The Open: Tiger Woods enjoying effectively amongst 3 Daring Predictions

You by no means know what occasions will transpire in a serious championship, not to mention The Open, which is usually interrupted by inclement climate and wind.

That mantra particularly applies to Royal Troon, the seaside Ayrshire hyperlinks beside the Firth of Clyde on the Scottish coast. Troon has hosted the Open 9 instances earlier than, producing iconic finishes and witnessing greatness. Arnold Palmer, Tom Wieskopf, and Tom Watson all received at Royal Troon. So did Justin Leonard and Henrik Stenson, who set an Open Championship scoring file, capturing an 8-under 63 on Sunday to win at 20-under-par.

Longshot Todd Hamilton beat Ernie Els in a playoff in 2004, whereas Mark Calcavecchia bested Greg Norman and Wayne Grady in an additional holes affair in 1989. Troon is aware of nothing however drama, so we must always anticipate extra in 2024.

However it additionally is aware of unpredictability. No one may have foreseen Hamilton’s win coming or Stenson’s historic Sunday march to victory. And but, listed here are three daring predictions for this week’s Open Championship:

3. Tiger Woods makes the lower

Picture by Oisin Keniry/R&A through Getty Photos

No lively golfer is aware of extra about hyperlinks golf—and learn how to play it—than Tiger Woods.

He can nonetheless hit any shot required: high-fades, piercing stingers, bump-and-runs, or nifty, spinny pitches.

Hyperlinks golf requires creativeness, and maybe no participant ever has a greater creativeness than Woods.

The greens will play into Woods’ fingers, too. They’ll reportedly roll at about 9 on the stimpmeter—sluggish by PGA Tour requirements. Which means fewer three-putts and fewer errors. That additionally means that Woods—and any participant this week—can play extra aggressively on the greens. Contemplating he has not had {many professional} begins in recent times, this improvement helps significantly. Woods struggled on Pinehurst No. 2’s undulating, fast greens, which rolled upwards of 13 on the stimp.

In case you have been to select a serious for Woods to contend in once more, I’d choose The Open. Augusta Nationwide’s extreme undulations put an excessive amount of pressure on his legs. Those self same hills additionally power the physique to take awkward stances on seemingly each shot, hindering Woods’ capability much more. Royal Troon—and different hyperlinks programs—haven’t any such terrain.

One other issue that works in Woods’ favor is that he obtained his homework out of the best way early. He performed 18 holes on Sunday and 9 extra on Monday. He doesn’t have a tee time on Tuesday, which suggests he’ll take part in his press convention, hit the apply space, and relaxation.

However it all comes all the way down to the draw of the tee instances, the climate, and the wind. But, I nonetheless consider that Woods will put in a valiant effort this week and play the weekend at Royal Troon.

2. European Ryder Cup star wins

Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

Our workers picks at the moment are reside, and—SPOILER ALERT—the Taking part in By means of crew believes that both of Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, or Ludvig Åberg will hoist the Claret Jug on Sunday.

Individuals have received the final six majors, however I’ve a sense that streak will finish this week at Royal Troon. Hatton, Fleetwood, and Åberg are all stable picks to win, however Jon Rahm or Rory McIlroy may simply hoist the Claret Jug, too.

Or perhaps Shane Lowry or Matt Fitzpatrick will declare their second main title this week.

Both manner, a member of final yr’s European Ryder Cup workforce will win in Scotland.

1. Royal Troon produces one other playoff

Picture by Rob Casey/Getty Photos

Though the 2016 Open Championship didn’t have a playoff, all the ultimate spherical appeared like one, because it had a ‘playoff environment’ all day. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson traded blows for 18 holes, because the Swede shot an 8-under 63 whereas the American carded a 6-under 65. Thoughts you, the scoring common that day hovered round a 2-over 73, which proves how spectacularly these two males performed.

Twelve years earlier than, in 2004, Todd Hamilton made 4 pars on the first, 2nd, seventeenth, and 18th holes to win the four-hole mixture playoff by a stroke over Ernie Els, who dropped a shot on the 222-yard par-3 seventeenth.

Nonetheless, one other playoff will begin at Royal Troon this week. The course has a penchant for producing drama, primarily as a result of the inward 9 is so difficult. Something can occur on the again 9 at Troon, from eagles to eights and something in between. However absolutely, golf followers in all places will welcome a playoff as a result of further holes in a serious by no means disappoints.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.