 72nd hole Jean Van de Velde meltdown.
Let’s take a look at some of the leading prospects and assess their chances.
Dustin Johnson
This will be Johnson’s 10th Open Championship and he does enjoy a good record in the event despite not winning. His best was when runner-up to Darren Clarke in 2011 but he is a much better player now and his most recent form tells the story of a man on top of his game. His chances appear good.
Justin Thomas
Thomas’ two starts to date in this event are hardly encouraging in terms of his prospects this year, having missed the cut in one and finished 53rd on debut two years ago. He is playing well in 2018 however not having missed a cut in 14 starts but his record in the event and on links golf layouts, if we are to get picky, is a little ordinary.
Brooks Koepka
Honed a lot of his early professional skills in Europe and displayed a capacity at Shinnecock Hills to handle windy, dry golf courses very well. He has improved in each of the four starts at the Open Championship to a best of 6th last year. His most recent form includes a runner-up finish in Fort Worth and his great win at the US Open. Hard to fault and seemingly hard to beat.
Justin Rose
Since his 4th place finish as an amateur in 1998, Rose’s record in 15 starts at the Open has been disappointing with just one top 10 in that time. He is certainly playing well enough right now to be a real chance but his record at the Open Championship for a player of his standing is a cause for concern.
Jordan Spieth
The defending champion will need a form reversal if he is to be a chance this year. Leading in to last year’s win he had won the Travelers Championship and had finished runner-up three starts earlier. This year he has not been inside the top thirty in his last four starts so unless he has been able to improve since his last start 42nd at the Travelers then there is risk about his chances.
Jon Rahm
There has been just two Open Championship starts for the Spanish star making the cut in both but finishing well back. He has continued to develop as a golfer and with three top five finishes in his last four starts this season including a 5th place at the Irish Open he is not far from where he needs to be in order to contend this week. If he was to become just the second Spanish golfer to win the Claret Jug this week it would be no real surprise.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler enters calculations for a possible breakthrough major victory give his capabilities and passion for links golf. He has missed only one cut in eight Open Championship starts and does have a best of runner-up finish in 2011 at Royal St Georges and has played the Scottish Open on similar style of courses very well. Perhaps of just as much importance however is Fowler’s current form which is very impressive often putting himself in position to contend.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is playing well enough this season to extend what is a good record at the Open Championship, highlighted by his win in 2014, but there have also been three other top five finishes. He carries the burden of regularly being Great Britain and Ireland’s best hope but it does not seem to faze him and his chances of contending appear good.
Jason Day
Day has yet to miss a cut in seven attempts at the Open Championship but he has had only one top 10, that coming in 2015 when one shot out of the playoff at St Andrews. Other than that, there have been no other top 20 finishes. Day is having a good season overall in 2018 but of late his form has dropped off a little.
Alex Noren
Noren was very impressive when winning in France three weeks ago and there have been several other finishes of late which suggest he could well be a threat this week. Noren’s 6th place finish at Royal Birkdale last year gave evidence of his capabilities in this event and I think he stands a very good chance.
Tommy Fleetwood
More than any other performance, Fleetwood’s runner-up finish at the US Open told the story of his capacity to win a major. He does not enjoy a good record at the Open Championship having missed three of four cuts and a best of 27th in the other but he is now amongst the elite of the game and a much better effort is expected.
Paul Casey
Casey has developed into one of the game’s most consistent players and has done well enough on occasions at the Open Championship for him to be a consideration at Carnoustie. But for a rather strange second round of 77 last year he might well have been in the mix for the title but finished 11th. He has been outside the top 20 in just two of his last 12 starts and although this will be his first start since the Travelers he is no doubt primed for a good week.
Patrick Reed
The Masters champion’s record at the Open Championship is average at best but there is a feeling that he is getting the hang of links golf each and every year and it would not surprise if he was to contend for his second major of the year.
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama has played well enough in his five starts at the Open including when 6th on debut in 2013. He was also 14th last year. He has begun to play well again after an injury issue earlier this year although a missed cut in Scotland last week was a little setback.
Francesco Molinari
Molinari is playing some of the best golf of his career at present and is perhaps the most in form golfer at Carnoustie. Although his decision to stay in the US rather than play in Europe in the lead-up to this week might not have necessarily helped his Open Championship chances, that he has played so well in the US of late will allow him to bring a tremendous level of confidence to the event. There is plenty of evidence to suggest he can do well on links terrain and he might do just that.
Henrik Stenson
Stenson’s Open Championship victory in 2016 saw perhaps some of the highest quality of golf ever produced in the event. The Swede has been inside the top three in the event on three other occasions and for much of 2018 has played beautifully. His last start 6th at the US Open was a month ago but a return to tournament golf at the Scottish Open last week was disrupted by an elbow injury. Much will depend on his fitness but if fully fit then he has hopes.
Marc Leishman
Leishman’s form has been a little inconsistent of late but he has developed into a big event player and has played the Open Championship well in the past. He has been inside the top six finishers in the event in three of his last four starts so this type of golf suits him well. His weekend last year of 66 and 65 at Royal Birkdale will have him with good memories of the Open Championship. Deserves serious consideration.
Sergio Garcia
Garcia is getting his game back together after a series of un-Garcia like performances perhaps caused by the distraction of the arrival of his first child. Garcia finished runner-up to Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie in 2007 and boasts numerous other top tens in the event. At his last start he finished 8th at the Open de France so on that basis his chances are good of at least contending this week.
Ian Poulter
Poulter has played well over much of the last three months and does enjoy a very good record at the Open Championship. It is hard to see him winning necessarily but he is more than capable of finishing inside the top ten. He has been runner-up and 3rd on previous occasions.
Ryan Fox
It is hard to ignore the New Zealander’s impressive form of late. His runner-up finish in Ireland was followed by a 6th place last week at the Scottish Open, both on links layouts, and while his lack of major championship experience is a concern there is little doubting that his current form suggests he could contend at various stages of the week.
Betting Guide July 12th
Rickie Fowler is chasing his 2nd Scottish Open.
After a bit of success last week with Russell Knox and Sei Young Kim our betting guide this week focuses on the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic and the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic.
With just one week before the Open Championship the John Deere Classic and more especially the Scottish Open take on greater significance as final preparations take place for the third major of the year.
Kirk and Bowditch – finding comfort on familiar ground
Katherine Kirk – brilliant start at a golf course on which she feels comfort.
One of the more interesting aspects of the performances of Australians in the opening round of respective events on the PGA and LPGA Tours this morning was the encouraging turnaround in form of both Katherine Kirk and Steve Bowditch.
Kirk was playing a venue which no doubt has great memories for her having won her third LPGA Tour title at the Thornberry Creek at Oneida course in Oneida in Wisconsin but her lead-up form prior to arriving in Oneida was hardly convincing having missed five of her last six cuts and finished 61st in the other.
Kirk, though, was upbeat about the week despite her confidence sapping run of late but despite a horror round in her last event last week she was still relatively positive when she spoke yesterday before today’s opening round.
“Yeah, I’ve had a few swing issues this year that I was obviously not happy with,” she said in her Wednesday media conference. “I think I’ve got a little bit of that ironed out. I love this golf course, so hopefully this will be another turning point for me.”
It certainly was a turning point as she raced to the turn in 29 today and when she reached 8 under for the day through 12 holes, thoughts of joining Annika Sorenstam as a ’59’ shooter on the LPGA Tour became a distinct possibility.
The momentum did slow but she was still able to add two more birdies for a round of 10 under 62 to lead by one over Sei Young Kim.
It’s kind of interesting,” added Kirk. “I think I told you guys yesterday I had no expectations to win. Obviously, there are good vibes here and I have a lot of confidence on this golf course. Just suits my eye.
“It’s a marathon; it’s not a sprint. It’s going to take another three really good rounds to be in contention on Sunday.”
When asked why the layout suits her eye Kirk explained. “Partly because it’s generous off the tee. I’ve never been a very straight driver of the golf ball. I don’t know. Just reminds me of some courses back in Kansas.
“Obviously, I’ve got some good shots in mind from last year. Yeah, it’s a pretty golf course. There are lots of easy targets to pick; greens are perfect. So, yeah, it’s a fun golf course to play.”
Given that her previous round last week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship was a horror 83, to have a 21 shots swing between rounds must be some sort of record and she was finding it hard to explain.
“Well, I mean, there’s kind of a human element in there, right? Golf is funny. When you’ve played it as long as I have professionally you realize, Hey, some days will be good and some will be bad.
“I did get really frustrated on Saturday (last) on the range when I was trying to work on a new swing thought. Not a new one, but an exaggeration I should say. I felt really good at the end of Saturday and told myself, Hey, listen, you’ve played well up in Green Bay. You know how to score around there. Just go do it. Like it’s not the rocket science.
“So, yeah, just mentally always have to say, Hey, it’s a new day. Let’s go get it. Yeah, I played horribly on Friday, but that’s Friday. It’s gone. I can learn from it and just put it behind me.”
Whether Kirk can continue on with her amazing start remains to be seen but a return to the scene of triumph or good memories or a golf course that fits the eye is an amazing tonic for a wayward game and to some extent the same could be said for Steven Bowditch.
Bowditch has been at an all time low with his game over the past two years missing 34 of his last 36 starts and in fact we need to go back to January of 2016 to find the last time he recorded a top ten, that coming at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Fast forward or, in the case of Bowditch, slow forward all those months and starts to this year’s AT&T Byron Nelson where a second round of 68 threw out signals that perhaps improvement was on the way despite again missing the cut
Bowditch won the AT&T Byron Nelson in 2015 admittedly on another golf course but again a return to an event or a course where success had been achieved previously appeared to provide a boost provided a boost.
Then to this week’s event at White Sulphur Springs TPC, a layout over which Bowditch had finished runner-up in 2013.
His round of even par 70 was hardly earthshattering but it is fair to say that it is one that offers further encouragement for the 35 year old from Queensland and even though he will need a round of perhaps 2 under or better tomorrow just to make the weekend things are definitely looking rosier for the immensely talented Bowditch.
Carnoustie – my memories
Marsh and I Carnoustie 1975 – click to open
With the beginning of the 2018 Open Championship now just two weeks away, memories of my experience at Carnoustie and the great golfing layout she is come flooding back.
In 1975 I caddied at Carnoustie in the third of three Open Championships I was involved in in that role and her great subtlety and demands provide an endearing memory for me.
I had caddied at Royal Troon in 1973 where the lasting memory of that year was when I finally set eyes on Jack Nicklaus for the very first time which for a 19-year old from New Zealand was an experience in itself.
Seeing Nicklaus in the flesh playing the 18th hole in a practice round for the very first occasion after having only seen him in the limited television coverage of events we had in New Zealand at that time was an image that remains with me.
In later years I would caddy in groups in which Nicklaus was a member and thus you could say the experience became significantly more ‘up close and personal’ but that initial image of Nicklaus walking down the 18th fairway at Royal Troon gave me goose bumps.
A year later it was Royal Lytham and St Annes near Blackpool where perhaps the most endearing memory for me that year was heading out on the final day after my boss that week, Graham Marsh, had finished his tournament a few hours earlier. I wanted to watch the looming battle between the eventual winner, Gary Player, and England’s Peter Oosterhuis.
The drama of Player so nearly losing his ball at the 17th and the panic that ensued remains in my mind after standing on the other side of the fairway to that where Players and his caddie ‘Rabbit’ Dwyer frantically searched for the ball in long rough to the left of the green.
Player eventually found that ball (some would say it was not his ball although I do not concur) and would go on to win comfortably by four shots but that moment was perhaps a pivotal point and the one that stood out that week.
Then in 1975 it would be Carnoustie which hosted the Open Championship, the outstanding layout having first played host to the great championship in 1931 and in 1975 it was the chosen venue for the 5th occasion.
Graham Marsh and I arrived in Carnoustie after qualifying for the Open Championship at the New Course at St Andrews just a few days earlier. Few golfers were actually exempt for the Open in those days and even a player of Marsh’s standing was forced to go through the process, gaining one of the few spots available at his particular venue with some impressive golf.
Carnoustie has gained a perhaps unfair reputation courtesy of the drama of the 1999 Open Championship but the tagging of Carnoustie as ‘Carnastie’ from that week on was more a result of poor course set-up and preparation rather than the layout itself.
A perhaps overzealous golf course superintendent in the lead-up to the 1999 version was left to his own devices rather than working with the overseeing role that the R&A now undertakes in such events. Consequently, the rough got out of hand and combined with inclement weather that week brought the world class field to its knees.
In 1975, however, Carnoustie was presented in outstanding condition and was blessed for the opening three days with perfect weather. In fact, all four days of the tournament were blessed with good weather that year. On day four the wind did arrive although not, as I recall, to any great extent.
Scoring was excellent over the opening three days and by Saturday evening (they played the Open from Wednesday through Sunday in those days) South African Bobby Cole, at 12 under, had a one-shot lead over Australian Jack Newton with another shot back to Johnny Miller, another shot again back to Tom Watson with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin in the group four shots from the lead.
On day four the wind both changed direction and strengthened from what had been virtually the gentlest of breezes over the opening three days to one which would make a significant difference to the outcome.
Only three players would break par on the final day, my own boss, Graham Marsh, being one of them when he recorded a round of 71 to move into what would eventually be 6th place on his own and only two shots from a playoff between the man who would win the first of five Open Championships, Tom Watson and Jack Newton.
Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus and Bobby Cole tied for 3rd one shot from the playoff.
No better example was there of the impact the change in wind direction and strength would have on the final day than that which occurred when Jack Newton arrived at the 17th tee edging towards victory. He had bogeyed the previous two holes and stood on the tee at the 17th, a hole on which a burn crosses the fairway on two occasions.
Earlier in the week it required just an iron from the tee finishing between the snake like water body and then a mid-iron into the par 4 but on the final day it required a lot more just to clear the burn from the tee. Newton, however, misjudged the wind and took the iron and failed to carry the burn.
The shot dropped there proved costly as it would cost him outright victory and highlighted an example of the false sense of security the more benign conditions of the opening three days had offered.
Newton would lose a playoff to Watson over 18 holes the following day.
The fine line between pleasure and pain, so often prevalent in links golf where the degree of difficulty on any given day is determined by the overhead conditions as much as those underfoot, was perfectly illustrated by Carnoustie that day. She can be stunningly beautiful and playable one day and one of golf’s most demanding tests the next.
Links golf is like that but Carnoustie is one of the better examples.
Golf Betting Guide July 5th
Jon Rahm defends Irish Open title
With the Open Championship rapidly approaching, this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Championship takes on an even greater meaning especially given the outstanding links course on which it is to be played.
The two favourites this week are the man whose charity is the beneficiary of the event, Rory McIlroy, and the defending champion and in form, Jon Rahm.
We also take a look at the PGA Tour’s Tribute to the Military at The Greenbrier in Sulphurs Springs in West Virginia where the in-form Bubba Watson will start as the likely favourite and the LPGA Tour’s Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic where Australia’s Katherine Kirk is the defending champion.