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July 11 2011
9:42 pm Notable groups for first two rounds
The tee times for this week’s British Open have been released. Here’s a look at just a few of the notable groups for the first two rounds at Royal St. George’s:
RORY McILROY, ERNIE ELS, RICKIE FOWLER — McIlroy comes off his record-setting U.S. Open win, and joins another young star in Fowler, with Els in the mix with his major championship pedigree.
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN, MARTIN KAYMER, PHIL MICKELSON – The defending champ in Oosthuizen, the reigning PGA champ in Kaymer and Mickelson, who has four major titles but has rarely contended in this one.
LEE WESTWOOD, STEVE STRICKER, CHARL SCHWARTZEL — Absolutely no one would be surprised if the winner came out of this threesome. Westwood may be the best player without a major; Stricker’s the top American without a major; and Schwartzel showed his skills in winning the Masters three months ago.
GRAEME McDOWELL, JASON DAY, BUBBA WATSON — McDowell has a major; Day seems to be zeroing in on one, having finished in the top 10 in the last three; and Watson will seek to rebound from his missed cut at the French Open.
LUKE DONALD, RYO ISHIKAWA, SERGIO GARCIA — Donald seems to be the darling pick this week to win his first major, but Garcia has played well lately. Maybe it’s finally time for him.
NICK WATNEY, MATTEO MANASSERO, ANGEL CABRERA — Cabrera needs a British Open to move three-fourths of the way to a career Grand Slam. Watney is a popular pick to end the American drought in majors.
DUSTIN JOHNSON, IAN POULTER, YUTA IKEDA — You’ve got to think that Johnson and Poulter will win at least one major each in their careers. Perhaps this is the week.
So, which groups are you most interested in following this week? Fill out the form below and let us know.
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Oosthuizen
Kaymer
Mickelson
19 09:53 John DALY, Ross FISHER, Peter HANSON
Love him, hate him…
I still always follow Daly. Can’t explain why….
Being paired with McIlroy will put some extra pressure on Rickie to perform well.
Any group Phil is a member is the one I will watch. As nobody is giving Phil any love for The Open, maybe this is his week.
Donald was impressive this week at Scotland. Despite he lost the BMW playoff, Sergio looked very focused during that five hole contention and almost win it after a great puitt just rolled out the cup. In addition, both are very good friends and Ryo adds a good mix to that threesome. Definitely a group to watch. Rory and Fowler together with Ernie too
.
Bit unfair on Rickie Foulup to be put alongside Rory. “The Great American Hope” will be shown to be nothing but yet another average American who can play dartboard golf and nothing else.
Graeme McDowell, Jason Day & Bubba Watson….that’s a threesome.
I’m a Ben Crane fan so I will be keeping close eye on his rounds.
Rory with ricky?
I get what their trying to do, but I’d to see McIlroy paired some of the real elites. Besides Fowler is no where near where Mcilroy is.
Els I can see as he is an all time great.
It would be far more entertaining if Phil was with Rory and Rickie. From a fan perspective I think their personalities are better suited and it would be fun to watch.
There’s no doubt my hopes lie with Steve Stricker. I am totally besotted with the guy! The Memorial and John Deere were magnificent performances of skill and grit. (Also, he’s perhaps the best dresser of the field. Impeccable.)
LEE WESTWOOD, STEVE STRICKER, CHARL SCHWARTZEL is the group to watch and should produce a winner.
Its a fact that Phil Mickelson is not suited for this event, but unexpected things happens on the PGA Tour.
Don’t count out Tom Watson. He loves playing in Englandand has won this event five times and gave it a good try in 2009 when he finished 2nd to Stewart Cink.
My guess is Lee Westwood.
it’s time for Ryo Ishikawa to step up and contend.
Great picks above. Before reading this article, I picked the pairing that were my favorite and they were the same. Looking forward to this British Open more than any Open in recent years.
One would have thought that another notible group should be Rose, Johnson and Scott. Both Rose and Scott are in good form and Rose being on the Hot Picks List.
McIlroy/Els and McDowell/Day
Rory has to be the #1 pick, in my opinion. He is well rested after winning the U.S. Open, and I expect him to strongly contend.
If Ernie finds his putting stroke, watch out!
If Rickie can somehow be consistent, avoiding big numbers, and keep it in play, he could contend.
Well the pairing that jumps off the screen at me is the Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, Charl Schwartzel pairing. The reason I think this is that Lee Westwood, with all due respect to Luke Donald, is a far better player than Donald with 34 or so worldwide victories and contending on many majors over the past 5 years. Steve Stricker is currently the best putter in the world and hot the moment coming off his second win this year. And Charl Schwartzel, well what of him? For some strange reason the PGA Tour are calling Charl Schwartzel a potential “Rookie Of The Year” Winner. Hmm, lets think about this, Charl has played on the European tour for about 10 years now even though he is only in his mid 20s. He won multiple times on the European Tour before he even contended in majors let alone won the Masters. He is far from a rookie. Rookie season should be your first season whatever Tour youre on. What is the PGA Tour so “big” that they completely disregard and basically ignore all accomplishments players achieve on other Tours? Need I remind the Americans that European are currently OWNING the world rankings and the Ryder Cups? Come to think of it, when was the last time an American won a Major ??? Oh yeah, last years Masters. Haven’t there been 5 Majors held since then??? I admit the Americans ruled golf for years but not any more, before we were scared of you guys, especially Woods at his peak, but not any more.
I was so glad when Rory Mcilroy absolutely embarrassed the field leaving them well behind in the US Open. The reason I say this is that I’ve seen so many Americans giving Rory stick on this website, saying he can’t handle pressure and that he is big headed. Winning the US Open is one of the greatest comebacks in SPORTS HISTORY not just Golf. He was man enough to give an interview after his collapse at the Masters, couldn’t see Tiger doing that, he is too arrogant and full of himself. And wowwy, Rory wins an even bigger CHampionship a few months later, the US Open Championship.I was at Wales for the Ryder Cup 2010, met Rory got his autograph along with other players and I can tell you that he is a very likeable young man coming from humble beginnings where his dad had to work 2 jobs to afford Rory’s golf lessons. And boy, is it paying off now. I just think the American public are looking at Rory the wrong way he is the opposite of arrogant, yes I agree he is very confident but I believe he is below the line seperating confidence from arrogance. He just knows he can demolish any course in the world, he knows how good he is and gets frustrated when he under performs. Dont we all??? Even the average handicapper gets frustrated when you shoot 90 instead of 89.
The group concerning MARTIN LAIRD
LEE WESTWOOD, STEVE STRICKER, CHARL SCHWARTZEL
Bubba Watson missed the cut in the US Open not the French Open haha…i’m also a tennis fan
Ricky Fowler is to golf what Boy George was to music. Bubba Watson is a bitch. Phil Mickelson is to short putts what George W. Bush was to foreign policy. Dustin Johnson is to hype what Bill Buckner was to routine ground balls in the World Series. The Europeans are taking over.
I am interested in following the Ryo Ishikawa group.
Thank you for your attention,
Orlando
I’m interested to see how Tom Watson does…I predict a top 10 finish
Mcilroy Els
I ditto what Sharonedgar said. I am also besotted with Steve Stricker. My kids say I am his “groupie.” Finally someone said that Steve is the most impeccable dresser on tour. Gets his Peter Millar wardrobe here in Edina, MN. at a prestigiuous shop owned by one of the famous Daytons. Will miss Shot Tracker. Do not enjoy watching golf on the Links courses.
I’m interested in the group of
Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia and Ryo Ishikawa
especially because I’m expecting Luke to show his greatness as a real number one in the worla by now!
Go big John.
Any time Phil is playing I am watching him even though he hasn’t really contended in this tournament. I will also be keeping a really close eye on the new great American golf star….. Nick Watney
Duval come out of no where and wins another major.
Well……..at least thats what I’m hoping for.
(Betty Zahn, let’s do lunch . . .I’m in California’s Wine Country and it’s my treat!)
Hey Sean Smith! Yikes. I don’t know anyone (except my father) who is so nationalistic that he/she is blinded by the talent of ALL these guys. (I mean, genius is genius, and those of us who have ever held a club in our hands have some inking of the impossibility of getting that little white ball into the (stupid) hole.) Shrines should be built to all of them.
Does anyone really NOT appreciate the elfin charm of Rory? He is totally incandescent when he’s in his zone. I hope he finishes a fabulous second.
Who I think will win: Donald
Who I want to win: Watney, stricker
Would love for Lee Westwood to finally get a deserved major, failing that Luke Donald to silence all his American doubters.
Will be there Sunday and looking forward to seeing Phil Mickelson an entertaining player and classy gent, and hopefully everybody will be following Rory leaving plenty of room to watch the rest of the field.
And I LOVE watching links golf, so much more to it than target golf, you are not a proper player until you have mastered it. Nice article about Ben Curtis earlier, would like very much for him to do well, a nice guy!
1. Who I think will win: Someone
2. Who I want to win: Donald, Watney, Choi
Donald and McIlroy and Westwood are playing very well and they certainly are in the hunt for this one.
I’d prefer to have Mickelson. Obviously, I’m a fan. I’m a fan not only because of his style of play but because he plays with such joy and with respect for all involved. He doesn’t always win, but he never disappoints.
May the best man win!
Gotta go with Stricker. May not win but deserves a major. Tremendous player at 44. May keep winning for another 4 -5 years. Needs a major soon, however.
Not bad for “dartboard” golf, what do you think JJ?