golfweloveit

How beautifully Brooks Koepka played today. There was only one glitch on the 17th when a tee shot sprayed badly to the left led to his only dropped shot of the day. But apart from that he was a wizard and a joy to watch.

Probably the most in form (I tactfully didnt call him the hottest – see the picture of his girlfriend below, she would probably kill…) golfer in the world going for his fifth major in nine starts, he has the added dimension this week of the emotion his caddie Ricky Elliott brings to the party. Elliott, Brooks’ caddie since 2013, is a Royal Portrush native, who has been guiding Brooks round the course and taking him to all his haunts and introducing him to family and friends. It seems a wonderful relationship based on trust and mutual respect and apart from his retainer has probably netted Ricky Elliott a few million in bonuses over the past couple of years. His inside knowledge of the Dunluce Course led to radio silence from Brooks when Tiger Woods asked to practice with him as he wasnt going to allow access to his inside knowledge. Elliott is a former Ulster Boys and Youths champion who says he can’t believe the Open is here.

The more Brooks wins the better, because he is on the receiving end of unwarranted criticism, just for being him. “The man that charm has forgot” to quote one “personality by pass” “he has a big chip on his shoulder” another. And all for not being an a typical rah rah American stereotype.He’s good the way he is – in a way one of us in Europe because he took a smart decision to come over to Europe and learn his trade on the Challenge Tour, winning three times and gaining access to the European Tour. American golfers who take this route tend to become more rounded players having a much greater variety of shots readily at hand and have had much wider exposure to different cultures living and playing in Europe.

And another thing. He has a girlfriend who has a strong media presence and personlity, she provides a foil for him. Here’s a picture of her at the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. One thing I would question though is the choice of clothes does make my eyes water, if I wore a dress like that pink one I would get arrested.

Tiger Woods had a miserable 78 in the first round. Starting with a grimace after his opening tee shot he is looking out of sorts, not walking well with a restricted backswing and doesnt appear to be making a proper hip turn through the ball. With the rain and the colder weather, currently 16 degrees, perhaps his back is stiffening up. But oerhaps it is just lack of feel. Although he prepared by playing two full rounds on Monday and Tuesday and working on his short game extensively yesterday, his lack of competitive practice may be showing too. He’s played only three events since winning The Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. But the demands of Royal Portrush in terms of shotmaking – hitting the ball each way, high and low, are not being met. I wonder about Tiger’s extreme fitness regime, whether it has put additional pressure on his back. Or it may be his decision to play more post major season leading up to the FedEx playoffs that is not working in his favour. He doesnt look in pain today, just stiff and uncomfortable.

Play was suspended on the 6th tee this morning as a beagle puppy from a neighbouring house escaped and joined in the tournament.

The 2011 Open Champion, and member at Royal Portrush, Darren Clarke opens the championship. Finished with a creditable 71. On Friday, however, a triple bogey at the last hole led to him missing the cut.

Rory McIlroy said that to win the Open in his home country would “define my career” as a unique achievement. It was thus pressure on a grand scale and when Rory didnt play well today the sadness amongst the home galleries was tangible. After a bad day at the office, which could have been a lot worse, I think we saw some of the best of Rory McIlroy today. Massive mental strength. Starting his first round at Royal Portrush with an horrendous quadruple bogey which included an out of bounds tee shot and an unplayable lie, we saw the best of Rory between holes 2-15. He battled and fought and held his round together in tough conditions at one point getting back to +3. But he admitted that a missed par putt on the 16 green which led to a double bogey affected his concentration leading to an awful triple bogey on the 18th.

He admitted that he had felt nervous on the first tee, being the home favourite with massive support, but it was the excited kind of nervousness, ready to get started. Unless it was deeply subconscious it’s too simplistic to put down his performance down to pressure. He acknowledged and appreciated the home support but admitted he had put himself into some bad positions due to poor ball striking, no excuses. The toughness he showed in the middle of his round showed his true mettle. Hopefully he wont internalise this too much, Jack once followed a round at the Open of 83 with a 66 the following day to make the cut. Perhaps we should all shrug it off as the wag who just suggested that Rory will be announced on the first tee tomorrow as from Jupiter Florida, where he lives, rather than a son of Northern Ireland, which he always will be. Just hope that he and G Mac take from this week a return to their true Irish speaking accents rather than the awful transatlantic accents they’ve both adopted since living in America. x marks the spot on the map of their accents.

Back to the drawing board with coach Michael Bannon and mind coach and short game supremo Brad Faxon.

The Dunluce course was the biggest star today. With driving rain in parts of today and a stiffer wind than was expected conservative play was needed with the thick rough, pot bunkers and slow greens. Accurate iron approach play was essential and players choosing to hit driver on maybe five holes. The galleries are enormous – 237,000 are expected over the week, the biggest outside of St Andrews.

The picture below of former Open Champion David Duval’s scorecard isn’t quite correct, the 15 has now been downgraded to a 13. As Emiliano Grillo also had a hole in one today, this major test, unknown to most modern tour pros,  has been throwing up all kinds of results. A fascinating watch not, noticing the rain.

Ahead of next month’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush here is Northern Ireland Tourisms digital tribute to Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Fred Daly and Rory McIlroy at the mountains at Fairhead, County Antrim.

Unflappable Gary Woodland won the US Open by 3 shots from Brooks Koepka under relentless pressure from the PGA Champion, who didnt give up all day on trying to win a record three US Opens in a row, Woodland holed a 30 foot birdie on the final hole for a -2 69 271 total, the lowest score in six US Opens at Pebble Beach. Brooks Koepka had four rounds in the sixties but didnt win but was quick to praise Gary Woodland “he played a hell of a round today. He hung in there and win in style which was pretty cool”.

Gary Woodland has decided to make the trip to The Open at Royal Portrush even though his wife will be on bed rest with their second set of twins, both girls, due at the end of July.