The British Open — err, Open Championship — kicks off Thursday, my favorite golf viewing of the entire year. Is there anything better than setting an early alarm, waking up to coffee brewing and a major championship happening and never having to really leave the bed? It's not only a major championship, it's the majorest of majors for lazy people (I'm proud to include myself in that group!).
With Royal Troon upon us, here are five names — some random, some not — I think have a great shot this week (with odds courtesy Westgate).
I have tried my hardest not to comment on the putting display by Ernie at the Masters because I try not to joke about the shanks and the yips. That was tough to watch, but the greens at Troon are so far from those at Augusta National, flat as any major venue, and putting will be the least of any player's worries. That plays right into the hands of Ernie, who can still hit it fine enough to compete at an Open.
The good news for Ernie is the 46-year-old finished fifth alone at the Quicken Loans (his last start), and is headed to a place that he has had plenty of success at over the years (T-10 in 1997, a playoff loss in '04).
He's finished second twice in his past eight starts, and played solid last week at the Scottish Open. The 26th-ranked player in the world knows links golf, and is primed to finally have a big breakout in a major.
He's just got that look right now that he had at the 2014 PGA Championship, where he knows he's better than everybody else and wants to prove it. I can't really explain it, but that press conference on Tuesday, it was everything you wanted in a guy right before he's about to run past the field. Am I the only one who got that feeling?
I know that Rory has historically struggled in the wind. I know that Rory hasn't had his best season outside of the win at the Irish Open. I know that other guys are playing better than him. But it just feels like a week that Rory is going to be successful. It takes me back to Hoylake in 2006 and Tiger Woods. He just outsmarted and outplayed the field that week. He wasn't going to be stopped. I feel that way with Rory. He's so sick of the questions about him versus the others. He's so tired of people talking about Dustin and Jordan and Jason. This is a man who has as many majors as Johnson, Spieth, Day and Rickie Fowler combined, yet gets questions like the "Ringo" one this week.
Rory has something to prove. Beware the angry (and incredibly talented) golfer. Plus, it helps that putting won't be as much of a priority this week at Troon.
Not putting him on a list to win anything (majors, European Tour event, dart tournament) right now is just being irresponsible. He's won his past two starts, one being a major and the other the Bridgestone Invitational. A bad week for Dustin would still be a top-15 as long as he avoids the dreaded "bad British Open draw."
My pick to win. Sergio seems as happy as he's ever been, has a recent win at the Byron Nelson, finished well at the U.S. Open and is playing the major championship he has the best shot at winning. Garcia is second on tour in greens in regulation, and has so many top-five finishes in British Opens (five). I think Sergio finally gets it done this weekend.
