Preview of the 2006 British Open

With two of the four PGA major tournaments in the books, the world’s best golfers head to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, affectionately known as “the Pond,” for the 2006 British Open. It will be held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course. The course plays a bit long, with a lot of the par 4s playing with more than 400 yards. It will interesting to see how some of the top professionals play the length with the number of traps that many of the holes possess. A main change that people should look out for is the switch facilitated by the course. The par 5 16th hole has been rerouted and is now the finishing 18th for the British Open. This provides the course with a crazy high risk/high reward hole to finish the Open on. I’ll look at the best of the best, those who will be favored to win the Claret Jug, names who will benefit from the course, and some other names to watch out for.

Tiger Woods
2005 British Open Result: Champion; 274 (-14)
Notes: Woods ran away with last year’s British Open, but will have to come back from a tought past few months in order to repeat as champion. Not only did Woods have to deal with the loss of his father to illness, but he has also seen his golf gams truggle because of the long layoff he took to deal with the issue. It was no more evident than during the U.S. Open last month, where Woods failed to make the cut at a Major tournament for the first time in his professional career. Some thought that the emotional loss of Earl Woods was the key factor, whereas others looked to the long layoff for an explanation. Whatever it was, Woods was able to come back and performed great in the Cialis Western Open. After shooting above par in the first round, Tiger shot three rounds of sub-70 golf on his way to being tied for second behind winner Trevor Immelman. He showed a lot of that Tiger tenacity and if not for some outstanding play by Immelman down the stretch Tiger could have easily won the Western Open. He has, however, officially been quoted as saying that he’d never been to Royal Liverpool. Other participants, including one of his main rivals in Phil Mickelson, has been practicing there. I don’t know how much Tiger has in him to play a fresh course to him, but if anyone can overcome those odds, it’s the best in the world.
Odds on Winning 2006 British Open: 7-2

Vijay Singh
2005 British Open Result: tied 5th; 281 (-7)
Notes: Considering Vijay’s past in competing in the British Open, I like him to be the closest rival to Woods when it comes to favorites in this tournament, barely above Phil Mickelson in terms of odds. Vijay’s game suits me as perfect for the course. He doesn’r drive the ball 300 yards, but he’s extremely accurate with both his tee shots and with his short chip game. He strikes me as the kind of golfer who will be able to play the best when he finds himself in trouble on the course, moreso than even Woods. Fact of the matter is that Vijay himself had a pleasant showing at the Cialis Western Open, tied for 4th at -9 and tied for 6th at the U.S. Open, where the course at Winged Foot ate apart the competition there. If the leaders collapse, look for ‘slow and steady’ Vijay to win the race.
Odds on Winning 2006 British Open: 5-1

Phil Mickelson
2005 British Open Result: tied 60th; 289 (+1)
Notes: Phil was one of the hottest golfers on tour. He had won two straight PGA Majors (2005 PGA Championship and 2006 Masters) and was poised to win the third, having finished the first 71 holes of the U.S. Open in the lead… and well, we all know what happened next. One of the biggest collapses in his career and the countless questions from the media have hounded him ever since, and after it seemed as though he might shake it off at the Western Open, two straight rounds over par had him way out of contention, watching Phil finish 16 strokes behind the winner. The problem with Phil at Liverpool is his tendency to go for broke. When he won his majors, he had loosened his game and played more conservative, leading to his finishing majors. In the 2006 U.S. Open, he managaed to revert to his old risky days. If he does that here in Liverpool, the course will eat him alive. Nothing says that more clearer than the new 18th hole, the 560 yard par 5. That is made to destroy those taking the risk to reach in two when they fail, but can provide enough of a temptation for someone like Mickelson to chase. If he can refrain and stay even keel the rest of the way, Lefty has the goods. That, however, after the U.S. Open, is a pretty big if for him.
Odds on Winning 2006 British Open: 9-1

Retief Goosen
2005 British Open Result: tied 5th; 281 (-7)
Notes: Goosen is considered by many people in the golf world now as the best from South Africa, even surpassing fellow countryman Ernie Els. Who can blame them for this assessment, because Goosen has been the more consistent of the two. Much like Singh, Goosen is a solid all-around golfer, not looking to rely on one part of his game in situations. Again, like Singh, it allows him to remain in contention in most tournaments. Goosen does, however, possess one of the best short games in the world. He’s a consumate pro, everyone likes him on tour, and that perception allows him to fly under the radar. But don’t get confused, Goosen knows how to turn it on and finish the deal when it’s time to do it. What I will have you watch for is his ability to be accurate consistently and work the chips and the greens. I believe that Goosen will be able to remain there until Sunday and, if given the opening, could move in for the win.
Odds on Winning 2006 British Open: 10-1

Colin Montgomerie
2005 British Open Result: 2nd; 279 (-9)
Notes: The new holder of the title of “best player to have never won a major” is Colin Montgomerie, but if there is a good time for him to shake those demons it is right now. He’s coming off a second place finish last year, albeit by five strokes to the number one player in the world. Montgomerie is usually expected to do well here in the Open because this is the only major tournament in which he doesn’t have to face the hordes of heckling American fans who have taken that heckling to a whole new level when he comes to the majors. He’ll be the home favorite, the sympathetic figure everyone wants to see succeed. And let’s not forget that he’s got the game to win, he just hasn’t been able to close the deal. Montgomerie was in second at the 2006 U.S. Open behind Mickelson and could have had the opportunity to win it himself with Mickelson’s collapse, but he too also saw a lapse at the 18th hole on Sunday, allowing Geoff Ogilvy to win. I have to believe that if Montgomerie doesn’t do it now, he may have to wait a lot longer until he can finally notch a major in his belt.
Odds of Winning 2006 British Open: 15-1

The Resf of the Field (Names to Watch: U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy. He’s playing great golf right now and you cannot underestimate the effects that momentum plays on golf tournaments. Western Open Champion Trevor Immelman. He is the next generation of South Aftican golfer, as he looked upto Goosen and Els and is now playing as though he belongs here. After two runner-up finishes this year on the PGA alone, he was able to capture the Western, which some people see as the “fifth major.” John Daly. Of course, big John. He’s always the sympathetic favorite of the crowd and could get hot. Other names include Jose Maria Olazabal, Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Ernie Els.