Some Long Shots for St Andrews
Everybody is talking about who is going to win the 2010 British Open; the Europeans, the Americans, the wild cards or the old favourites. No one can make up their mind and there is a no clear favourite. Partially this is because the Old Course at St Andrews is notorious for its unpredictability – as the winds change so does its difficulty – and the winds can change in a second, altering the state of play for even the most accomplished golfers.
There are some players who have always excelled on the St Andrews course, and the players are not ones you might have easily guessed. Despite what everyone who enters the competition hopes for, only about 20 of this year’s Open contenders have a shot at winning the Claret Jug. There is always going to be a day one leader who surprises and surpasses the odds, but falls short in the final rounds.
This year, John Daly took the lead early on in the first day. He has since been surpassed by Irishman Rory McIlroy and is currently tied for third with Andrew Coltart, Daly has the won on the course before and might not give up the fight so easy.
Daly won the British Open when it was hosted at St Andrews in 1995. He rivals Hockey’s Don Cherry for most outrageous wardrobes, but don’t let his flashy attire distract you. In 1995 Daly beat Costantino Rocca, taking the four-hole playoff by four strokes. He also grabbed a top 15 finish when the Open was held at St Andrews in 2005, the same year Tiger Woods won his second British Open on the Scottish links.
A big fan of the Old Course, Daly scored a six-under 66 on the first day of this year's Open. His best plays were on the first nine, and at the end of the round walked away with seven birdies.
Vijay Singh has never managed a victory at St Andrews but has usually done well out on the course. In 1990 he tied for 12th, and in 1995 – the same year Daly won – Singh came in sixth place. He missed the 2000 cut, but in 2005 he tied for fifth. A first place or spot in the top five is a very realistic bet. Don’t sell him short because he has dropped in the world rankings; Singh’s success follows a pattern that should see him ending well this weekend.
Retief Goosen’s first attempt at the Open in 2000 didn’t fare well and he tied for a disappointing 41st. He turned his luck around in 2005 when he tied for fifth place and should definitely be considered a factor in this weekend’s tournament.
Goosen tied for fifth with Sergio Garcia. Like Goosen, Garcia’s first St Andrew’s Open was not very good, and the Spaniard placed 36th. This year his play has been average, and he now resides in 44th place in the World Golf Rankings. “Winning the Open would be awesome — the icing on the cake. I'm going to do my best — I love this tournament.”
Nick Faldo has won the Open three times, but only once when it was held at the Old Course. In1990 he won the Claret Jug by six shots and has made the cut every time the Open has been held at St Andrews since. A long shot these days since he rarely plays competitively anymore, Faldo’s best finish since winning was tying for 11th in 2005.
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