Why issues do not look good for Tiger and different large Open questions

PORTRUSH, Northern Eire — Tiger Woods would not sound assured. Brooks Koepka is at all times assured. Rory McIlroy is at house, which ought to make him assured.

On a venue few have seen earlier than — Royal Portrush final hosted The Open 68 years in the past — there are many intriguing subplots because the yr’s final main will get set to tee off.

1. Will Tiger be an element this week?

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

Bob Harig: It’s troublesome to check that in the mean time. The shortage of aggressive golf is just too a lot to beat. Taking a trip is comprehensible. Managing the varied illnesses that come from 4 again surgical procedures is prudent. However 10 rounds of aggressive golf in three months is way from splendid. Then there’s your complete facet of studying a brand new golf course and placing on gradual hyperlinks greens and coping with the potential for extra poor climate. So much must go proper for Tiger to be an element at Royal Portrush.

Michael Collins: Nope. For a similar purpose he wasn’t an element on the PGA Championship. When the temperature drops and the dangerous climate units in, Tiger’s again simply will not give him a break. He has additionally executed loads of touring with the household main as much as this occasion, so “ready” is just not what I would name TW.

Ian O’Connor: I do not suppose so. Tiger certain did not sound optimistic about his possibilities in his Tuesday information convention. That is the one main above all that provides the older guys with old-guy aches and pains an opportunity to compete, but it surely’s arduous to image an enormous week for Tiger after he took a sabbatical between Pebble and Portrush. You possibly can by no means fully rule him out. Given the circumstances, and his personal phrases, I simply discover it troublesome to rule him in.

Mark Schlabach: I am starting to surprise if there’s one thing to what Paul Azinger stated earlier this week, that Tiger is simply too content material after profitable the Masters in April. Was profitable his fifth inexperienced jacket his walk-off homer within the backside of the ninth? Was that the icing on the cake in his storied profession? He simply would not appear too thinking about doing what’s required to win main championships, and he is aware of his physique is not going to carry up via the wear and tear and tear of enjoying regularly. If the temperatures drop and rain begins falling in Northern Eire, he is not going to have an opportunity to win. You possibly can by no means depend Tiger fully out, however I do not suppose he’ll be a lot of an element in any respect. He merely hasn’t performed sufficient.

Nick Pietruszkiewicz: No probability. Could be house on the weekend. Hear, I am the one who stated earlier than the yr started that he’d win two majors this season. He has one. So that is his final shot for a second. It ain’t taking place. Even he admitted when he sat down for his media session Tuesday that his recreation is not the place he needs it. For somebody so assured in himself to say that out loud 48 hours earlier than the match begins, that’s not a great signal.

2. Choose one: A. Rory performs effectively at house, basking within the help. B. It is an excessive amount of stress; he presses, then fades.

Harig: He’s going to play effectively this week just because Rory has been enjoying effectively all yr. That’s the key to contending at Royal Portrush, way more so than having a home-course benefit. The latter could possibly be of significance if he will get into rivalry, and definitely there’s some stress to win one other main, however enjoying effectively appears a given.

2 Associated

Collins: I will go along with the second alternative. In contrast to different main sports activities, golfers enjoying nice in entrance of the house crowd would not occur fairly often. There are tons of the reason why, however the principle purpose is he would possibly press. I spoke to a few HOFers in different sports activities who play golf. They stated what drives them the craziest about golf is that in baseball and soccer, if you bear down and take a look at tougher, you will get nice outcomes. The alternative holds true for golf, Rory has confirmed that on the Masters, and it will likely be the identical this week.

O’Connor: A. I like his possibilities. I picked him to win, but when he would not, I feel he’ll no less than have a shot on Sunday. If Rory loses, I do not suppose it will likely be a choke job — somebody will simply outplay him. Let’s hope for the sake of a great story that he is proper there in the long run.

Schlabach: I am choosing him to win The Open, so I definitely hope it is the previous. There’s each purpose to consider that there is an excessive amount of stress on McIlroy enjoying in his native Northern Eire this week, however his native data and monitor document on hyperlinks programs would possibly push him to the highest. He was enjoying golf in addition to anybody on this planet firstly of the season, however he wasn’t a lot of an element within the first three majors. He had two top-10s, however he began poorly on the PGA and did not end nice on the U.S. Open. I feel Rory salvages the majors season by profitable the match that issues most to him.

Pietruszkiewicz: He’ll be within the hunt. I can’t think about a situation by which he misses the reduce or is a weekend afterthought. He performs this occasion so effectively, he is aware of this place so effectively, he is aware of this nation so effectively. An excessive amount of aligns right here for him to stroll away from Royal Portrush with only a so-so exhibiting.

three. Any probability Brooks Koepka has an off week at a serious? Or ought to we anticipate one other run at one other title?

Brooks Koepka would not know a lot about Royal Portrush, however his caddie Ricky Elliott does. He grew up right here. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos

Harig: It’s definitely doable that Koepka may fade at The Open, though it could not be shocking within the least if he have been to contend once more. That is the one main the place Koepka has but to be a real Sunday issue, despite the fact that he completed sixth two years in the past at Royal Birkdale. And his kind within the two occasions after his runner-up end on the U.S. Open have been lower than spectacular. Then once more, Koepka by no means impresses at common occasions. He’s more likely to be locked in right here.

Collins: “So that you’re saying there’s an opportunity?!” Remind me what occurred on the finish of “Dumb and Dumber” … did they depart with the bus stuffed with fashions or not? Guess in opposition to Brooks Koepka in any main proper now and you will be standing by the aspect of the highway with Lloyd and Harry because the bus pulls away, too.

O’Connor: The regulation of averages works in opposition to him, however all the things else about this week works for him. Koepka constructed his profession abroad, enjoying in all types of situations, and his caddie grew up on this course. Proper now, Koepka is by far the most effective big-game participant on this planet. Essentially the most staggering upset of the week could be Koepka waking up Sunday with no reasonable probability to win.

Schlabach: It is a main, so in fact Koepka goes to be close to the highest of the leaderboard. It is what the man does. He has loads of expertise enjoying hyperlinks programs, and, oh, his caddie, Ricky Elliott, grew up in Portrush and performed Royal Portrush as a junior. Koepka’s expertise plus Elliott’s data goes to equal one other top-five end — if not yet one more victory in a serious championship.

Pietruszkiewicz: I’ve questioned the place he’d end as soon as this season in a serious and been horribly improper. I am not going there once more. Clearly, he loves main weeks, when the highlight is on and he can stick it to anybody who thinks he is not both the most effective participant on the planet or within the dialog about who’s the most effective participant on the planet. How a few Koepka vs. McIlroy duel on Sunday afternoon?

four. Which participant who nobody is speaking about may shock everybody and maintain the Claret Jug on Sunday?

Harig: Matt Kuchar. The yr has been stuffed with controversy for the in any other case affable Kuchar, however whereas all of that has gone on he is put collectively the most effective seasons of his profession, with two victories and a runner-up end on the WGC-Dell Match Play. Kuchar carried out effectively final week on the Scottish Open, has been top-10 in every of the previous two Opens — together with runner-up to Jordan Spieth two years in the past — and appears to have discovered the components for hyperlinks golf.

Collins: Paul Casey. Completed T-21 on the U.S. Open and adopted that up with a T-5 on the Vacationers Championship. Casey comes into this week effectively rested and assured. Whereas his final Open Championship wasn’t stellar (T-51), his consequence on the 2017 Open Championship (T-11) ought to be proof sufficient to know he’s near prepared for his second within the highlight. Coming in below the radar can solely profit Paul.

O’Connor: Gary Woodland. So far as guys with possibilities to win this factor, I have never heard his identify talked about as soon as up to now two weeks. Granted, he is by no means had a top-10 end in The Open. However he does have three top-10s in his previous 4 majors, together with, in fact, his breakthrough victory at Pebble Seaside. Woodland now is aware of he has what it takes to win a serious. Perception is at all times an important membership in a participant’s bag.

Schlabach: Given the best way Adam Scott has performed on tour this season, it is a shock that he hasn’t but gained. He ranks within the high 10 in practically each statistic that issues, together with No. three in pictures gained: complete, and he is even No. 23 in placing, which hasn’t at all times been his power. He has six top-10s and 9 top-25s in 13 PGA Tour occasions. Scott has performed effectively in The Open up to now, ending second at Royal Lytham in 2012 and tied for third at Royal Liverpool in 2014. Darren Clarke, who is aware of Royal Portrush in addition to anybody, stated earlier this week that Scott is enjoying “imperious” golf on the hyperlinks course.

Pietruszkiewicz: Does Rickie Fowler depend? I am taking him to win the entire thing … hey, considered one of as of late I’ll be proper … proper? He has an impression for the historical past of the sport, so why not win the game’s oldest main? After a T-9 on the Masters, he was a nonfactor on the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. So, sure, he is flying below the radar right here at Royal Portrush.

5. Who wants a great week to salvage a disappointing main season?

Harig: Patrick Reed. He barely made the reduce on the U.S. Open after lacking on the PGA and ending effectively again in his Masters protection. Reed has not gained since his 2018 victory at Augusta, so it is quite a bit to anticipate a victory right here. However Reed may stand to see his fortunes flip round. He is dropped from 15th to 25th on this planet.

Collins: Justin Rose himself has admitted the brand new schedule shook him, preparation-wise. For a man I joked with final December about going between No. 1 and No. 2 on this planet, his main season may be salvaged solely with an important week right here in Portrush.

O’Connor: You may make a case for Jordan Spieth or Rickie Fowler, however I will go along with Rory McIlroy. He is gained twice this yr and has performed effectively, however no top-5s within the majors. Let’s face it, he was the signature participant of the post-Tiger technology however hasn’t gained a serious in 5 years. It is a house recreation this week, so there’s loads of stress on him. Time for Rory to ship. Time for him to be that 16-year-old boy who shot 61 at Portrush once more.

Schlabach: Tommy Fleetwood hasn’t gained a match on American soil, however he is one of the vital proficient gamers on tour. We’re nonetheless ready for the 28-year-old Englishman to translate that expertise into victories. He had a great monitor document in majors the earlier two seasons, ending fourth within the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, second within the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock after which tied for 12th at The Open at Carnoustie final season. It appeared as if he was able to make the following step, however his efficiency within the majors thus far this season has been disappointing. He was tied for 36th on the Masters, tied for 48th on the PGA Championship and tied for 65th on the U.S. Open. Fleetwood is best than that.

Pietruszkiewicz: Justin Thomas. After a top-15 end on the Masters (he was T-12 at Augusta Nationwide), it has been downhill since. He withdrew from the PGA Championship due to a wrist harm and missed the reduce on the U.S. Open. His season began with such promise large yr was coming. He had seven top-20s — 4 of which have been top-5s — in his first eight tournaments of the season. Then the strong Masters. However the wrist harm has thrown all the things out of whack. He is had two missed cuts, a T-20 and a T-36 since he got here again.