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JoePa's THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Picks
Thank you Jordan Spieth for getting me into good form entering The Open Championship week! I usually take a few liberties this week as it's my favorite week of the season to watch golf. I am going to come out of the closet to say that I admit to watching the European Tour every week and my viewing of it is only topped by my viewing of le Tour de France and college football.....There's just something about watching golf emanating from the heart of its birthplace.
JORDAN SPIETH 6/1 OUTRIGHT WIN – Jordan continues his journey to his first-career Grand Slam and he should stay on target and be just one win away from history after this week in St. Andrews. The conditions should be soggy and he hits it a ton so distance should not be a problem, and the softer greens will put a premium on lag putting---which he is a master at. Could he be more confident than after a playoff win last week at the Deer Classic as he set the tone for this week!
RICKIE FOWLER 18/1 OUTRIGHT WIN & 7/2 TOP 5 FINISH – He was runner –up here in 2014 and T5th in 2011. Coming off a huge win at the Scottish Open which makes it the first time he’s won multiple tournaments in a single season as a professional. And he’s learning how to win! Currently ranked #22 in the FedEx Standings and #5 in the Official World of Golf Rankings, he closed out the last 6 holes at TPC Sawgrass at -6 under par to force a playoff and win by birding two of the four holes played in the extra session. At the Scottish Open last week, he finished in fine form again by making three birdies in his last four holes.
ADAM SCOTT 4/1 TOP 5 FINISH - The often over-looked Scott has been close here before. But, more importantly is his reunion with the long putter and his former caddie who coaxed him to a major win. I might mention that his caddie was also on the winning bag at St. Andrews before. At the U.S. Open he finished T4th when his GIR was 78%, Driving Accuracy 76% and Ball Striking 8th. On the 2015 Tour Season he ranks 3rd driving distance, 6th in GIR and 6th in strokes gained tee-to-green.
BRANDEN GRACE 4/1 TOP 10 FINISH – He should be a popular pick this week. The South African has become known as a links specialist due to his low-ball flight and success on links courses. He won on the Old Course in 2012 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. More recently, a Top 5 finish at the U.S. Open last month proves he’s not shy on the big stage and with two wins and six other Top 20 finishes in 11 European Tour starts this season, few have better form coming into the week. Of all the players that have played more than 15 rounds this season, Grace has the lowest European Tour stroke average at 69.92.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD 6/1 TOP 10 FINISH - There is perhaps no one else in the field who has performed better on the Old Course in recent years than Fleetwood. He is an amazing -26 under par for his last four rounds at the birthplace of golf (65-67-62-68). In four appearances at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Fleetwood has finished inside the Top 5 three times including a runner-up finish in October. He arrives in St Andrews off the back of a Top 10 finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open last week and will feel he has the all-round game to compete for the Claret Jug.
MARK WARREN 12/1 TOP 10 FINISH – Of course, you simply cannot go without circling a Scotsman at St. Andrews. The 34-year-old resident of Glasgow is bouncing off a T4 at the Scottish Open. He came home in 5-under 30 for a final-round 64 at Gullane Golf Club and is currently 2nd on the European Tour in putting and 21st in scoring average. Ranks 14th in the Race to Dubai on the strength of six Top 20s in 2015.
JORDAN SPIETH 6/1 OUTRIGHT WIN – Jordan continues his journey to his first-career Grand Slam and he should stay on target and be just one win away from history after this week in St. Andrews. The conditions should be soggy and he hits it a ton so distance should not be a problem, and the softer greens will put a premium on lag putting---which he is a master at. Could he be more confident than after a playoff win last week at the Deer Classic as he set the tone for this week!
RICKIE FOWLER 18/1 OUTRIGHT WIN & 7/2 TOP 5 FINISH – He was runner –up here in 2014 and T5th in 2011. Coming off a huge win at the Scottish Open which makes it the first time he’s won multiple tournaments in a single season as a professional. And he’s learning how to win! Currently ranked #22 in the FedEx Standings and #5 in the Official World of Golf Rankings, he closed out the last 6 holes at TPC Sawgrass at -6 under par to force a playoff and win by birding two of the four holes played in the extra session. At the Scottish Open last week, he finished in fine form again by making three birdies in his last four holes.
ADAM SCOTT 4/1 TOP 5 FINISH - The often over-looked Scott has been close here before. But, more importantly is his reunion with the long putter and his former caddie who coaxed him to a major win. I might mention that his caddie was also on the winning bag at St. Andrews before. At the U.S. Open he finished T4th when his GIR was 78%, Driving Accuracy 76% and Ball Striking 8th. On the 2015 Tour Season he ranks 3rd driving distance, 6th in GIR and 6th in strokes gained tee-to-green.
BRANDEN GRACE 4/1 TOP 10 FINISH – He should be a popular pick this week. The South African has become known as a links specialist due to his low-ball flight and success on links courses. He won on the Old Course in 2012 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. More recently, a Top 5 finish at the U.S. Open last month proves he’s not shy on the big stage and with two wins and six other Top 20 finishes in 11 European Tour starts this season, few have better form coming into the week. Of all the players that have played more than 15 rounds this season, Grace has the lowest European Tour stroke average at 69.92.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD 6/1 TOP 10 FINISH - There is perhaps no one else in the field who has performed better on the Old Course in recent years than Fleetwood. He is an amazing -26 under par for his last four rounds at the birthplace of golf (65-67-62-68). In four appearances at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Fleetwood has finished inside the Top 5 three times including a runner-up finish in October. He arrives in St Andrews off the back of a Top 10 finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open last week and will feel he has the all-round game to compete for the Claret Jug.
MARK WARREN 12/1 TOP 10 FINISH – Of course, you simply cannot go without circling a Scotsman at St. Andrews. The 34-year-old resident of Glasgow is bouncing off a T4 at the Scottish Open. He came home in 5-under 30 for a final-round 64 at Gullane Golf Club and is currently 2nd on the European Tour in putting and 21st in scoring average. Ranks 14th in the Race to Dubai on the strength of six Top 20s in 2015.