The 2015 British Open or Open Championship starts on Thursday and returns to the home of golf at St Andrews for this year’s edition. Everyone who’s anyone will want to be there, and it is the usual star studded cast.
There’s a lot to like about the British Open, traditional golf courses, not manicured within an inch of their life, but a layout that still looks like it would have a century ago. It’s rarely easy, and only the very best US golfers tend to win. It also allows for more European and Australian success, which is a good thing because for a rare moment in golfing time, The Gurgler’s two favourite golfers are in the same tournament. One from Europe and the other an Aussie.
First we’ll talk about Miguel Angel Jiminez aka The Mechanic. It’s no secret we are big fans at The Gurgler, and who wouldn’t be, he is a breath of fresh air in this ultra competitive professional world of sport. His cigar smoking, ponytail and facial hair, and warm up routine (a video of which we have below). But don’t let all that fool you, he’s got plenty on the golf course, and is in some form this year.
A tie for tenth in the Scottish Open just last weekend gave a taster to the form this year. Holes in One in consecutive tournament, breaking the European PGA Hole in One record along the way is also a season highlight. Another highlight is the post ace celebration, also posted below and worth a look.
We hope The Mechanic will be thereabouts if not winning throughout the tournament as it is always better when he’s around.
With the European chances covered it’s time for The Gurgler’s other favourite golfer – Rod Pampling. Unlike Australian Tennis which seems to be breeding jerk after jerk, Australian Golf keeps producing Aussie battlers, and our man Rod Pampling is a good example of this. After winning his first tournament in a while on the Web.com Tour (more on that in one of our previous bits) he has been chipping away (no pun intended) on both the Web.com 2nd tier tour and playing with the big boys on the US PGA Tour.
A tie for 41st in a tournament last weekend featuring and won by current hot shot Jodan Spieth is some kind of effort considering he has been plying his trade on the second tier for most of the year, and is some reasonable form to take across to Scotland. Currently ranked 186th in the world means nothing heading into major tournaments, and for the man who has led a British Open.
SO WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN?
Hard to tip against Jordan Spieth ($7.50) or favourite on UK soil Justin Rose ($19) or even Adam Scott ($19). You could also go for any American reasonable form, but this is a course in which an American has to be exceptional. Look at the previous winners at St Andrews – Louis Oosthuizen, Tiger Woods x 2, John Daly, Nick Faldo, and the great Seve, only names of pure quality win here. Tiger’s coming in the days before everyone found out about his conquests.
But we don’t do things like the rest of the world here at The Gurgler. Anyone can tip a favourite. So we intend to pick our favourites. Apologies in advance if our support is a poison chalice of the highest order.
WHO ARE WE PUTTING OUR MONEY ON? (Pun intended)
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ
Win @ $176
Top 25 @ $3.75
ROD PAMPLING
Win @ $751
Top 25 @ $11
Top Aussie @$41
ROSS FISHER
Win @ $161
Top 10 @ $10
JUSTIN ROSE
Lead 1st Round @ $23
Lowest Score Tournament @ $21
So sit back and enjoy four days of tremendous golf, if two of our favourites are up the pointy end it will be entertaining. And given Australia’s performance in the first Test of the Ashes it will be less painful to watch.
TEE OFF GROUPS TO WATCH
Unlike US coverage, you are a chance of seeing someone other than the top three, Tiger Woods and Big Phil, so here’s some groups to keep an eye on.
8:33 UK TIME – TOM WATSON, ERNIE ELS, BRANDY SNEDEKER
9:00 UK TIME – BUBBA WATSON, IAN POULTER, CHARL SCHWARZEL
9:33 UK TIME – JORDAN SPIETH, HIDEKI MATSUYAMA, DUSTIN JOHNSON
9:55 UK TIME – JASON DAY, TIGER WOODS, LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN
12:50 UK TIME – JASON DUFNER, MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ, JOHN DALY
2:45 UK TIME – JUSTIN ROSE, SIR NICK FALDO, RICKIE FOWLER
HAVE SOME MECHANIC VIDEOS TO FILL YOUR DAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0v_cla0zM
