The Official NPR Golf Thread

[TedMaul]

You’re not kidding. I played in the East of England Senior Scratch Open at Hunstanton Tuesday and yesterday, two balls lost less than a foot from the semi. Deeper rough over knee high and thick as F.

[TedMaul]

Er…. plus the 30mph wind…..

[Biffer]

Bob MacIntyre wins the Scottish Open! Brilliant stuff.

Birdie (40ft putt), par, eagle (second shot 250 yards from the rough to 6 feet), par, birdie (22 ft putt) on the last five holes to win it by one shot. Drained a long one on the eighteenth to win.

Interview on the green “I’m going to celebrate this one hard and we’ll pitch up to the open when we pitch up to the open”.

[Big D]

Bob MacIntyre wins the Scottish Open! Brilliant stuff.

Birdie (40ft putt), par, eagle (second shot 250 yards from the rough to 6 feet), par, birdie (22 ft putt) on the last five holes to win it by one shot. Drained a long one on the eighteenth to win.

Interview on the green “I’m going to celebrate this one hard and we’ll pitch up to the open when we pitch up to the open”.

Closed it out well after a good slice of luck on 16. His golf is in a great place right now.

First Scot since Lyle to win twice on the PGA Tour too.

[Blackmac]

It was an absolutely sensational win, especially after it looked for most of the day that he would fade away. The drop was good luck but he still knocked a 7 iron 220 yards to 6 feet for the eagle. And the putt at the last was sensational.
I commented on his instagram feed at the start of the week that he know looks as if he knows he belongs and he confirmed that today.
16th in the FedEx Cup on his debut season.

[Insane_Homer]

Bob was just brilliant down the home stretch, wonderful stuff and a great putt to win it.

[Biffer]

It was an absolutely sensational win, especially after it looked for most of the day that he would fade away. The drop was good luck but he still knocked a 7 iron 220 yards to 6 feet for the eagle. And the putt at the last was sensational.
I commented on his instagram feed at the start of the week that he know looks as if he knows he belongs and he confirmed that today.
16th in the FedEx Cup on his debut season.

He talked last night about how selection for the Ryder Cup was a big part of that. Now he goes in to a locker room and chats to McIlroy, Åberg, etc as friends.

[Biffer]

That was a fun weekend. Now on to Troon, going Thursday and Friday. Forecast is borderline but has improved slightly, so here's hoping that continues. Also a bit breezier than it was in East Lothian, so should be more of a test - the way Troon is laid out it looks like the wind will be blowing across the course most of the time so should present a challenge.

[Biffer]

Just noticed a private jet flying Prestwick to Edinburgh. Please tell me nobody has been such a wanker as to get a flight over to Troon for next week?

Alternatively, who do you reckon booked a fifteen minute flight in a Private Jet? One of the Americans?

[Sandstorm]

Just noticed a private jet flying Prestwick to Edinburgh. Please tell me nobody has been such a wanker as to get a flight over to Troon for next week?

Alternatively, who do you reckon booked a fifteen minute flight in a Private Jet? One of the Americans?

Might just be a positioning flight for a completely unrelated pickup of a new passenger?

[Blackmac]

That was a fun weekend. Now on to Troon, going Thursday and Friday. Forecast is borderline but has improved slightly, so here's hoping that continues. Also a bit breezier than it was in East Lothian, so should be more of a test - the way Troon is laid out it looks like the wind will be blowing across the course most of the time so should present a challenge.

How did you find the crowd. I had a ticket for Friday but had to pull out because my granddaughter was ill. My mates were really disappointed at some of the spectator behaviour. A lot of drunken boorish behaviour from small sections of the crowd causing a bit of antagonism with the decent majority. Certainly on TV there was an increasing amount of drunk yank style golf shouts.

[Biffer]

That was a fun weekend. Now on to Troon, going Thursday and Friday. Forecast is borderline but has improved slightly, so here's hoping that continues. Also a bit breezier than it was in East Lothian, so should be more of a test - the way Troon is laid out it looks like the wind will be blowing across the course most of the time so should present a challenge.

How did you find the crowd. I had a ticket for Friday but had to pull out because my granddaughter was ill. My mates were really disappointed at some of the spectator behaviour. A lot of drunken boorish behaviour from small sections of the crowd causing a bit of antagonism with the decent majority. Certainly on TV there was an increasing amount of drunk yank style golf shouts.

The crowd was generally fine. Couple of arseholes but tbh you always get that. Tbh I thought there was a lot less disruption to play than in previous years - Scottish Open has in the past had caddies appealing in vain for quiet at the 6th and 17th where there are bar areas pretty much next to the action. But in the past it was always white noise really, which players blocked out easily enough. When there are fewer it stands out more, if that makes sense. Overall though not really different from previous years - and still better than it was the last few years at Loch Lomond, which started turning into a piss up.

[Blackmac]

That was a fun weekend. Now on to Troon, going Thursday and Friday. Forecast is borderline but has improved slightly, so here's hoping that continues. Also a bit breezier than it was in East Lothian, so should be more of a test - the way Troon is laid out it looks like the wind will be blowing across the course most of the time so should present a challenge.

How did you find the crowd. I had a ticket for Friday but had to pull out because my granddaughter was ill. My mates were really disappointed at some of the spectator behaviour. A lot of drunken boorish behaviour from small sections of the crowd causing a bit of antagonism with the decent majority. Certainly on TV there was an increasing amount of drunk yank style golf shouts.

The crowd was generally fine. Couple of arseholes but tbh you always get that. Tbh I thought there was a lot less disruption to play than in previous years - Scottish Open has in the past had caddies appealing in vain for quiet at the 6th and 17th where there are bar areas pretty much next to the action. But in the past it was always white noise really, which players blocked out easily enough. When there are fewer it stands out more, if that makes sense. Overall though not really different from previous years - and still better than it was the last few years at Loch Lomond, which started turning into a piss up.

Yep. I went to the last 4 years at Loch Lomond and it was a joke. Just a drunken day out for the weegies but it was mainly confined to the tented village.

[Blackmac]

Sadly lots of bullshit been thrown at Bob about the drop on 15th, mainly by halfwitted yanks who probably applauded Tiger getting the spectators to move a three tonne boulder as a loose impediment.

If you watch the footage it's beyond doubt that the referee confirmed there was a sprinkler and that it was impeding his stance.

[Biffer]

Sadly lots of bullshit been thrown at Bob about the drop on 15th, mainly by halfwitted yanks who probably applauded Tiger getting the spectators to move a three tonne boulder as a loose impediment.

If you watch the footage it's beyond doubt that the referee confirmed there was a sprinkler and that it was impeding his stance.

Yeah, yanks and Rangers fans.

[Insane_Homer]

Rory shitting the bed early @ the Open +5 through 13...

Tommy at +3

Leader(s) current at -3

[Blackmac]

Rory shitting the bed early @ the Open +5 through 13...

Tommy at +3

Leader(s) current at -3

Possibly won't be that far back at 4 or 5 over. A +1 will likely be top 25.

[Blackmac]

Some round in progress from Lowry.

[fishfoodie]

Some round in progress from Lowry.

He'll be chuffed with that round.

He was a bit lucky with the conditions moderating a bit for the later starters, but it wasn't night & day, as his playing partner Cam Smith was 19 shots worse than him, & he's no mug !

He thrives in shit conditions, so I hope it stays challenging for the weekend, so the course maintains it's dignity, we get to see some proper scrambling

[Slick]

Sheffler looks like he plays on a public course in Essex

[dpedin]

Difficult day on a difficult course at Troon yesterday but I cant help feeling some of these guys don't do themselves any favors with their shot selections. In these conditions you need to keep the ball as close to the ground as possible, play to avoid the rough and bunkers at all cost and remember your putter is your best mate from anywhere close. Conditions should be a bit easier today but the above still applies!

[Biffer]

Really tough conditions this afternoon. It's a very strong breeze here.

Only 12 players currently under par. As it should be.

[Biffer]

Cut currently at 5 over, and would include 96 players.

[Blackmac]

Some start for McIntyre. 8 over after 4. Even I would be ripping up my card.,

[Blackmac]

Cut currently at 5 over, and would include 96 players.

That's 96 is bound to drop significantly over the next couple of hours.

The combined bad score on each hole today is 124

[fishfoodie]

McIlroy couldn't hit water falling out of a boat at the moment.

[Blackmac]

McIlroy couldn't hit water falling out of a boat at the moment.

It's quite shocking how he and others are trying to play. Just no idea how to handle the wind other than try to hold it up into it or a high draw with it. Keep it fucking under it.

[Blackmac]

Best display of wind play I ever saw was Monty in the 1987 Scottish amateur final at Nairn. The wind was twice as strong as these lads are playing in and I don't think he hit one shot that got more than 15 feet off the deck. The perfect windy links exhibition.

[Biffer]

Currently ten players par or better for two rounds.

Great round by Rose today, and for Lowry.

The cut may be at +6. Exactly seventy players at +5 now, only another eleven at +6.it might even go to +7

[Blackmac]

Currently ten players par or better for two rounds.

Great round by Rose today, and for Lowry.

The cut may be at +6

Rose's round is incredible in the worst of the wind.

[Biffer]

Currently ten players par or better for two rounds.

Great round by Rose today, and for Lowry.

The cut may be at +6

Rose's round is incredible in the worst of the wind.

Only one bogey over two rounds is exceptional golf

[fishfoodie]

McIlroy couldn't hit water falling out of a boat at the moment.

It's quite shocking how he and others are trying to play. Just no idea how to handle the wind other than try to hold it up into it or a high draw with it. Keep it fucking under it.

Dermot Gilleece said it years ago about McIlroy; he has this high ball flight that works on the PGA, which is probably why his early career over there went so well, but it doesn't work on links courses when there's any wind. You're putting too much strain on your ability to judge how the ball will move, & in Majors the course will be setup so that if you misjudge by a couple of meters, you'll be dropping multiple shots.

[Sandstorm]

Rory is vastly overrated. Shite in 3/5 tournaments every year.

[fishfoodie]

Rory is vastly overrated. Shite in 3/5 tournaments every year.

He's supremely talented, but unfortunately for him he was loved by his parents, & thus doesn't have the killer instinct, that drives him to spend endless hours practicing, so that he can fill that the cold, empty place in his soul. .... Poor bastard

[dpedin]

Rory is vastly overrated. Shite in 3/5 tournaments every year.

He's supremely talented, but unfortunately for him he was loved by his parents, & thus doesn't have the killer instinct, that drives him to spend endless hours practicing, so that he can fill that the cold, empty place in his soul. .... Poor bastard

40 Tour wins, 122 weeks at World No1, 3 Majors and a 2nd in the other one, PGA/Fedex Money winner x 5, European/DP World Tour winner x 5, 7 Ryder Cups and 5 wins, 707 weeks in World Top 10 and currently sitting 2nd behind Scheffler, $125m career winnings ... not bad for a choker?

[dpedin]

Troon playing a lot easier this morning but weather to deteriorate as the day continues. I can see the field getting closer together if a few of the early starters stick in a good round and the leaders have the worst of the conditions later. Anyone within 10 shots after R2 has a chance?

[Blackmac]

Well if it's not Rose or Lowry I think Billy Horschel would be an incredibly popular winner. A proper international golfer who supports the DP Tour and loves to come over to Scotland. Dan Brown sticking in there but I personally have a bizarre dislike for unknown golfers winning majors

[Blackmac]

Poor Shane Lowry looked properly destroyed at his interview yesterday. Probably not very proud of what he said. Hopefully he can get back on track today and put in a challenge.

[Biffer]

Fabulous last day this.

[Enzedder]

The British Open and English test matches remind me of Bulldog. Sadly, it is 16 years ago today that he passed.

RIP you delightful barsteward.

Good to wake up at stupid o'clock to see that the Kiwis have done OK at Troon.