The 148th Open Championship

Hard to believe that the golf season’s final major is nearly upon us.  Seems like it was just yesterday that Tiger Woods was dawning the green jacket at Augusta National.  Thanks to the new condensed “championship season” on the PGA Tour schedule, the major season concludes this week at The Open Championship.   There are plenty of storylines this week as Northern Ireland becomes the centerpiece of the golfing universe.  

Royal Portrush

For the first time since 1951, Royal Portrush will host The Open.  It isn’t the same course that hosted The Open 58 years ago.  Two new holes, the 7th and 8th, have been added.  The course was also lengthened to 7300 yards.  The shoreline holes will provide viewers with majestic views of the Irish coast.  

Royal McIlroy

There will be no shortage of updates and stories involving four-time major champion Rory McIlroy.  Rory grew up in Northern Ireland, and although he now resides in the United States, the Open returning to this venue has the feeling of a homecoming for McIlroy.  

At age 16, McIlroy set the course record at Royal Portrush with a 61 - a star that will be thrown at you dozens of times this week.  While McIlroy has cooled a bit since his sizzling start to this season, including a win at The Players, he is a favorite heading into The Open.  Can he manage the emotions of seeing the oldest major return to his home country?  He certainly knows this course better than any other contenders this week.  

Brooks Koepka

Is it another major?   That means it’s time for The Brooks Koepka Watch to begin.  While Koepka continues to struggle in regular PGA Tour events (which he attributes to a lack of practice), Koepka has won 4 majors in 2 years.  Koepka is a veteran of the Challenge Tour and finished T-6 in 2017 at The Open.  Expect another strong finish for Koepka this week.  

Tiger Woods

The winner of the first major championship this year looks to book end this comeback season with his 16th major championship and 82nd PGA Tour win.  But we aren’t the first to say that since his green jacket victory in April, Tiger has seemed content.  He has played a skeleton schedule - even by his standards.  This week, Tiger comes into The Open having not played a round since Sunday at Pebble Beach on Father’s day.  Will Tiger come in rested - or rusty?  

The Americans

Tiger Woods - Brooks Koepka - Gary Woodland.  The first three majors of the 2019 season have been captured by Americans.  The last time the USA won all four majors in a single season was 1982.  Can the Americans seize all four trophies for the first time in 37 years? 

So Who is Going to Win This Thing? 

He won The Players.  He won the RBC Canadian Open.  And sure, maybe we are looking for the homecoming story on this one, but it seems like it’s Rory McIlroy’s time to win another major championship.