The Open 2023

[Curls]

For his 3rd shot, I was thinking, 8 iron, short of the bunkers. Chip on, single or 2 putt, job done. No, 5 iron into the bunker but then hits a great bunker shot. No need to take that risk but these guys don't think that way.

How many times do we hear someone blowing a lead on the 18th with a wild tee shot and the commentator says, 'why didn't the caddy give him a 5 iron off the tee?' They never try to give them that 5 iron though, they never hit that shot .

I wonder if it is pre arranged, never to down club, never give a negative thought? It would be interesting to hear a caddies and players viewpoint on that.

I was thinking the exact same thing

 

[Orikoru]

For his 3rd shot, I was thinking, 8 iron, short of the bunkers. Chip on, single or 2 putt, job done. No, 5 iron into the bunker but then hits a great bunker shot. No need to take that risk but these guys don't think that way.

How many times do we hear someone blowing a lead on the 18th with a wild tee shot and the commentator says, 'why didn't the caddy give him a 5 iron off the tee?' They never try to give them that 5 iron though, they never hit that shot .

I wonder if it is pre arranged, never to down club, never give a negative thought? It would be interesting to hear a caddies and players viewpoint on that.

Faldo made a good point about Harman being a bit shorter off the tee than the big boys - he was able to hit driver but still be short of a lot of the bunkers that caught others out, effectively making the fairways wider for him. So he just stuck with it.

For that final shot on the 18th I think he was just trying to hit the fatter part of the green avoiding the left bunkers and not going for the pin - so it was the sensible shot - however he just pulled it.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Just a bottler in general. Always flatters to deceive and does nothing. Can't believe people routinely tip him for majors when he has zero killer instinct at all.

I’m no gambler, but could people back him because, despite not winning, he is often in the top few places?
Gambling isn’t, as no I understand it, just about picking winners!

 

[Steve Wilkes]

Wasn’t he one of the most accurate players off the tee?

Harmon was safe and accurate off the tee, but after green in regulation shots into greens he was wasn't in the top 20 players of being closest to the pin, but putting he was miles better than everyone else, he missed only 1 putt inside 10ft from 60 attempts, and was 11 and 10 shots better than Rory and Tommy from the same length putts

 

[IanM]

the sport is in the doldrums.

12 under in awful weather wins The Open.
All tickets sold out ages ago.
Green fee prices bonkers as courses full.
Joining fees making a comeback.

Yep...we're screwed

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Harmon was safe and accurate off the tee, but after green in regulation shots into greens he was wasn't in the top 20 players of being closest to the pin, but putting he was miles better than everyone else, he missed only 1 putt inside 10ft from 60 attempts, and was 11 and 10 shots better than Rory and Tommy from the same length putts

Where do he stand on GIR?

 

[Bdill93]

A class day at The Open in the howling rain today. Shame it was almost over before it started and no one really made a charge but I’ve seen Rory, Scottie, Rahm, Hovland (and more) all make birdies so I’m a happy man!

 

[Orikoru]

A class day at The Open in the howling rain today. Shame it was almost over before it started and no one really made a charge but I’ve seen Rory, Scottie, Rahm, Hovland (and more) all make birdies so I’m a happy man!

And probably caught a cold! Hope you had decent waterproofs on.

 

[BridgfordBlue]

I went yesterday, first time I’ve been to the Open, loved it. Had a great spot between the third green and the fourth tee in the morning and stayed there for quite a bit of it. Few points that stick in my mind from it.

Most impressive thing to me with all the pros was both their lag putting and their pitching, could have stayed watching the short pitches into the 18th all day.

The kids that shout down asking for the pros balls after they’ve finished are bloody annoying, as are anyone that shouts those random phrases after someone takes a shot. The only amusing thing with that is everyone else telling them to shut up.

The crowds are pretty incredible everywhere, but the amount of people following Mcilroy around is just crazy. The amount of pressure he’s under from the crowd every time he takes a shot is quite a mad thing to see, made me realise the other pro golfers are probably quite happy they aren’t him!

And finally, I’d love to play a course like that but also with the Marshalls helping me to find the ball when I hit it in the rough!

 

[Backache]

9 out 10 majors are won on the greens, and the home nations don't possess the best putters in the world. These greens were rated as some of the best putting greens they have ever played, we need to prepare our Open greens hollow tined and covered in sand to bring these great putters down to our level

His putting was hot this week he played very well and deservedly won
However this season on the PGA tour he is ranked below Hatton, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick and Rahm amongst others.

 

[spongebob59]

Another one open wonder

 

[BridgfordBlue]

I went yesterday, first time I’ve been to the Open, loved it. Had a great spot between the third green and the fourth tee in the morning and stayed there for quite a bit of it. Few points that stick in my mind from it.

Most impressive thing to me with all the pros was both their lag putting and their pitching, could have stayed watching the short pitches into the 18th all day.

The kids that shout down asking for the pros balls after they’ve finished are bloody annoying, as are anyone that shouts those random phrases after someone takes a shot. The only amusing thing with that is everyone else telling them to shut up.

The crowds are pretty incredible everywhere, but the amount of people following Mcilroy around is just crazy. The amount of pressure he’s under from the crowd every time he takes a shot is quite a mad thing to see, made me realise the other pro golfers are probably quite happy they aren’t him!

And finally, I’d love to play a course like that but also with the Marshalls helping me to find the ball when I hit it in the rough!

One more to add, at the end of it all we went down to the practice chipping green and Jordan Spieth came out and signed autographs for a load of kids, including my daughter who now has his signature on her golf sixes cap, which properly made her day. Was very impressed to see him doing that, he’s gone up several notches in my favourite players list!

 

[Backsticks]

9 out 10 majors are won on the greens, and the home nations don't possess the best putters in the world. These greens were rated as some of the best putting greens they have ever played, we need to prepare our Open greens hollow tined and covered in sand to bring these great putters down to our level

Not the case at all. Tee to green is the key factor in 9 out of 10 majors. TV gives a skewed view, as the majority of the golf you see is from the golfers whose long game has put them to the fore in the first place. And a putt has a much more obvious strokes gained impact than half a dozen tee shots then are in the semi rough rather than the fairway, or a layup short of bunkers rather than a drive that carries them. Amongst those at the top, yes, putting can then be the decider - but its almost as a tie breaker for the real deciding golf that happens up to that.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The age of golfing mediocrity is upon us.

I mean fair play to Harman, he played magnificently but the sport is in the doldrums.

When's Tiger back?

The official attendance for the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool is 261,180. It is the largest attendance for a Championship held outside of St Andrews, surpassing the total of 237,750 at Royal Portrush in 2019.


How the heck is the sport in the doldrums

 

[Mel Smooth]

Was that a good Open? I couldn't get engaged in it myself but appreciate some have, but it didn't have any kind of 'major' feel about it to me.

 

[fenwayrich]

An excellent renewal on a challenging course with a thoroughly deserving winner. Every aspect of Harman's game, physical and mental, was truly impressive. I only watch on TV these days, but all four days were very enjoyable. Looking forward to nxt year already.

 

[Backsticks]

Was that a good Open? I couldn't get engaged in it myself but appreciate some have, but it didn't have any kind of 'major' feel about it to me.

Not for entertainment value. The miscue from the R&A on Thursday with the flat bunker roulette was self inflicted. But as Harmon's not-really-challenged win became clear yesterday, it was over as a contest or excitement. Did it find a worthy champion ? I think so.

 

[Backache]

Was that a good Open? I couldn't get engaged in it myself but appreciate some have, but it didn't have any kind of 'major' feel about it to me.

The crowds and quality of field definitely had a Major feel for me.
It certainly lacked drama though as one man dominated from the third round and deservedly won.

 

[Golfnut1957]

Was that a good Open? I couldn't get engaged in it myself but appreciate some have, but it didn't have any kind of 'major' feel about it to me.

I feel the same way. I've watched the vast majority of it, including highlights packages, but I never felt enthused. I think it was probably the course, I'm not a big fan.

As I said in an earlier post, I'm now looking forward to next week more than ever.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

His putting was hot this week he played very well and deservedly won
However this season on the PGA tour he is ranked below Hatton, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick and Rahm amongst others.

This is so true, to win on the big stage you need to have a hot week on the greens, Harmon was 12 shots better than average on the greens over the 4 rounds, These 4 you mention only average a half shot better than average on putting per round, which on a full season is a lot and proves they are very solid putters, but with the exception of Rahm , not sure the others are capable of having a +10 shots gained on the field on the greens