2016 Open Championship Third Round This, That & Clippings

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It's a bleak forecast for the players, a potentially captivating one for us watching the 145th Open Championship's third round at Royal Troon.

Your third round tee times.

The leaderboard.

For American audiences, your Golf Channel/NBC telecast times.

TheOpen.com also features live coverage.

Friday's Birdies and Bogeys.

John Huggan says 36-hole leader Phil Mickelson was “drookit” after a wet 18-holes over Royal Troon.

Michael Bamberger feels a Mickelson win would be epic in further defining his sensational career.

The 36 holes he has played at Troon, completed in a mere 132 shots, is just the latest. Like Fred Couples before him, he will be a factor at Augusta, at least now and again, for the next 10 years or more. Why? Because he is what he has always been, a golfer with a unique skill set and outsized desire. The thrill of competition just means too much too him. Tiger Woods burned out. Surely, his fade is rooted in an uncooperative body.

Ryan Lavner on the third round setup adjustments.

After the setup staff reviewed the course and forecast early Saturday morning, certain hole locations and tees were also moved before the 81 players began their day at Royal Troon.

The greens were rolling at about 9 1/2 on the Stimpmeter.

Here was the weather update greeting us at our work stations today, suggesting the R&A has no desire for a play stoppage should the wind kick up.

Lavner also explains what Mickelson did with Dave Pelz to make himself a better links player.

Jim McCabe ponders the luck of the draw and Steve Stricker says players have to resist the urge to throw themselves a pity party.

There were 52 games sent out Friday, and of the 26 players in red numbers heading to the weekend, 22 of them had earlier tee times on Friday. The only players who played late and finished under par were Patrick Reed (74), Byeong Hun An (70) and Rory McIlroy (71), all at 2 under, and Rickie Fowler (72) at 1 under.

Rory McIlroy also got the wrong side of the draw but he’s not getting down about his luck. Paul Weaver reports for The Guardian.

Jason Day played a miraculous round in the afternoon wave to get to +1 and hopes there is more of it Saturday, if he can dry his stuff out. Mark Tallentire reports.

Billy Horschel found a way to move the needle for the first time in ages. Alex Myers reports.

I wrote about Matthew Southgate for GolfDigest.com. What an inspirational story.

Jaime Diaz on short par-3s after watching some golf at the Postage Stamp.

I wrote for GolfDigest.com about how the double-breasted's from the R&A (of all groups) are doing quality grow-the-game work by presenting a fun, relaxed Spectator Village which also accomplishes the goal of giving some exposure to their corporate partners.

And finally, Phil Mickelson's binder clip/hat adjustment is drawing plenty of scrutiny, reports Alex Myers.

2016 Open Championship Second Round This, That & Clippings

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The rain has come and the players going out early in round two finally experienced inclement conditions (as expected). Phil Mickelson managed his way around until a bogey at 12, but he nearly aced the Postage Stamp.

A few notes as you watch the Golf Channel telecast in the States.

Your second round tee times.

The leaderboard.

For American audiences, your Golf Channel/NBC telecast times.

TheOpen.com also features live coverage.

Thursday's Birdies and Bogies.

Players are wearing ribbons in honor of the victims from the Nice tragedy, Ryan Herrington reports.

Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Dufner, Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson are sharing a house and having a jolly time at The Open. Steve Hennessy explains. For a UK take, Jonathan Liew of the Telegraph reports.

Alex Myers walks out to the Postage Stamp to take in the wee hole. You forget how far out this course goes before turning back to the clubhouse.

The Railway hole was a beast in round one, my take for GolfDigest.com and Richard Bath's look for the Telegraph.

The Postage Stamp didn't play favorites either. Ryan Lavner with the lowdown on the struggles there.

Which reminds me, The Open's app is a must download for featured 6-7-8th hole coverage. If you're on site or coming this weekend, it will even map you through the course to get to a preferred spot or group.

Jim McCabe looks at the early dominance of Americans and says we should not be surprised given the history here.

The latest odds have Phil 15/8.

Stinger! 63 Again: Mickelson's Heartbreaker At Troon

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There really wasn't a 62 in the air for Phil Mickelson until the birdie putt on 17 went in, and as I noted for GolfDigest.com based on my observations from the course, even Mickelson wasn't thinking it until late. But once he did, the heartbreak of such a lipout was evident.

Tiger still thinks about his putt at Southern Hills in 2008 and Phil will remember this one for the rest of his life. And 62 remains safe, as does the legacy of the Golf Gods.

That said, it's still a 63 in The Open, the last tournament Phil has won since 2013.

Where does it rank on the list of 28 previous 63's? Jaime Diaz, who wrote a definitive piece recently on 63s, says this one makes the top 5

After the round, Ernie Els lamented the missed chance at history but spoke of his pleasure in watching it unfold. Alex Myers reports.

Today In Not Really Zika Virus: IOC Evaluating, Player Slams WDs, Rory At Peace, Coke To Silhouette Jordan

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Could male golfers get themselves DQ'd from future Olympics while the women show off in Tokyo?

The chances are slim, but after reading Steven Wilson's AP story, all of the players who mentioned looking forward to future Olympic opportunities may look silly.

Wilson spoke to top IOC man Thomas Bach, and under Wilson's scenario, option is on the table to drop the men but not the women, though Bach did not say that.

The IOC will meet after the Rio Games to evaluate golf and all other sports and events on the program.

"One of the main categories of the evaluation is, of course, the question of participation of the best players," Bach said. "Let us wait then for this evaluation. Then, of course, we will also speak with the International Golf Federation once this is available."

By evaluating events within each sport, the IOC could look separately at the men's and women's tournaments. As it has been almost exclusively male players who have been withdrawing from Rio, the IOC could potentially consider whether to drop the men's event and keep the women's tournament for Tokyo.

Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk quotes Rory McIlroy at length, who says he feels even more peace of mind than ever not going.

Explaing his Olympics decision in detail, he said: “Zika is a risk but there are other risks attached to going to Rio from political unrest to security issues. So there is more to it that that.

“There were enough people around me, members of my team and my family who weren’t comfortable and I wasn’t comfortable going down there so I felt that the best decision for me was to pull the plug."

And he presumes Tokyo will be there for him in four years.

“We have golf in the Olympics in Tokyo in four years’ time and if I really feel the need to get that Olympic experience hopefully, I can go there and do that.  

“I have no regrets. I have made my stance pretty clear and golf in the Olympics. I play for other things.

“Golf in the Olympics is great for golf and to grow the game. There is no question about that. But with the number of top professionals have decided not to go, that shows where it stands in our minds."

Hopefully Thomas Bach didn't see that last line!

Speaking to Morning Drive's Cara Robinson, Gary Player took his criticism of the Olympic WD's to a new level.

"I'm bitterly disappointed," said Player, the team captain for South Africa. "In America today, their plus-minus combined with car accidents and guns, 100,000 people killed a year, and you're going to go and play in a golf tournament where Zika is the great word. I think there's a greater chance of that happening to you in America than getting Zika. I was just in Zambia, where you have Malaria, and it didn't concern me at all.

"I'm really amazed," he added. "I just hope that it doesn't hurt golf. I hope we stay in the Olympics. I do believe we should have it for amateurs and not for professionals."

And Coca-Cola has coverted planned packaging featuring Jordan Spieth to a silhouette of a golfer, reports SBJ's Ben Fischer (H/T John Strege who has other details on the change in marketing approach).

145th Open: A Few Picks And Thoughts On Royal Troon

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Looking at Troon after spending time at far more beautiful links like Cruden Bay, Royal Dornoch, Brora, Prestwick and Turnberry is, admittedly, a let down. But within the corridors there are some sensational par-4s and par-5s, but beyond of the Postage Stamp, forgettable one-shotters.

Having not been here in over two decades, I forgot just how difficult the 10th and 11th holes look from the tee. While the Postage Stamp looms with its difficult (flat floored) bunkers, the gorse at Sandhills and The Railway must keep a few players up at night, particularly if the rain and cold come as forecast for Friday through Sunday.

Below are some embedded scenes from the course that hopefully give a little perspective what players face on those key holes. And here we talk on Morning Drive about the ebb and flow of the course.

As for picks, Jason Day is my choice over Dustin Johnson despite Day having something "pop" yesterday, but they are both so good right now that it will certainly come down to luck of the draw. Day goes late Friday, which has the potential to be an issue according to forecasters.

Damon Hack and I discussed the fun of wagering a few quid on The Open today.

My current wagering centers around value plays with top 7 finishes in mind, and will likely be rounded out by a few prop bets and perhaps some each way money on Mickelson and Knox (as long as I can get Phil at 45-1) and paying out the top seven spots. My current wagers include Ernie Els each way at 125-1, Graeme McDowell at 80-1, Padraig Harrington at 100-1, Danny Lee at 125-1 and Jim Furyk at 80-1.

**Late add: Greg Chalmers at 500-1! Winner of the recent Barracuda Championship. Go Aussie!

The course is soft and green, as we explained on Morning Drive, but the forecast has me liking "mudders" who know how to handle such conditions, which accounts for my interest in three former major champions who have been showing signs of



Nice spelling by the Tweeter here...trains, planes, eh...

 

 

 

Forward Press: Golf Channel Does Its First Major

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For this week's Forward Press, I preview some of the things you can expect with NBC/Golf Channel's first Open Championship, plus offer some information on the long programming windows.

Their neatest sounding new production element to show off bump-and-run approach shots may not get much use if Troon remains soft.

I do not, however, have the bootleg yet of Yanni's re-imagined theme, with bagpipes. Something tells me you can wait.

Rio 2016: Spieth, McIlroy Fumble The Torch

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It's a day that won't be looked on with much affection by those who admire the skill, passion and leadership roles Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy have been carrying for golf.

Inheriting and running with the torch handed to them in recent years--and enjoying the perks that come with the gig--these popular and impressive athletes have inspired young people. They've reminded the world that golf is a sport played by passionate figures.  And they have done their part when called upon to spread the gospel of golf to new lands. But after passing on the 2016 Rio games for reasons that seem less than their normally honest feelings, they've fumbled the torch each seemed so proud to have taken from golf's revered champions of the past.

Golf in the Olympics, while flawed due to the format and crowded schedule, is still one week out of their lives that could have cemented them as ambassadors, world-class sportsman willing to eat Olympic Village food for a week, and all around gents who love golf so much they'll show up in Rio for four whole days of potentially exciting golf.

However, the lads have stumbled in passing on Rio for an undisclosed health reason (Spieth), and altogether dismissing Olympic golf in a petty manner (McIlroy).

Spieth, who had called this a fifth major, signed with Olympic presenting sponsor Coca Cola to be part of its campaign, and who genuinely seems determined to become a sporting legend, could never quite disclose the reason he waffled right up to the inopportune moment of announcing his decision at a major championship (Alex Myers with Spieth's comments here.)

More disconcerting was the assertion that this was the hardest decision of his life, paramount to a college choice. While many around the world would envy someone who has never faced a decision more difficult than deciding to play in the first Olympic golf competition in 104 years or whether to go to UT or USC, the gravity suggests Spieth isn't quite prepared for the modern limelight that is so harsh. Trying to crack a joke about carrying the torch didn't help.

But at least Spieth seems to have genuinely agonized over this. McIlroy, however, went a disappointing path in belittling the competition by suggesting it is not one that matters. While John Huggan rightly notes the brutal honesty of McIlroy is, in part, why he is beloved and paid handsomely to be a global brand ambassador, McIlroy didn't have to put Olympic golf down because he's decided not to go.

The key quote from James Corrigan's Telegraph story:

“But, look, I get where different people come from and different people have different opinions. But I'm very happy with the decision that I've made and I have no regrets about it. I'll probably watch the Olympics, but I'm not sure golf will be one of the events I watch.”

When pressed which events these would be, he replied: “Probably the events like track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters.”

As Jason Sobel wrote of the surreal at ESPN.com:

Unlike Spieth's delicate attempt to convey golf's relevance in the Olympics without his participation, McIlroy stuck a knife in the back of the event and twisted it. Hard.

Ultimately golf is an individual sport played successfully by those who think very hard about themselves, their goals and their needs. Spieth and McIlroy confirmed they are no different than many past champions in putting their needs first. The difference, however, is that while past champions were often selfish and inconsistent at times, they were never handed a torch resembling this Olympic opportunity.

Peter Willett Finally Has Answers About Brother Danny

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The brother of Masters Champion Danny Willett, who rose to fame thanks to his Masters final round Tweets, has finally got answers to the questions he's gotten on nearly every interview given.

Regarding "Did you ever think he could win The Masters?" Writing in The Telegraph:

2. Did you ever think he could win The Masters?


No – I never thought he’d win The Masters. I never thought he’d become a professional golfer. I thought he would end up selling plus-fours

 

Dawson Cracks: Zika "Over-reaction" By Male Golfers

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James Corrigan of The Telegraph sums up the first sign of irritation by International Golf Federation officials at male golfers who are passing on Rio.

He writes:

Dawson offered his “understanding”, but his frustration was clear. More than anyone, the former R&A chief executive made golf’s case to the International Olympic Committee and it is interesting that the 2009 bid was backed by all the top players of the day, including Tiger Woods. Each of the current top four had earlier expressed their support to this Olympic tournament with Spieth declaring he was going to treat it “like a fifth major”. However, despite the Zika danger, those words seem extremely hollow now with the game fighting for its credibility as an Olympic sport.

Frankly I'm amazed it took this long for some pushback or skepticism from the top Olympic golf officials, particularly those who have spent so much time backing the bid, vision and effort to globalize the sport.

Ewan Murray of The Guardian noted Dawson's punchier line.

In response to a subsequent question over how susceptible golfers may be to Zika, which is transmitted via mosquitos, Dawson replied with more than a touch of sarcasm: “I take great heart from the fact we haven’t lost a greenkeeper yet.”

Scottish Open v. Irish Open? And Other Fun Power Plays

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While the headline notes that the Scottish Open is considering a Saturday finish to avoid the Wimbledon final--wise since it was totally lost in the news cycle here after Andy Murray's win--Martin Dempster also looks at the future of this championship through the eyes of Aberdeen Asset Management's Martin Gilbert.

Besides some of the courses being considered (Kingsbarns, Gullane, Royal Aberdeen but no Trump International), this was fun and may explain why we wont' see Rory at the Scottish for some time.

With Rory McIlroy as its host and Dubai Duty Free as sponsor, the Irish Open is eyeing a prime summer slot, but Gilbert, who has been instrumental in Aberdeen Asset Management pumping more than £10 million into Scottish golf over the past few years, is adamant that won’t be the one before the Open Championship for the foreseeable future.

“I’m sure he would,” he replied to being told that McIlroy had his eye on the Scottish Open slot. “But, as Keith Pelley said, we are tied in to this date until 2020, so no matter what Rory says...and this is a better tournament than the Irish Open, I can tell you.”

Fighting words!