A clutch of gamers who joined the Saudi-backed tour are collaborating on this week’s Open after organisers the R&A opted to not ban the rebels, in distinction to strikes made by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
England’s Justin Rose performs from the fourth tee throughout a follow spherical for The 150th British Open Golf Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland on 13 July 2022. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP
ST ANDREWS – The 150th British Open tees off on the Old Course in St Andrews on Thursday with organisers eager for the main target to stay on a historic championship regardless of the ongoing fallout brought on by the breakaway LIV Golf series.
A clutch of gamers who joined the Saudi-backed tour are collaborating on this week’s Open after organisers the R&A opted to not ban the rebels, in distinction to strikes made by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
Former Open champion Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are among the many LIV series members who’re in St Andrews, and a victory for considered one of them this weekend won’t do a lot to ease tensions within the sport.
“Whoever wins on Sunday is going to have their name carved in history, and I’ll welcome them onto the 18th green,” insisted Martin Slumbers, chief govt of the R&A.
“This is a golf tournament. The Open is about having the best players in the world playing, and I want to see who shoots the lowest score come Sunday night.”
Yet Slumbers additionally attacked the Saudi-backed series, which affords prize cash of $25 million for every 54-hole occasion, in comparison with a $14 million prize pot for this week’s Open.
The LIV mannequin, he mentioned, “is not in the best long-term interests of the sport as a whole and is entirely driven by money”.
“It undermines the merit-based culture and the spirit of open competition that makes golf so special,” he added.
Rory McIlroy is among the many gamers who’ve voiced opposition to the brand new series and the Northern Irishman would like to not see one of many rebels triumph in St Andrews.
“Selfishly, for me, yes, I think it would be better for the game,” he mentioned.
Whether affiliated to the brand new series or not, there’s a lengthy listing of contenders trying to succeed Collin Morikawa, winner final 12 months at Royal St George’s.
McILROY, SCHEFFLER LEAD THE CONTENDERS
McIlroy, who received the 2014 Open at Hoylake, seems best-placed among the many European candidates throughout a season through which he has additionally come second within the Masters and fifth on the US Open, though US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England might disagree.
A protracted listing of American contenders is led by Scottie Scheffler, the Masters champion and world primary, though he insists he feels no further strain regardless of his standing.
“Being the home of golf and the Open Championship definitely amplifies things a bit, but that’s across the board,” the 26-year-old mentioned on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it matters if I’m number one in the world or number 50 in the world, I want to win this tournament as bad or more than anybody out here.”
Scheffler tees off at 1:26pm (1226 GMT) in Thursday’s first spherical in a bunch with Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton.
McIlroy, in the meantime, goes out at 9:58am with Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, the Olympic champion who received final week’s Scottish Open.
The Open is anticipating document attendances for the week of 290,000, which means galleries will probably be packed for the primary championship for the reason that finish of pandemic-related restrictions.
‘STANDS THE TEST OF TIME’
The course is internet hosting the championship for the thirtieth time, the primary since Zach Johnson received right here in 2015 after foul climate delayed the end till the Monday.
There appears little prospect of the climate inflicting such havoc this time, with situations anticipated to be largely superb, even when winds have picked up during the last two days and rain appeared to look from nowhere on Wednesday.
Stiff breezes might put paid to any prospect of a document low rating being posted, with the present finest spherical at a significant Branden Grace’s 62 at Birkdale in 2017.
“Even with the advancements in technology, this golf course still stands the test of time. It’s still very difficult, and it’s obviously weather dependent,” mentioned Tiger Woods, twice an Open champion at St Andrews.
The 46-year-old, who has been recovering from extreme leg accidents suffered in a automobile crash final 12 months and missed the US Open, tees off at 2:59pm (1359 GMT) alongside Fitzpatrick and Max Homa.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, Open champion at Carnoustie in 1999, has the honour of taking part in the primary tee shot of the championship at 6:35am on Thursday morning.
