We have hit that time of the golf season where almost every week there is a major event. This week we head across the pond to Carnoustie for The Open Championship, the third major on the calendar. Here is who we like this week:
DMoney
I know I have picked Tiger a few times this year. I know I keep saying this is the week he finally gets that first win back. And, I know it hasn’t happened yet. You know what though, if I say it enough times I will finally be right when it does happen.
So, why do I think this week is different for Big Cat?
Well, in case you haven’t heard Carnoustie is pretty baked out this week. That means the ball is rolling, and far. Look at some of the numbers that have already come in:
Tiger said this morning that he hit his 3-iron 333 yards yesterday. 3-iron. 333 yards. Be prepared to see crazy numbers like that the rest of the week with this baked out course. #TheOpen
— Dan Hauser (@DanHauserGolf) July 17, 2018
333 yards! From a 3-iron! That is INSANE. In fact, the fairways are rolling so fast right now that reports from the course are the fairways are rolling faster than the greens. So, with driver likely out of play the stinger is going to be the go-to shot off many tees. Who just happens to have one of the purest stinger shots in the history of golf? You guessed it, Tiger Woods.
For that reason alone I think Tiger manages to figure out his putting enough this week to get major championship win #15.
TReaske
Dustin Johnson – Sounds like DJ is not changing his game plan too much. While other players might take irons off a majority of tee boxes this week, DJ is happy to let fly with the big stick. That’s cool. He does it better than anyone else. Super firm fairways and maybe more receptive greens set up of a big week for DJ. Maybe the sting of not closing out his US Open lead is the extra motivation he needs to be Champion Golfer of the Year.
The Stiff Shaft
This is probably my second favorite major of the year. The courses are always spectacular, the field is perfect, and NBC does better at covering The Open than anyone else. Sure, it’s on at 1am, but is there anything better than waking up early and watching golf before the rest of Twitter arrives? I think not.
However, this is also one of the most difficult tournaments to predict because so many of these guys are great on the PGA Tour’s regular TPC courses that when they cross the pond and play links golf it makes picking a winner that much more difficult.
There are guys like Rickie Fowler, who’s game and flat swing fit links golf, and there are guys like Justin Rose who have spent enough time playing links golf and on the European tour that this isn’t that big of a challenge for them. Then there are guys like Dustin Johnson, whose game is so transformative that he could easily win anywhere in the world.
All of those things make picking a winner this week very difficult, however, I think it is Rickie’s time. I also think that it is Tommy Fleetwood’s time, and his record round of 63 at Carnoustie in the Dunn Hill Links makes picking anyone else very scary, but…I’m going to go with Rickie.
He played well at the Scottish Open and has played well enough this season to get it done. He’s proven that he can give it a run at the Open as he finished T2 in 2014. However, he hasn’t finished inside the top 10 since, so it’s still a bit of a risky pick. Not as risky as D Money’s Tiger pick…who will probably finish top 10, but still risky.
So there you have it. Rick gets it done this week and takes himself off of the Best Players that Have Never Won a Major list.
