2010 British Open Preview

It's about time this blog got a little dignified. Leave it to Jesus to bring you a little action on the "Gentleman's Game" - although there's plenty of Tiger haters out there that might dispute that title!

Without further ado...let's take a look at the 2010 British Open, or as the Brits like to call it, "The Open Championship." *By the time this posts rounds should already be well underway across the pond, barring any weather delays.

This year's Open will take place at the storied, Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrew's - The Old Course. The Old Course is a favorite of golf enthusiasts, and always generates the most interest out of the other rotating Open sites. The earliest historical record of golf being played on these grounds is 1552! And some believe it may have happened even earlier.
There are many unique features at The Old Course, but most notably are the huge double-greens (two holes share the same green). The Course can also be played in either direction. You may think of golf when you think of Sunday, right? Well, at the Old Course Sunday play is only allowed 4 other times a year...one of which is for the Open final round if it is being played there. This is the 28th time St Andrew's has hosted the Open, with Tiger Woods winning the last two in 2005 and 2000.

No course can be affected by weather quite like the Old Course. Graeme McDowell even joked that "They should try playing the Open during the summer on of these years." Indeed, wind and rain and freezing temps can be a mainstay here, and the course can seem like two different places depending on the weather. Good weather and there will be plenty of low scores, maybe even some in the 60s. Bad weather...well that's when you start seeing a few 80s popping up. On tap for this week??? Looks like lots of rain and wind. Good luck, boys!

Las Vegas has Tiger as the favorite to win this week, and he has historically played well at the Old Course, even saying that it is his favorite major championship site "by far." Tiger though, has been playing, well, not very Tiger-like since his return from hiatus due to personal life issues. Golf just doesn't seem the same without Tiger in contention every Sunday. He has shown flashes of the brilliant old form at the two majors played this year, The Masters and U.S. Open but eventually fell out of contention over the weekend. The smaller events have been another story. He's been downright awful by his standards even going a whole tourney without a round under par, a new first for him as a pro. His loyal fans are hoping this is his comeback week.

Phil has played well this year, winning the Master's and would love to add a Claret Jug to his trophy case. However, the Open Championships in both Britain and the U.S. have eluded Phil thus far in his career. The long rough, narrow fairways and tricky greens associated with both majors have proven problematic for the risky style Phil likes to play. Like, the U.S. Open avoiding those disastrous rounds over par is what winning here is all about.

The rest of the Vegas favorites are mostly Brits or Europeans who are familiar with the links style play and have fared well in previous Opens. Out of the top 10 favorites in Vegas, only Phil, Tiger and Ernie Els are not from Europe. Lee Westwood, Paddy Harrington (2 time winner) Rory McIlroy (young phenom) Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open winner) Ian Poulter (flamboyant dresser), Paul Casey and Luke Donald round out the list.

No Brit has won at St. Andrew's since Nick Faldo in 1990, although I would put Poulter and Westwood near the top of the favorites list. Westwood has been in contention a lot in recent years and Poulter always seems to be in contention at the majors, and should get one before long.

My prediction for the Top 10.

Ian Poulter -11
Tiger Woods -10
Lee Westwood -10
Justin Rose -8
Jim Furyk -7
Ernie Els -7
Geoff Ogilvy -5
Paul Casey -4
Luke Donald -3
Camillo Villegas -3

Sleepers
Phil Mickelson (the wild card)
KJ Choi (always around the leader board)
JB Holmes (John Daly won at St Andrew's in his day, and Holmes is a big boomer with soft touch as well.)
Rory McIlroy (I think nerves will get to him on the weekend)
Francisco Molinari (St. Andrew's game, has been playing well on Euro tour)
John Daly (Won here in 1995. Can still bang it, and power players do well here.)