Italy's Francesco Molinari wins Open championship by two strokes

CLICK HERE to view all the final totals

-8 Francesco Molinari (69 for 276).

-6 Xander Schauffele (74 for 278)
-6 Justin Rose (69 for 278)
-6 Rory McIlroy (70 for 278)
-6 Kevin Kisner (74 for 278)

-5 Tiger Woods (71 for 279)
-5 Eddie Pepperell (67 for 279)
-5 Kevin Chappell (73 for 279)

-4  Jordan Spieth (76 for 280)
-4 Tony Finau (71 for 280)
-4 Matt Kuchar (72 for 280)

SELECTED TOTAL
+9 Sam Locke (amateur medal winner) 78 for 283

Link to Open Championship Round 2 leaderboard at Carnoustie

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• The 147^th Open Carnoustie15-22 July 2018

McIlroy won't change his high-stakes 

strategy at Carnoustie

Rory McIlroy delivered on his promise to go out swinging as he made a solid start to his Claret Jug challenge.

McIlroy said he wanted to play like the care-free teenager he was when he won the Amateur Silver Medal here in 2007 and he certainly didn’t hold back at Carnoustie, where the scorched fairways have been baked to near concrete.
Fortune favours the brave and while some cautiously plotted their way around the course, wary of balls that can run and run into trouble, McIlroy sized up every opportunity to let rip with his driver.
You don’t win three major titles, including being crowned Champion Golfer in 2014, without knowing how to balance risk and reward in this sport.
But McIlroy won’t have too many complaints about a two-under par 69 with leaves him three shots back from early leader, American Kevin Kisner.
And he insists his high-stakes strategy is the way ahead - even if it meant some scrambling, including a long range putt to save par at the 16th.
“Even if you play aggressive around here, you might make more bogeys than playing it safe, but you're going to make more birdies as well,” said McIlroy.
“I got away with some tee shots, but at the same time, I think that's what I have to do. That's my game plan this week. 
“I’m convinced that that's the way that I should play it. It's not going to be for everyone, but it worked out pretty well for me and I would have taken 69 to start the day.”

Personal victory

McIlroy admitted he questioned his plan of attack on the par four 3rd hole, which a handful of players took on from the tee.
Playing partners Marc Leishman and Thorbjorn Olsen played it safe with irons and duly marched down the fairway. McIlroy stayed on the tee box for another 15 minutes, waiting for the green to clear.
His booming drive then found the rough at the back of green but a neat up and down picked up his first stroke.
And he also believes there is plenty of room for improvement with his driving - which is an ominous warning for his rivals on the leaderboard.
“I’d been waiting so long I didn’t want to mess that up,” he admitted. “That hole was a validation for me, it proved to me it’s the right way for me to play here, it was a little personal victory.”
McIlroy’s preference would be for three more days of the breathless conditions he played his first round - but Friday’s weather forecast doesn’t look like obliging him.
He’ll be out shortly before 8am on Friday, when rain is expected - though the winds seem to be consistent across the day.
“I’m not worried about it, it won’t soften the course up and I’ve just got to remember to bring my umbrella,” he added.
“Hopefully I can get off to a good fast start and try to make a few birdies and get close to the leaders and set a score.”

TheOpen.com is the only place to get all the latest news from The 147th Open at Carnoustie. This time next year, The Open will return to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years.

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TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AT THE END OF

DAY ONE AT CARNOUSTIE

CLICK HERE

RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF FANS ATTEND THE 147TH OPEN AT CARNOUSTIE 

R and A NEWS RELEASE

 The 147th Open at Carnoustie will be the best-attended to date at the renowned Angus venue.

This week’s attendance has already surpassed the previous record of 157,000, set when Paul Lawrie defeated Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a dramatic play-off to lift the Claret Jug in 1999. 

This year has been the one of the fastest-selling Championships to be staged in Scotland, outside St Andrews, as fans of The Open have eagerly snapped up tickets to watch the world’s best golfers begin their quest to be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The RandA, said, “We know that there has been real excitement among fans about The Open returning to Carnoustie’s great links and the record number of spectators at the Championship here underlines its reputation as one of the world’s great sporting events.

“Attending The Open is a memorable experience full of iconic moments and we look forward to welcoming fans from all around the world for this global celebration of golf.”

Almost 4000 spectators have already taken advantage of 

free accommodation for young people and a low-cost rate 

for adults at The Open Camping Village, with Friday and 

Saturday nights fully booked since May.

High levels of demand led to Weekend Bundle Ticket and 

Twilight Ticket categories being sold out in March, some four 

months ahead of the Championship. Hospitality packages 

have also proven to be very popular among fans with all six 

packages having now sold out.

Fans are still able to secure their place at The Open this week with a limited number of daily and weekly tickets still available.

For under-25s, The Open is more accessible than ever with Youth Tickets currently available for as little as £40 for Championship days. Children under the age of 16 can attend free of charge under The Open’s ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting TheOpen.com

Spieth rallies to win Open by three from

Kuchar with five-under-par late burst

Jordan Spieth, three ahead of the field at the start of the final day at Royal Birkdale, came home in 32 to Matt Kuchar's 35 to win the Open championship by three strokes from his fellow American.
Spieth is pictured right with the Claret Jug, by courtesy of the R and A website.
They were level at the turn in the final round after Spieth had several bogeys in an outward half of 37 at Royal Birkdale.
Spieth signed off with a 69 for a 12-under-par total of 268 to win the Claret Jug and $1,845,000 (The R and A paid out in dollars rather than the traditional sterling).
Kuchar, who reached the turn in 34, closed with a 69 for 271.
Spieth came from behind with a birdie-eagle-birdie burst from the 14th to the 16th to regain the lead from Kuchar.
Spieth and Kuchar both birdied the 17th.
Kuchar earned $1,067,000
China’s Li Hao-tong equalled the lowest final round in Major history and earned a spot at The Masters next year after finishing third. He earned $684,000.

The Open debutant fired a brilliant seven-under-par 63, thanks to a flawless card highlighted by four closing birdies. He totalled six-under-par 274.

 

Li’s effort matched three other players’ final round score - Jodie Mudd (1991), Payne Stewart (1993) and Henrik Stenson (2016),

Alfie Plant wins amateurs' Silver Medal
 

Man of Kent Alfie Plant, pictured left, has followed in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy by winning the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur who plays all four rounds at The Open.

The 25-year-old English international, from Bexleyheath, Kent, was the only amateur left standing when he carded a second round 73 to make it to the weekend on four over par.
Two days later he confirmed medallist honours when he putted out for another 73 in front of the packed grandstands surrounding the 18^th green.
Plant plans to turn professional after the US Amateur and the Walker Cup but not before he has taken some time out to reflect on a month that started with the death of his great grandmother but subsequently ended with success, first at the European Amateur Championship, and then on the greatest stage of all at Royal Birkdale.
 The former got him into The Open, the latter brought him and the massed ranks of his “Alfie’s Army” to a worldwide stage.
“The last four days has been absolutely amazing,” said Plant. “The high of the week has definitely got to be walking down the last. I think every golfer says that. It is always said that it's one of the best walks in golf and it certainly is, I can tell you. It’s something I will never forget.

“I think it's going to take a good week for it all to sink in. I think it will a bit at the presentation ceremony, but it won’t be until I get home that I will be able to take it all in.
“It has been very emotional,” he added. “Nan's and grandparents are always on your mind when you lose them. I tried not to think about it too much but it’s difficult.
“I’ve got to go to Nan’s funeral on Tuesday and that’s not going to be nice. If you think about it too much, you're going to start crying out there. I tried to put it to the back of my mind, as best as possible. But, every time I looked at my bag (and the Do It For Nan hashtag on it), I got a gentle reminder. She was definitely with me this week.
 
FINAL TOTALS
par 280 (4x70). Prizemoney in $
268 J Spieth 65 69 65 69 (1,845,000)
271 M Kuchar 65 71 66 69 (1,067,000)
274 Haotong Li 69 73 69 63 (684,000)
275 R McIlroy 71 68 69 67, Rafa Cabrera Bello 71 68 69 67 ($480,000 each).
276 M Southgate 72 72 67 65, M Leishman 69 76 66 65, A Noren 68 72 69 67, B Koepka 65 72 68 71, B Grace 70 74 62 70 (281,000 each).
277 P Casey 66 77 67 67, Z Johnson 75 66 71 66, C Kim 72 68 67 70, H Stenson 69 73 65 70.
278 C Wood 71 72 68 67, J Dufner 73 71 66 68, I Poulter 67 70 71 70, H Matsuyama 68 72 66 72, A Connelly 67 72 66 73, Z Johnson 75 66 71 66
279 C Hoffman 67 73 72 67

SELECTED TOTALS
280 A Scott 69 74 70 67, J Lovemark 71 69 70 70, R Bland 67 72 70 71, R Fowler 71 71 67 71, R Ramsay 68 70 70 72
281 L Westwood 71 74 69 687, B Watson 68 72 71 70, D Drysdale 72 73 66 70, T Fleetwood 76 69 66 70, A Johnston 69 74 67 71, J Day 69 76 65 71, A Baddeley 69 76 72 64.
282 S Garcia 73 69 68 72
283 J Rahm 69 74 70 70

TO VIEW ALL THE OPEN FINAL TOTALS

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OPEN championship final round scores

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Spieth and Kuchar level after 12 holes

Jordan Spieth bogeyed the first, third and fourth, then birdied the fifth before a fourth bogey came at the ninth.
Spieth out in three-over 37

Matt Kuchar drew level at the turn by birdieing the second and ninth, having bogeyed the third and sixth.

Kuchar out in level par 34

FINAL TOTALS
par 280 (4x70)
277 P Casey 66 77 67 67, Z Johnson 75 66 71 66
278 C Wood 71 72 68 67

SELECTED TOTALS
280 A Scott 69 74 70 67
281 L Westwood 71 74 69 687, B Watson 68 72 71 70, D Drysdale 72 73 66 70, T Fleetwood 76 69 66 70, A Johnston 69 74 67 71, J Day 69 76 65 71
282 S Garcia 73 69 68 72
283 J Rahm 69 74 70 70

McIlroy, Ramsay, Poulter and Fisher: One of

them will be top Brit in the 2017 Open

GOLFWEEK.COM
SOUTHPORT, Lancashire – Royal Birkdale was ripe for scoring today at the Open. Branden Grace shot the first 62 in major-championship history, an 8-under round that included eight birdies. And 14 other players carded rounds of 66 or better.
Rory McIlroy was poised early to be part of that 66-and-under group. He pounded a driver down the first tee and made an opening birdie. Then he chipped in for birdie at the par-3 fourth. After another birdie at the drivable par-4 fifth hole, McIlroy was 4 under and on the first page of the leaderboard.
“If you keep it in play, it’s almost hard to make a bogey out there, you know?” McIlroy said.
But how quickly fortunes can change, even on days like today. McIlroy bogeyed Nos. 7 and 8, the former a result of a poor tee shot that missed way left on the 177-yard par 3, which McIlroy said was playing at 153 yards.
He birdied the par-4 ninth to turn in 2-under 32, but a double bogey at the 10th hole took all the wind out of his sails. On the hole, McIlroy hit the wrong club off the tee, a 3-iron, when he said he should’ve either laid up with a 4- or 5-iron, or gone with 1-iron. The penalty: he found a fairway bunker.
With just one more birdie, at the par-5 15th, McIlroy came back in 1-over 37 to post a third-round, 1-under 69. At 2 under, he’s nine shots back of leader Jordan Spieth.
“I’ve always been good when I get off to fast starts being able to keep it going, and I didn’t today,” McIlroy said. “And I needed to, that’s the disappointing thing.”
McIlroy, a four-time major winner yet major-less since the 2014 PGA, has missed three of his last four cuts, including the U.S. Open. But McIlroy said he’s close to putting everything together.
“Just fighting that left shot a little bit, so left pins are a bit of a struggle right now,” McIlroy said. “And I’m trying to trust what I’m doing and trust my swing. … It’s not quite where I need it to be to win the biggest golf tournaments in the world. But it’s getting there.”
McIlroy’s chances of winning this year’s Open are arguably gone. All McIlroy can do Sunday is try to get out to a fast start again, and hopefully finish it off better than he did in Round 3.
“It’s hard to think big picture now, I’m just off the golf course and I’m a little disappointed,” McIlroy said. “This week has been a step in the right direction, there’s no doubt about it. And I need to pick myself up, play a good round tomorrow and hope for some bad weather. And hope for some guys to struggle. And we’ll see what happens.

“Yeah, I definitely feel like today was an opportunity lost to get right in the mix going into tomorrow.”
With Americans in first, second and third place after three rounds, the battle to be the top Brit is an interesting side issue between, almost certainly, McIlroy, Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay, the fading Ian Poulter and another Englishman Ross Fisher who shot a 66 today. The four are tied 11th on two-under 208.
Ramsay (pictured above), who birdied the 17th and 18th,  is hanging on in there for a top 10 finish with scores of 68, 70 and 70. Poulter will be bitterly disappointed that his bid to win the Open is going in the wrong direction - 67-70-71.

Ramsay, a former US amateur champion, is making his seventh career Open appearance, and his fifth in the last six years. He qualified to play at Royal Birkdale with a high finish in the Irish Open early this month.

 

American 1-2-3 at Royal Birkdale after three rounds

Jordan Spieth, leading by three, is just 18 holes

away from his first Open title

 By Josh Berhow
 GOLF.COM
SOUTHPORT, Lancashire — Where do we begin?
For starters, if you didn't shoot under par today at Royal Birkdale, you might as well head to the nearest airport. A565 to Liverpool or Manchester.

You won't see Jordan Spieth there. He's 18 holes away from winning the third leg of the career grand slam.
On a day when nearly everyone in the field went low — including Branden Grace's historically low 62 — the 23-year-old Spieth (pictured) is still the man to beat at the 146th Open. Spieth shot a "stress-free" (his words) five-under 65 and is 11 under for the first 54 holes. He's three shots clear of playing partner Matt Kuchar, who was two back to begin the day.
This is the fifth time Spieth has held the 54-hole lead at a major but the first time he'll be in the final Sunday pairing at a major since the 2016 Masters, when he lost the lead, and tournament, with a triple-bogey 7 on the 12th hole at Augusta National.
Friday's rain and wind kept the field bunched. But conditions were ideal on moving day. No raincoats, oversized umbrellas or ponchos — or at least not until the final hour of play, when a quick shower hit the area. Before that, there was a soothing breeze, sleeveless shirts and thirsty British golf fans.
The grounds were buzzing. Spectator village looked like the floor of an Adele concert. Twenty-four hours earlier, in that same area, golf fans took cover to escape the rain. On Saturday they laid blankets on the ground and sunbathed.
Shaun Norris, a 35-year-old South African, was the first man out this morning. He shot 65, a harbinger of more low scores to come. Jim "Bones" Mackay, Phil Mickelson's long-time caddie-turned-on-course reporter this week, sensed it, too. He said on the telecast that 62 was very much in play. Hours later Grace signed for 62—the lowest round in men's major championship history.
The boards bled red. Dustin Johnson: 64. Henrik Stenson: 65. Rickie Fowler: 67. And on and on. Forty-three of 62 players posted under-par scores on Saturday.
Spieth, teeing off after Grace set the pace, made the turn in three-under 31, the same as his partner, Kuchar, who despite playing well was unable to gain any ground. He inched closer with a birdie on the par-3 14th to get to eight under, one back. They both birdied 15, but Kuchar suffered a disastrous double bogey on the par-4 16th and fell three behind. His drive found a pot bunker, he blasted out back into the fairway and three-putted. He got one stroke back with a birdie on 17, but Spieth punctuated his round with a long birdie on 18. Kuchar missed his short birdie try.
Grace's 62 broke the long-standing low-scoring mark of 63 in the majors. Johnny Miller shot the first, a final-round eight-under 63 to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. It's been matched 30 times since then, most recently by Justin Thomas, who shot 63 at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills last month, which set the major record for relation to par at nine under.
Grace, a 29-year-old South African still in search of his first major title, didn't know how good his round was, even after the final putt had dropped. His caddie, Zack Rasego, had to tell him.
"Zack came up and said, 'You're in the history books,'" Grace said. "And I was like, 'What are you talking about?' So obviously now it makes the day even sweeter."
Grace made the turn in 29. He added birdies on 14, 16 and 17 then parred 18. He started the day four over and 10 shots off the lead. He's now tied for fifth.
"Today was one of those days where we had the conditions," Grace said. "Just trying to shoot a number to try to get myself back in there and have a decent finish for the week. Obviously now the mindset changed a bit.
Austin Connelly and Brooks Koepka are tied for third at five under. Rory McIlroy is nine back and tied for 11th. He started the day well by making birdies on three of the first six holes, but he fell back with a double on 10. He shot 69.

• If Spieth does win, he would become just the second player (joining Jack Nicklaus) to win three legs of the Grand Slam before age 24.
• He would become the youngest champion of The Open since Seve Ballesteros in 1979.
• He would become the first player with 10 US PGA Tour wins including three majors before the age of 24 (Spieth will turn 24 on July 27).
• If Spieth completes the Grand Slam at this year's US PGA Champonship, he would become the youngest Grand Slam winner.

SUNDAY'S FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES

IN THE OPEN

              7:55 a.m. -- Danny Willett and marker

              8:05 a.m. -- Sung-Hoon Kang, Aaron Baddeley
              8:15 a.m. -- Thorbjorn Olesen, Sean O'Hair
              8:25 a.m. -- Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner
              8:35 a.m. -- Bernd Wiesberger, Charl Schwartzel
              8:45 a.m. -- Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Web Simpson
              8:55 a.m. -- Kent Bulle, Laurie Canter

              9:05 a.m. -- Soren Kjeldsen, J.B. Holmes
              9:15 a.m. -- Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker
              9:25 a.m. -- Daniel Berger, Xander Schauffele
              9:40 a.m. -- James Hahn, Joe Dean
              9:50 a.m. -- Toby Tree, Andy Sullivan

              10:00 a.m. -- Lee Westwood, Younghan Song
              10:10 a.m. -- Jutin Rose, Gary Woodland
              10:20 a.m. -- Yikeun Chang, Adam Scott
              10:30 a.m. -- Jon Rahm, Andrew Dodt
              10:40 a.m. -- K.T. Kim, Peter Uihlein
              10:50 a.m. -- Alfie Plant (a), Brandon Stone

              11:00 a.m. -- Charley Hoffman, Zach Johnson
              11:10 a.m. -- Thomas Pieters, Bubba Watson
              11:25 a.m. -- Ernie Els, Haotong Li
              11:35 a.m. -- Steve Stricker, Kevin Na
              11:45 a.m. -- Chris Wood, Thongchai Jaidee
              11:55 a.m. -- Matthew Southgate, David Drysdale

              12:05 p.m. -- Marc Leishman, Tommy Fleetwood
              12:15 p.m. -- Jamie Lovemark, Joost Luiten
              12:25 p.m. -- Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick
              12:35 p.m. -- Andrew Johnston, Paul Casey
              12:45 p.m. -- Tony Finau, Jason Dufner
              12:55 p.m. -- Jason Day, Scott Hend
              12:10 p.m. -- Shaun Norris, Richard Bland
              12:20 p.m. -- Alex Noren, Rickie Fowler
              12:30 p.m. -- Ian Poulter, Richie Ramsay
              12:40 p.m. -- Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher
              12:50 p.m. -- Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Chan Kim

              01:00 p.m. -- Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson
              01:10 p.m. -- Hideki Matsuyama, Branden Grace
              01:20 p.m. -- Brooks Koepka, Austin Connelly
              01:30 p.m. -- Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth

Amazing Grace! South Africa's 62 at Royal

Birkdale is a Major low

By JASON SOBELL
ESPN.com
SOUTHPORT, Lancashire -- Two years ago, Jack Nicklaus was asked about major golf's greatest scoring barrier. At the time, there were 26 rounds of 63 -- five more have since been added -- but never a 62. The most accomplished player in the game's history quickly offered a reason for why it had never happened.
"Why do I think it hasn't? Because I missed a 2-foot putt at Baltusrol to break it," he said of the final hole in his opening round at the 1980 U.S. Open, obviously still disturbed by the memory. "I choked."
Nicklaus then looked ahead to an inevitability. "It just hasn't happened, but it will. It used to be 64. Then it became 63. And it will become 62."
He was right, of course.
South African Branden Grace made eight birdies and no bogeys on the par-70 Royal Birkdale course today in the third round of The Open.
Under a blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds, after 157 years of major championships, at the 442nd ever contested, it finally happened. A golfer broke the proverbial four-minute mile.
Branden Grace carded eight birdies, 10 pars and no bogeys in impeccable conditions at Royal Birkdale, finishing his round by making a final 2-foot putt, just like the one that had eluded Nicklaus a generation ago.
"Obviously, what a special day," he said afterward. "And to do it at a special place at one of the events that I actually like playing, at The Open. ... What a special place to get myself into the history books."
This bit of history was served with a side dish of irony. While Grace didn't know the record for which he was aiming, the entire world watched him try to break it.
The ever-growing list of players who have posted 63 in a major can only be described as eclectic. There's Nicklaus, sure, and Tiger Woods; players we'd expect to reach such lofty heights. Then there's Jodie Mudd and Michael Bradley and Hiroshi Iwata -- hardly names littered through the game's record books.
By the time Grace stood over that final putt, there had been 110,346 major championship rounds completed in the Masters era. There was never anything lower than that number, never anything -- not that he knew it.
As soon as Grace knocked in that 2-footer on the final hole, his caddie, Zack Rasego, approached him.
"You're in the history books," Rasego told him.
"What are you talking about?" Grace responded.
He would find out soon enough.
"I didn't know what was going on at 18, I promise you," Grace later admitted. "I honestly didn't. You know, I was just so in the zone of playing, hole after hole. I knew I was obviously playing really well, and making the turn in 5 under was pretty special.
"And I thought if I could make a couple more on the back nine, then it's going to be a great score. I had no idea that 62 was obviously the lowest ever."
Until now, there were 9-under 63s on par-72 courses, there were 8-under 63s on par-71s, there were 7-under 63s on par-70s. All of which can make a compelling case for being the most desirable target score.
Upon Grace's finish, there was immediate debate as to whether his 8-under 62 was "better" than a 9-under 63. Specifically, whether it topped the famous 1973 U.S. Open final round of Johnny Miller, who was in the commentating booth to watch the record breaker.
Grace's answer was, well, graceful.
"Talking about this can go on forever," he explained. "Whether you shoot 63, 62 or 60, you have to do something right and things have to go your way to be able to do that. I'm not going to take anything away from a guy shooting 63 on a [par] 72 or anything of what I did today. All in all, some great golf."
As he spoke about the first 62, it appeared the record that was 157 years in the making could be matched -- or even broken -- within a few hours. Dustin Johnson was close for a while. Henrik Stenson, too.
Neither could break that barrier, though, nor could anyone else.
There is a new benchmark now, one which also will fall someday.
Just as Nicklaus knew that a 62 was inevitable, Grace immediately understood that his mark won't last forever. He will always be the first to break golf's four-minute mile, but that only means he's opened the gates for others.
"Sooner or later somebody is going to break 62," Grace insisted. "But hopefully it takes a while."

HOW THEY STAND WITH A ROUND TO GO AT ROYAL BIRKDALE

Par 210 (3x70)

199 J Spieth 65 69 65

202 M Kuchar 65 71 66

205 B Koepka 65 72 68

206 B Grace 70 74 62, A Connelly 67 72 66, H Matsuyama 68 72 66

207 D Johnson 71 72 64, H Stenson 69 73 65, C Kim 72 68 67, R Cabrera Bello 67 73 67.

208 R Fisher 70 72 66, R Ramsay 68 70 70 R McIlroy 71 68 69, I Poulter 67 70 71.

209 R Fowler 71 71 67, A Noren 68 72 69, R Bland 67 72 70

210 A Johnston 69 74 67, M Fitzpatrick 69 73 68, J Day 69 76 65, P Casey 66 77 67, S Garcia 73 69 68, S Norris 71 74 65, S Hend 71 74 65, J Dufner 73 71 66, T Finau 70 73 67, J Luiten 68 72 70, J Lovemark 71 69 70.

211 D Drysdale 72 73 66, T Fleetwood 76 69 66, M Leishman 69 76 66, M Southgate 72 72 67, T Jaidee 70 73 68, C Wood 71 72 68, K Na 68 75 68, S Stricker 70 72 69, H Li 69 73 69, E Els 68 73 70, B Watson 68 72 71.

212 Z Johnson 75 66 71, C Hoffman 67 73 72, T Pieters 69 75 68.

213 B Stone 72 73 68, A Plant (am) 71 73 69, P Uihlein 72 72 68, K T Kim 73 71 69, A Dodt 69 75 69, J Rahm 69 74 70, A Scott 69 74 70, Y Chang 71 71 71, G Woodland 70 68 74

214 J Rose 71 74 69, L Westwood 71 74 69, Y Song 71 74 69, A Sullivan 70 75 69, T Tree 70 75 69, J Dean 72 72 70,JHahn 68 76 70, X Schauffele 69 75 70, D Berger 68 76 70, J Walker 72 72 70, M Kaymer 72 72 70, J B Holmes 71 72 71, S Kjeldsen 71 71 72, L Canter 70 72 72, K Bulle 68 72 74.

215 W Simpson 71 74 70, M Lorenzo-Vera 75 70 70, C Schwartzel 66 78 71, B Wiesberger 69 75 71, K Kisner 70 71 74, R Henley 70 70 75.

216 S O'Hair 72 73 71, T Olesen 70 72 74

217 A Baddeley 69 76 72, S-H Kang 68 73 76

218 D Willett 71 74 73.

Henrik Stenson's rental home in Southport

broken into while he was playing

FROM GOLF DIGEST

SOUTHPORT, Lancashire– Henrik Stenson has a message for the people who burglarised his rental home Thursday afternoon.
“If they’re listening, they didn’t get the full jackpot,” Stenson said after shooting three-over 73 to make the cut at the 146th Open.
However, according to Merseyside Police, the burglars did steal several items, including cash, cards, electrical items, clothes and watches, when they hit the home sometime between midday and 2:45 p.m. local time Thursday, while defending champion Stenson was in the middle of a one-under 69 opening round at Royal Birkdale. No one was home at the time.
“I think it was anger from the word go,” Stenson said. “I was also happy that my family wasn’t there, and maybe a little disappointed I wasn’t. But what can you do? I think over time I’ve been quite lucky with those kind of situations.
"So I guess sooner or later, there’s always a chance it might happen. And unfortunately it did. And it was this week.”
Stenson said the burglars missed his carry-on bag, and he had another bag filled with dirty laundry, so he was able to wash some clothes to wear on Friday. Stenson’s apparel sponsor Hugo Boss, which is the official apparel provider for the Open, had to scramble to replace the rest of Stenson’s stolen clothing.
“The Hugo Boss clothing taken is very personal to the victim and can be identified by a distinctive NETJETS sponsorship logo, so if anyone is offered such clothing, please contact us immediately,” a police statement read.
The police also said that CCTV, house-to-house and forensic enquiries are being carried out.
“We are determined to identify those responsible and as with every burglary victim, we are carrying out a thorough investigation, offering reassurance and crime prevention advice,” said detective inspector Simon Vaughan.
Stenson believes he was targeted and that the burglary wasn’t a coincidence. He said he took pictures with people in front of the house this week, and if those people posted those photos on social media, others could’ve figured out the house Stenson was staying at. Also, his rental car has an Open logo on it.
“They were clearly targeting me, because they were there when I was out playing, and they figured out that the house was empty when I was away, and they stole all my gear,” Stenson said. “Normally I don’t think burglars would take clothes. That doesn’t feel like the normal kind of thing that you would take. But all my gear is gone. If you see people Bossed up in this way, feel free to ask what they were doing between 12 and 4 yesterday.”
Earlier Friday, the R and A released a statement on behalf of Stenson: “When I finished my round (Thursday) I was informed that the house where I am staying had been (burglarised). It is obviously very special for me to be playing here in front of the fantastic Birkdale crowds as the defending Open champion, so I am going to try not to let this spoil the week in any way.
" I am extremely grateful that my family were not in the house at the time.”
A spokesman for the R and A added: “We are very sorry to hear about the burglary and have offered any assistance we can provide to Henrik and his family.”

Caddie's expletive dressing down puts Rory

McIlroy back on the rails

By ALISTAIR TAIT
SOUTHPORT, Lancashire – Rory McIlroy couldn’t have asked for better conditions in the 146th Open Championship. Ditto for Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
They didn’t take advantage of them, but at least McIlroy managed to salvage his round with a display of damage limitation over the back nine to post a one-over-par 71. He has caddie J P Fitzgerald to thank for that.
McIlroy was five over par standing on the sixth tee and heading for a third consecutive missed cut following the Irish and Scottish Opens when J P gave him a good talking to.
“I was nervous going out,” McIlroy admitted. “I was a little anxious, timid. Probably just not as much belief in myself as I should have had. J P gave me a good talking on the sixth tee box, and sort of reminded me of who I was.
“He said: ‘You’re Rory McIlroy: What the (expletive) are you doing?’
 “It definitely helped. It kept me positive. He did a great job.”
McIlroy bogeyed the 499-yard, par-4, sixth hole, but that‘s no sin: it’s the hardest hole on the golf course because it used to be a par-5. However, he played the next 12 holes in four under par to shoot a 71 and is six shots off the lead.
“I could be standing here and hit 18 greens and shot 1-over and missed every putt and feel terrible but, because of the way I started, I actually feel really positive. It’s a bit like the Ryder Cup at Medinah in 2012. We were 10-6 down on Saturday night but we felt like we were right in with a chance, because we won the last two points.
“Even though there’s a lot of golf left, in other circumstances it might have been a disappointing day, but just with the way I finished, I feel really good.”
Rose, Fowler and Johnson matched McIlroy’s 71. The Englishman got onto the leaderboard early when he moved to two under par after three to tie the lead but stumbled coming home.
Johnson only made one birdie all day, at the second, and didn’t take advantage of the two back nine par-5s. Fowler was a model of inconsistency with five bogeys and four birdies on his card.
 Garcia was two shots worse off after a 73. The Masters winner looked less than masterful, as he admitted.
“It was a terrible day,” Garcia said. “I didn’t hit many fairways. Even the good drives I hit, I didn’t hit the fairways. My iron play wasn’t great. And the birdie chances I had early on I didn’t make them. And then I started hitting some bunkers.”
Mickelson also shot 73. He didn’t make a birdie in his round, like Johnson failing to take advantage of the easily reachable back nine par-5s. Bones McKay probably had a better day commentating than his former boss.
 Fleetwood carried the hopes of hometown Southport on his shoulders, but returned a 76. He needs a miracle if he is to be around for the weekend.
McIlroy just needs an under-par round to get back into the tournament. He tees off at 9:47am with the weather forecast to get worse as the day progresses.
“If I go out tomorrow before the bad conditions and shoot something in the 60s, I feel like I’ll be right there for the weekend. I was four over through three holes last year in Boston (Deutsche Bank Championship). And won that tournament. So I’ve done it before.”
He might just need J P to remind him of that constantly. Several other marquee names might need similar pep talks.

 

THE 146^TH OPEN AT ROYAL BIRKDALE FORECAST


TO BE ONE OF BIGGEST EVER ATTENDANCES

R and A News Release

Southport, England: A record venue crowd of more than 225,000 spectators is expected to attend the 146^th Open at Royal Birkdale this week, making it one of the best attended in the history of the Championship.

Based on strong advance sales, the attendance will surpass the previous high mark of 201,500 at Royal Birkdale in 2008, with this year’s Championship the fastest selling in history. 

Thousands of fans are still expected to purchase tickets throughout the week and this year’s Championship could take its place in the four largest attendances in The Open’s history. 

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The record number of spectators expected to attend Royal Birkdale this week underpins The Open’s reputation as one of the world’s great sporting events.  

“We very much look forward to welcoming fans from all over the globe to Royal Birkdale to join us for a true celebration of world-class sport.”

The Open is increasingly attracting a younger audience with more than 20,000 young people aged under 25 attending the Championship.

More than 10,000 Youth Tickets have been sold in advance of the Championship, while over 10,000 juniors aged 16 years will attend the Championship free of charge as part of the successful Kids Go Free initiative.

Several hospitality and ticket categories have sold out with the Claret Jug Pavilion, Champions Club, Greenside Club, Reserved Seating and Twilight Tickets all selling out in advance of the Championship.

More than 3,000 spectators will take advantage of free accommodation for youngsters and a low-cost rate for adults at The Open Camping Village located at nearby Victoria Park.

The Open’s Biggest Attendances:

2000 St Andrews: 239,000
2015 St Andrews: 237,000
2006 Royal Liverpool: 230,000
2005 St Andrews: 223,000
1990 St Andrews: 209,000
2014 Royal Liverpool: 203,000
2008 Royal Birkdale: 201,500
2010 St Andrews: 201,000
1998 Royal Birkdale: 195,000


PLAYER OUT OF BOUNDS IF HE ATTEMPTS


TO PLAY THE NINTH DOWN 10th FAIRWAY


The decree came down from the R&A on Tuesday at Royal Birkdale: No shortcuts at this Open Championship.
Specifically, the R&A put a stop to a trend it saw developing during Monday’s practice round: players hitting their tee shots from the ninth tee down the 10th fairway.
This strategy allowed players to avoid the dogleg right on the ninth hole. The alternative route gives players a look at the ninth green with wedge, rather than a short iron.
The R&A’s chief referee, David Rickman, released a notice announcing the new local rule on Tuesday: “When playing the ninth hole only, a ball on or beyond the 10th fairway (defined by the edge of the closely-mown area) is out of bounds.”
There will be no white stakes or lines used to define or indicate this boundary, according to the notice.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU SECURES THE FINAL QUALIFYING PLACE

FOR THE 146TH OPEN

R AND A NEWS RELEASE
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois: Bryson DeChambeau has qualified for The 146th Open after winning the John Deere Classic on Sunday. 

The Open Qualifying Series concluded at the John Deere Classic where the final qualifying place in golf's original championship was available. 

The American lifted his first US PGA Tour title after carding a six-under-par 65, covering the last nine holes in only 30 strokes  to finish on 18-under-par overall, one stroke ahead of long-time leader Patrick Rodgers who bogeyed the 14th and 17th in an inward half of 34 as he signed off with a 70, his worst round of the tournament.


TO VIEW ALL THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC FINAL TOTALS


CLICK HERE

       Ramsay and Drysdale qualify for Open

          Open championship happiness for Richie Ramsay. Picture courtesy of Getty Images(c)


R and A NEWS RELEASE
Portstewart, Northern Ireland: Scottish duo Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale and New Zealand's Ryan Fox have qualified for The 146th Open at Royal Birkdale. 

Three places were available in golf's most international major championship through The Open Qualifying Series which continued at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this weekend. 

Drysdale broke the course record by one stroke at Portstewart, carding a nine-under-par 63 to finish tied for fourth place on 17-under-par with Justin Rose, who is already exempt for The Open, Fox and American Daniel Im. 

Both Fox and Drysdale hold higher positions in the Official World Golf Ranking than Im and qualify for The Open as a result. 

The Scot, who was aiming to make his first appearance in The Open since 2009 at Turnberry, eagled the par five 4th hole to set things in motion before mixing two birdies with a couple of bogeys on the remainder of the front nine. 

It was on the inward stretch that the two-time Challenge Tour winner made a surge up the leaderboard, entertaining the galleries with eight consecutive birdies in a remarkable scoring streak to come home in 29, eight-under-par.

Aberdonian Ramsay was in similar form during today's final round and the three-time European Tour winner posted a seven-under-par 65 to take his place with the world's greatest golfers at Royal Birdkdale later this month. 

The former number one on the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™ opened up with three birdies on the front nine and despite a bogey on the 10th, went on to pick up an eagle and four further birdies during the back nine.

He finished in tie for second place on 18-under-par alongside Matthew Southgate, who booked his place at Royal Birkdale after coming through Final Qualifying last week. The pair finished six shots behind winner Jon Rahm, who is also exempt for The Open. 

It was third time lucky for Fox after he narrowly missed out on qualifying for The Open at the Emirates Australian Open late last year and the HNA Open de France last week.

Despite starting with a bogey on the 1st, the New Zealander was blemish-free for the remainder of his round, rolling in five birdies to sign off for a four-under-par 68.

Key Quotes:

Richie Ramsay (Scotland)

“The Open is a special event and it’s going to be fantastic. Royal Birkdale really suits me and I love playing there. I remember playing at The Amateur there and it’s just a great set-up.

“You want to test your game against the best players in the world and I was fortunate enough to do that this week. It’s going to be even better at The Open and the way I’m playing at the moment, who knows.”

David Drysdale (Scotland)

“I think it’s amazing. I regard The Open as the biggest and best championship on the planet. I’ve only played in it once, in 2009 at Turnberry, and as a golfer you only want to play in the biggest and best events. I haven’t played Royal Birkdale so I’m looking forward to playing there in a couple of weeks’ time.”

McNicoll, Shields, Porter and Pintor advance


from Panmure to Open Final Qualifying


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Paul Shields (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), Spaniard Francisco Pintor and amateur Will Porter, the former Scottish boys' U18 champion from Carnoustie, were the four qualifiers for the Open Championship Final Qualifying event from today's Regional Qualifying 18-hole competition at Panmure Golf Club, Near Carnoustie.

McNicoll and Porter (pictured), a student at Chattanooga-Tennessee University,  headed the field with two-under-pars 68s,s a shot ahead of Shields, Pintor and another Spanish player, Daniel Alonso who gained 10th reserve place on a countback.


LEADING SCORES AT PANMURE
Par 70
68 K McNicoll (Carnoustie) Q, W Porter (Carnoustie) (am) Q.
69 P Shields (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) Q, F Pintor (Spain) Q, D Alonso (Spain) reserve.
70 S Roger (Cruden Bay), J Duff (Newmachar), A Fisher (Newmachar).
71 M Clark (Kilmacolm), L Gaughan (Bathgate), K Nicol (Dunes GC), S Henderson (Kings Links), N Beattie (St Andrews) (am), L Allan (Alva), J Mullaney (unatt).
72 E Bradley (Mt Ellen) (am), J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle), W Booth (Pitlochry).


SELECTED SCORES
73 S Binning (Mearns Castle), A Fullen (Largs), G Hay (Grantown on Spey) (T20)
74 F McKenna (Caldwell) (24th).
75 L Vannet (Craibstone) (T25)
76 L Smart (Banchory) (am) (T30)
77 A Sutherland (Cupar) (am) (T32)








TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES


CLICK HERE


ACCESS TO THE 12 OTHER REGIONAL
QUALIFYING VENUES


CLICK HERE

THE 149TH OPEN TO BE PLAYED AT ROYAL ST GEORGE’S, KENT IN 2020

 

R and A NEWS RELEASE
One of the world’s great sporting events will return to the south east of England in 2020 when The 149th Open is played at Royal St George’s Golf Club.

The Open will return to the historic Kent links for the 15th time. It was last played at Royal St George’s in 2011 when Darren Clarke showed his mastery of links golf in challenging weather conditions to hold off Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to become Champion Golfer of the Year.