Sam Burns, Hideki Matsuyama, Victor Hovland, Marc Leishman and three-time Open champion Tiger Woods will be among the celebrities featured in Draws and Fades.
The 21st century catchphrase is that big players make big plays in big games, while the timeless version is that St Andrews always crowns a worthy champion. However, this is not meant as obvious player-of-the-week rhetoric; rather, it is a reference supporting that the winner is of a class worthy of prevailing at St. Andrews.
It doesn’t usually work that way, but this is St Andrews, this is the Open and this is its 500-year staging. This, ladies, is permanent class.
St Andrews last hosted in 2015. From that area, 45 of this week’s gathering of 156 have qualified again, including 1989 champion Mark Calcavecchia, who is in his final appearance as a former winner.
The out-and-back links routing is the same, albeit 16 yards longer, than the last home run in 2015. At 7,313 yards, the par 72 is technically the longest it has played in its history. The qualifying component is that dry conditions prior to and during the tournament will allow tournament officials to stretch out as long as they want. They never do, of course, but the elements cooperate for that possibility.
All things considered allowing for the usual sea breeze in Scotland, conditions will be calm for both sides of the draw in both of the first two rounds. When the winds freshen on Saturday, the most experienced, mature and grizzled in the low 70s and under par after 36 holes should emerge as the strongest contenders to be engraved on the Claret Jug. The Sunday Promises – Can you use that term to describe the weather here? – to be effective, if not perfect. As the hole locations rise into prime position to protect the scoring, those who have been here before should generate the most roar.
With 112 bunkers that contain less sand to increase the scale of what were already real hazards, one task is to avoid them. Because of the expanse, hitting fairways and greens is almost a constant on the course, but knowing where to miss is key. Course management rules the day. Unlike a par 72 stock, the St. Andrews has just two par 3s and two par 5s.
There is merit in the narrative that this is a putting race, but it needs to be framed in the context of where the first putts are made. With undulations that eliminate the thought of long-range conversion over hundreds of thousands of square feet of putting surfaces, but with significant room to find flat ground, second shots on targets are the premium advantage.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.com’s Rob Bolton recaps and previews each tournament from various perspectives. Look for his next scheduled contributions.
MONDAY: Power Rankings (Open Championship)TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barracuda Championship), Sleepers (The Open Championship), Draws & FadesWEDNESDAY: Select ‘Em PreviewSUNDAY: Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Relocation, Recruit Ranking
* – Rob is a panelist for the PGATOUR.COM Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which are also published on Tuesdays.
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