Tomorrow marks the start of the 145th Open Championship, which takes place at for the 9th time at Royal Troon.
Todd Hamilton lifted the infamous Claret Jug the last time the Open was at Troon in 2004, defeating 2002 defending champion Ernie Els in a four-hole playoff.
The much anticipated Major gets underway at 6:35am where Colin Montgomerie will hit the historic opening tee-shot. The 2015 defending Champion Zach Johnson begins his defence at 14:15pm alongside Adam Scott and the 2013 runner-up Henrik Stenson.
The American got his hands on the Claret Jug after beating Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in a four-hole playoff, after finishing on a score of 15 under-par. With this win, Johnson won his second Major Championship, adding to his 2007 Masters victory.
However, this year it is very close to call to see who will shine at this years Open Championship.
Dustin Johnson, is off to a flyer and the man on form going into the years third Major. His win at the U.S. Open in Oakmont demonstrates his nerve and ability to win at one of golf’s toughest tests to date.
Similarly his win at the WGC Bridgestone tournament saw him leapfrog from 6th in the world rankings to 2nd, over taking Jordan Spieth. Not only does DJ have the game and tools to succeed but now he certainly has the mentality to win.
2014 Champion, Rory McIlroy was forced to pull out of last years tournament due to a a serious leg injury. However, this year he seems to have arrived at Troon under the radar with only winning on his mind. He is a proven Major Champion and certainly can adapt his game to links golf, proven in his 2016 Irish Open victory.
Troon itself was founded in 1978 and has safely become one of the greatest links courses around. It was modified by Willie Fernie and James Briad in 1909, they greatly lengthened the course and saw it become a greater challenge to all who played.
Distance off the tee, in the modern game, is widely praised and focused on in great detail, however, this is not how you will win around Troon. It will play 7,190 yards for the 2016 Championship, 15 yards longer than it played for the 2004 Open Championship.
Fairway and green-side bunkers litter the course meaning strategy will be key. Off the tee it will be common to see players play percentage play, taking three and two irons instead of driver, for position and misses.
Equally as important is wedge play, with the greens running fairly smooth and ‘flat’, unlike the slopes of St. Andrews last year, it is crucial to find the greens and have a chance at a putt especially when on the back nine.
Royal Troon has one more trick up its sleeve. The famous par-3 8th hole, the “Postage Stamp.” Measuring at 123 yards, it is the shortest hole on the Open rota and this year more than ever it will play turmoil with players, and could well be a deciding factor in seeing who the champion might be.
Of course where there is danger in the game of golf, the world’s best triumph. At the age of 71, Gene Sarazen managed to ace the hole with a five-iron during round one of the 1973 Open, he then followed this up by holing a bunker shot the next day, for birdie. And most recently, Ernie Els made a hole-in-one at the Postage Stamp in 2004. But, we can’t forget Tiger Woods who took a triple-bogey on the hole in 1997’s final round.
So that’s the deal! Now who will your Champion Golfer of the Year be?
