First Round Leaders, Lytham And Other Stats

Lytham has not been kind to early speed horses, according to Golf World's Brett Avery.

2. Only five first-round Open leaders have won since 1975: Tom Watson (1980 at Muirfield), Seve Ballesteros (1988 at Lytham), Greg Norman (1993 at Royal St. George's), John Daly (1995 at St. Andrews) and Tiger Woods (2005 at St. Andrews). In the first 11 Opens at Lytham, only three first-round leaders have proven victorious: Peter Thomson in '58, Gary Player in '74 and Ballesteros in '88. Perhaps even more dispiriting for Scott, only two first-round leaders have won on the PGA Tour this season (George McNeill at the Puerto Rico Open, Zach Johnson at the Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial).

Defender Darren: "I was thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year."

Mick Cleary on defending champ Darren Clarke's 76.

“Yeah, coming up the last, I was thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year,” said Clarke, his wry reflections masking the contempt within. “I don’t think you could really publish my thoughts right now. I’m basically disgusted with myself.”

Tiger On His 67, Video Of His Super Slow-Mo Divot Shot

From ESPN, the post round Tom Rinaldi interview including a Tiger sneeze and a replay of his wild finish from a divot that could have caused injury.

2012 Open Championship Round 1 Open Comment Thread

They're off and running at Royal Lytham after overnight winds and rain have left the course vulnerable to a good score, particularly if the wind holds off.

Here are you links to online viewing options.

And the R&A's setup notes:

The 2012 Open – Round One Course Set Up Notes
Weather (provided on-site by the Met Office)
By 0900 or soon after it should be mostly dry and the cloud should break in the afternoon to give some sunny spells, although with a very small chance of a shower. The wind will swing to the north or northeast and decreasing 5 to 10mph before turning back to the northwest soon after midday and becoming 5 to 10mph gusting 15mph. There is an increased risk of a few showers overnight that could give 1 to 3mm.
 
Cutting Regime and Green Speeds - Greens double cut today at 3.25. Running at approximately 10 ½ feet.
Total Course Yardage for Round Four (tee marker settings to flagstick)
6973 yards (as compared to the full yardage of 7086)
 
Hole 1 – Full yardage = 205y – Today = 204
Hole 2 – Full yardage = 481y – Today = 470
Hole 3 – Full yardage = 478y – Today = 465
Hole 4 – Full yardage = 392y – Today = 395
Hole 5 – Full yardage = 219y – Today = 215
Hole 6 – Full yardage = 492y – Today = 495
Hole 7 – Full yardage = 592y – Today = 582
Hole 8 – Full yardage = 416y – Today = 403
Hole 9 – Full yardage = 165y – Today = 167
Hole 10 – Full yardage = 387y – Today = 378
Hole 11 – Full yardage = 598y – Today = 583
Hole 12 – Full yardage = 198y – Today = 187
Hole 13 – Full yardage = 355y – Today = 351
Hole 14 – Full yardage = 444y – Today = 443
Hole 15 – Full yardage = 462y – Today = 456
Hole 16 – Full yardage = 336y – Today = 322
Hole 17 – Full yardage = 453y – Today = 453
Hole 18 – Full yardage = 413y – Today = 404
 
Additional Comment - Despite very best efforts by the greenstaff, there is still small puddles of water in the following bunkers:
·         Two bunkers RHS of 2nd green
·         Short right of 4th green
·         Two bunkers RHS of 16th green
·         Fairway bunkers LHS of 17th fairway

Monty On Not Playing Lytham: "It is all the more frustrating for me not to be involved this year, as straightness has always been a strength of mine."

The ubiquitous Colin Montgomerie has been signing books, giving interviews galore and in general, is making his presence felt this week at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, almost as if he was a former champion here (or anywhere).

But the former Open runner up is saving his most ridiculous insights for Daily Telegraph columns that should give the makers of Ambien cause for concern. Two stinkers from today's preview piece:

Of course, the rough in Kent was not as tough as the stuff we have here at Lytham. But then, the Lytham rough is not as fearsome as some people have suggested. Of course, there will be a penalty for anyone who goes into it, but it is one of the fundamentals of golf that bad shots should be punished and good shots, which at Lytham means straight shots, should be rewarded. Here, I like the fact that the worst of the rough, the really deep stuff, is far off line, meaning there is an element of proportionality to the punishment as well.

Of course, that's gibberish. The setup goes like this: Fairway, intermediate cut, rough of varying heights/density, slightly mashed roughs of varying heights/density, then rough mashed a bit where the media walks and finally, mashed down rough where the fans walk. Not proportional.

Lytham is maybe a little bit different from other Open courses as the houses that surround it offer some protection from the wind.

Some, being the operative word here. Wind protection from one-story homes?

Open Championship Viewing Option Reminder

The R&A has joined forces with BBC and ESPN to provide a pretty ambitious coverage schedule on television, online and via the Open Championship app, streaming live on TheOpen.com, Facebook and LiveStream.com, as well the iPhone, iPad and Android apps.

That said, I'm not entire sure of the precise BBC online start time and nothing is currently listed on the site that I can find, so just check in here. They will also be streaming holes 9, 10, and 11 here.

WatchESPN.com start coverage at 4 a.m. ET, with the following times for network coverage:

Thursday, July 19: First Round Coverage 5:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

Friday, July 20: Second Round Coverage 5:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

Saturday, July 21: Third Round Coverage 7:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Sunday, July 22: Fourth Round Coverage 8:00-1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Sunday, 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET on ABC (tape delay)

Forecasting Luck Of The Draw

As defending champion Darren Clarke and countless other past Open contestants through the years can attest, the weather can give certain sides of the draw an enormous advantage.

With that, I give you the latest weather forecast which the gents who put it together note, "may be amended at any time."

0200 to 0800 Thursday - Cloudy with outbreaks of rain until just after dawn after which it will become dry, 2 to 5mm possible.  Northwest 10 to 15mph becoming north decreasing 5 to 10mph

0800 to 1400 Thursday - Mostly dry with sunny spells and variable cloud. 10% chance of a light shower. North 5 to 10mph becoming northwest 10 to 15mph with occasional gusts to 20mph

Rest of Thursday: Mostly dry with sunny spells. Wind northwest 10 to 15mph occasional gust 20mph decreasing 5 to 10mph gusts 15mph. Max 17C.

Friday: Dry with sunny spells. Wind northwest 5 to 10mph gusts 15mph. Max 17C.

My read on the opening rounds: on paper the late early might have a slight advantage assuming Wednesday night's storm materializes. The northwest is the prevailing wind and makes the closing holes play into the wind, while the front nine plays mostly downwind (except the 4th hole).

But the forecast not long ago included West to southwest winds with gusts for the Thursday afternoon gang, which would flip the advantage potentially to the early/late.

Failing to reach a conclusion, I've turned to numbers and while ESPN.com's Justin Ray has some terrific trending stats related to several name players, he only left me more confused about my potential choices at the betting window.

Oh screw it, the Open starts in a few hours. We'll know soon enough.

Wednesday's Forecasted Downpours Help Firm Up Lytham

The sun was a welcome sight Wednesday as the forecasted heavy rain not only never materialized, but after Tuesday's downpour Royal Lytham and St. Annes is drying out. We may yet see some proper golf as the remaining forecast is very positive. Then again, the same forecaster is trying to forecast the unforecastable. What an utterly thankless job.

On another note, some of you have emailed to ask about the small building behind the clubhouse featured in my photos from the other day. It's Dormy House and you read all about it here or price out a visit here. I've included another photo of it below, with the putting green activity going on in front of the charming structure.