John Huggan – Columnist-at-Large
BANKER: Hirsute Englishman Tommy Fleetwood has been bubbling under in majors for a few years now. But this is his time. Few hit the ball more solidly and consistently as the man who made the winning putt at last year’s Ryder Cup. And that will count for a lot at Troon, where the back-nine into the prevailing wind is a test for even the best.
SURPRISE PACKET: Keegan Bradley is a roll when it comes to surprises. Having emerged from what amounts to nowhere to claim the U.S Ryder Cup captaincy, the man from Vermont must surely be in the mood to play well. The only doubt is whether or not he can escape slow-play penalties as he works his way through his almost endless pre-shot routine. Speedy he is not.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: He can’t walk like he used to. He can’t swing like he used to. He can’t putt like he used to. All in all, Tiger Woods is these days pretty much a complete can’t. While it’s always nice to wallow in a bit of nostalgia, there is no pleasure to be had in watching the man who has played golf better than anyone else ever has struggle to make the cut. Sadly, it’s time for him to go.
“Why do you bother, Tiger?” ask the world’s press. “Because I can,” replies Tiger Woods, and there can be little argument. PHOTO: Getty Images
Paul Prendergast – Golf Plus Media
BANKER: There’s a lot to fuel Ludvig Aberg‘s motivation at the year’s final major: It’s the Swede’s first Open Championship appearance; it’s at the venue where Henrik Stenson thrilled a youthful Aberg and an entire nation with his amazing win in 2016; it’s definitely a flusher’s domain – especially on the ‘back to town’ nine that notoriously plays into the wind; he was just a few kind bounces and putts away – things that Bob MacIntyre enjoyed in spades over the closing holes – from winning the Scottish Open last week. Most would view his major championship breakthrough as an inevitability and should he succeed, he would join Ben Hogan, Tony Lema, Tom Watson, Ben Curtis and Collin Morikawa (since WWII) as winners of the Open at their first attempt. Becoming the first non-American to add his name to this list would be a great addition.
SURPRISE PACKET: Tom Kim was part of the logjam for second in tough conditions behind Brian Harman last year and has been solid in the past two Scottish Opens in links conditions. Currently 17th in the world, has three PGA Tour victories and has only just turned 22. Nothing would surprise me about the affable Korean lifting the Claret Jug this week. An honourable mention to his countryman, Sungjae Im, who continued his recent run of good form at the Scottish (T4) following a missed cut at the U.S. Open.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: While there are dozens of past champions and names that only a mother could love that could be selected for this category, I’ll make my selection from those favoured by the bookies in the top half of the field. Justin Thomas has had a somewhat ‘rocks or diamonds’ year for a player of his calibre and this extends to his play within tournaments, as last week’s tied 62nd at the Scottish Open demonstrates despite opening with a round of 62. Has missed two of three cuts at the majors this year but, true to the pattern, the exception was a T8 at the PGA Championship. This year has certainly been better for him than 2023 but I’m not sure Troon will be where it all comes together, especially with some glorious Scottish summer ‘weather’ expected later in the week that will test all aspects.
Tom ‘Thumb’ Kim of Korea is 22 and can play golf very, very well. PHOTO: Getty Images
Mike Clayton – Mike Clayton
BANKER: When Rory McIlroy walked off the 72nd green at Valhalla in 2014 it was unimaginable he’d go a full decade without winning another major. He’s now 0-and-39. I’m backing him. Surely the best player over the decade is due a break. And Adam Scott came back from his awful finish at Lytham to win the next chance he got at Augusta. Just because you choke doesn’t mean you’re a choker.
SURPRISE PACKET: This year’s Brian Harman? Cameron Young had a good shot at the Open at The Old Course when Cam Smith won. Young’s a roughie because he hasn’t won yet but he’s due. Just like Rory is due.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: It seems like yesterday when he was making the miraculous bogey on Brikdale’s 13 and then playing the finest five holes of his life to win. Since, he’s had a tougher time of it but he sure burned bright for a few seasons. Where did all the miracles go and are they coming back? Not this week.
As Eddie Murphy said of Mr T – “It don’t look like he can’t fight” – so too does it appear that Rory McIlroy knows how to golf. PHOTO: Getty Images
Callum Hill – Golf Australia Writer
BANKER: A fit and firing Ludvig Aberg boasts all the right qualities to succeed in Open Championship conditions. He has a complete repertoire of shots he can play on command, steely focus and is a ball-striking machine. He faltered on Sunday at the Scottish Open last week, but there was enough there to say he will follow in his fellow Swede Henrik Stenson‘s footsteps and lift the Claret Jug at Royal Troon eight years on.
SURPRISE PACKET: Well, it indeed came as a surprise when I was scrolling through a betting app like the value-chasing degenerate I am and got all the way down to triple figures to see the 15th-ranked player in the world, Max Homa, listed at 126-1. So, is he a surprise packet? The jury is certainly out on that. But going off the bookies’ market, I say yes. I know he hasn’t been playing fantastically, but I thought the odds were reasonably disrespectful towards a guy who flights his ball better than most and was in the final group at The Masters short months ago.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: Robert MacIntyre used up all his luck last week and might still be slightly hungover. It won’t happen this week for the Scotsman.
The Hangover: Robert MacIntyre will not have a drink from the Claret Jug this Sunday, unless offered one by the winner, reckons our man Hill. PHOTO: Getty Images.
Jimmy Emanuel – Contributor-at-Large, Host of Playing From The Tips podcast
BANKER: He’s perhaps a little under the radar given he’s a LIV Golf man these days and maybe doesn’t get as many eyeballs on his club tosses and expletives. However, Tyrrell Hatton is my man this week. Decent form of late, good Open record, including a T5 here, and used to win the Dunhill Links for fun. If Tyrrell’s fuming, he’s winning.
SURPRISE PACKET: You, dear reader, might think I’ve lost the plot (no interjection from Mark Hayes required here), calling the World No.11 a “roughie” but Sahith Theegala remains that at the majors still. He’s getting better each week, has the creativity to succeed at links golf, has some good Bobby Mac celebration juju, and one-hit wonder Americans win at Troon. I rest my case.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: Always tempting to opt for one of the genuine no chances in this space (“it can be revealed in these pages, Stewart Cink won’t win”), but again I am going to do my best to offer something more interesting. Viktor Hovland is one of my favourite players to watch, but right now the game is like Rubik’s Cube to my six-year-old for Viktor. His presser where he was talking all sorts of deep stuff and aliens convinced me that it’s not his week.
Surprise Packet as Banker, further evidence that our Jimmy walks to the beat of his own drum. PHOTO: Getty Images
Rod Morri – Podcast Mogul
BANKER: It has to be Rory McIlroy, surely? Troon favours no particular type of player but driving will be really important this week because playing from the fairways is crucial. Rory drives it as well as anyone in history and it might just be enough of an advantage for him to get across the line. He;s paid his dues, now time for the pay-off.
SURPRISE PACKET: There may be no quieter, in form player than Aaron Rai. He continues to bob up in top fives yet it’s almost always a surprise to see his name. A stunning finish at Renaissance last week will have him confident and I expect another good week.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: I hate this category but it is an undeniable reality that there are players in this field this week who have no chance to win. Among them is Justin Leonard (who I saw win in person here in 1997). Sorry Justin, youre still having a better week than me.
Aaron Rai’s game – and game face – is in top order. PHOTO: Getty Images
Matt Cleary – Golf Australia Senior Writer
BANKER: While his record at Open Championships peaks with T8 in 2022 at St Andrews, Bryson DeChambeau has since worked out golf. Well, major golf, anyway. T6 at Augusta, runner-up in the PGA, a U.S Open win for the ages at Pinehurst No.2. He’s playing less given LIV Golf’s reduced schedule and thus spending more time in the happy place of all mad scientists, the lab. He’s 20-1 with some makers of sports book, and that, friends, is big overs.
SURPRISE PACKET: No matter the weather, no matter the yardage, no matter the steepness of the face of the evil greenside pot, you still have to putt well to win major championships. Debutant Akshay Bhatia can putt dots off dots, is 100-1 and lots better than that.
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: I really hope Rory McIlroy wins so I’ll bestow the teenage at school disco pash of life on him here, as I bestowed it on Xander Schauffele before he won his first major, the PGA Championship, at Valhalla. Go Rors. Be the ball.
Mark Hayes – Media Figure
BANKER: There are plenty of reasons to dismiss Rory McIlroy’s chances this week –documented to various degrees. Ten years without a major victory; two missed short putts under the pump after 496 made in a row to end the US Open; too much focus on golf politics; personal upheavals; the list goes on and on.
And don’t get me wrong, if this was the lead-up to the Masters, I’d be off him quicker than you can say “Butler cabin-itis”.
But I’m a fan of ESPN’s 30-for-30 documentary series and I can’t imagine a better set-up – save perhaps a 16th major for Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods – for an epic redemption tale than what presents for “Rors” at Troon.
He was thereabouts last week in the Scottish Open, showing he’s at least partially recovered from the Pinehurst meltdown – the proof of which can only come in this Sunday’s pudding.
But when golf fans debate the question of “whose best is THE best?”, McIlroy’s name is a fixture in the conversation and I’m prepared to cut him some slack, particularly on (essentially) home soil.
SURPRISE PACKET: It’s almost a wish more than a surprise, per se. But I really think Min Woo Lee can become the sixth Aussie to lift golf’s greatest trophy.
“Min” has shown flashes of brilliance in majors this season without having replicated his charge to contention in the 2023 US Open.
But he has also developed the encouraging trend of having late(-ish) tee times on major championship Sundays, with six made cuts in succession.
Success in the 2021 Scottish Open proves he’s got the game to get the job done in golf’s homeland and there’s no doubt that when he’s hot, he gets radioactively hot.
Can you imagine the social media work we’d be treated to if the Claret Jug went on a trip to Perth?!?
I can – and I’m keen for some home cooking!
TELL HIM HE’S DREAMING: I wanted to repeat my most recent call in this forum of Patrick Reed, then realised that a combination of career choices and vindictive karma bus drivers have kept him away.
But keeping keystrokes to a minimum, I just switched surnames to come up with Patrick Cantlay.
The same people who criticised my choice of Reed last time would accurately point out that Cantlay has five top-10 finishes in majors, including his meritorious third at Pinehurst.
And while there’s no doubt he’s an elite player, he actually hasn’t won in almost two years – a slightly shorter timespan since we last saw him smile on a golf course.
Has not got the imagination of his peers on a true links, nor in my opinion does he have the gears needed to become a major champion when the whips are cracking.
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