Written by The Open 2011 on Monday 11 July 2011
The sun shone at Royal St George’s on Monday and if the warm weather continues the players will need to be at their creative best to combat the lightning-fast greens and run-off areas this week. The importance of getting up and down from a wide range of positions was all too evident today, as a vast majority of players elected to...
Written by The Open 2011 on Monday 11 July 2011
Ben Curtis believes his Open Championship victory at Royal St George’s back in 2003 gives him an edge over the field this week. The American claimed a shock one-shot victory eight years ago and believes that returning to a course where he won the biggest event of his career could snap him out of his current lack of form. “I’ve been struggling...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Thomas Bjorn has been drafted into The Open at Royal St George’s as a last-minute replacement for Vijay Singh. The 40-year-old Dane came close to winning the title last time it was at Royal St George’s and was delighted to have been given a place in the field. He was leafing in 2003 when he found the greenside bunker on the...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
The Today’s Golfer Fantasy League gets underway this week with the greatest tournament in world golf and the third Major of the season. This year’s Open Championship has headed to Royal St George’s, Kent, and it’s as open as an Open has been for a long time. The course should play somewhat easier that when Ben Curtis won in Sandwich with a score...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Lee Westwood is hoping that the wind will be blowing when The Open gets underway at Royal St George’s on Thursday. Said the World no.2, seeking to break his majors ‘duck’ in Kent: “This course is designed with a 15-20mph wind in mind and you don’t want it flat calm. “This will put the emphasis on good ball striking though often in...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Masters champ Charl Schwartzel is happy to be paired with Lee Westwood in the first two rounds at Royal St George’s as he believes it will make him play better. “It suits me just fine playing with Lee,” said the South African. “I played with Lee in the third round of the Masters. It’s always nice to play with good players, it...
Written by THe Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Phil Mickelson is adopting a “fresh start” to links golf as he bids to end his Open Championship nightmares at Royal St George’s this week. ‘Lefty’ has had precious little luck and success on these shores in the past and during his press conference today declared: “I’m not worrying about past performances, I’m making a fresh start. “I’m trying to learn the challenges...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
World number one Luke Donald admitted that winning a Major championship this year would be the perfect complement to topping the world rankings. Donald, who was in sublime form on his way to victory at last week’s rain-affected Scottish Open, also said that becoming officially the world’s best player had had no impact on his hopes for a maiden Major win. “I...
Written by The Open 2011 on Tuesday 12 July 2011
Rory McIlroy steadfastly defended his low-key Open Championship preparations. The reigning US Open champion visited Royal St George’s last week, missed last week’s rain-affected Scottish Open and played nine holes with his dad at Royal County Down last night. He smiled: “After what happened in Scotland, I’m quite relieved I decided to give it a miss! “I’ve prepared the same way for the...
Written by The Open 2011 on Wednesday 13 July 2011
It’s going to be a memorable Open Championship for Scott Jamieson who grabbed the final qualifying place at last week’s Scottish Open. And, starting here today, the promising young Scot gives you a blow-by-blow account of his Royal St George’s exploits… I’m still on cloud nine after qualifying for my first Open after finishing third at the Barclays Scottish Open last...
Written by The Open 2011 on Wednesday 13 July 2011
Here’s your big chance to win some fantastic signed Open Championship memorabilia. For the next four days, starting today, you’ve a chance to win one of four super prizes/items signed by the game’s top players. First up for grabs in our daily, easy-to-enter Open competition is a signed Royal St George’s Open 2011 cap signed by a host of players including the...
Written by The Open 2011 on Wednesday 13 July 2011
The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world and nothing challenges the pro’s more than a Links course such as Royal St Georges. Weather can make or break a champion, look at reigning champ Louis Oosthuizen who last year at St Andrews could not believe his luck when the wind dropped off allowing him to post a...
Written by The Open 2011 on Wednesday 13 July 2011
American Ben Curtis is determined to prove he’s not a one hit Open wonder. Curtis is hoping that history will repeat itself this week at Royal St George’s where he held aloft the Claret Jug eight years ago. Rank outsider Curtis was a shock winner at Sandwich in 2003 and is quietly confident about his chances this time round though obviously the...
Written by The Open 2011 on Wednesday 13 July 2011
Reigning US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer has pin-pointed the shots he believes hold the key to success at Royal St George’s this week. “I think the key shots this week are going to be those six to 10-footers for par that you have to save,” the German said in his Wednesday press conference. “You will miss greens and you will have some...
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Thomas Bjorn has got off to a great start at Royal St George’s as he attempts to lay the ghosts of 2003 to rest. Bjorn was leading The Open when it last came to the Kent course until the 16th hole on the final day. After getting stuck in a bunker he lost out to Ben Curtis. But his bid for...
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Here’s another big chance to win some fantastic signed Open Championship memorabilia. First up for grabs in our daily, easy-to-enter Open competition was a signed Royal St George’s Open 2011 cap signed by a host of players including the legendary Tom Watson, world no.2 Lee Westwood and major champions Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel, this year’s Masters winner. Today’s top prize is a...
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Thomas Bjorn shot a fantastic 65 in the opening round of the 140th Open Championship to hold the clubhouse lead on five under par. The Dane famously came close to winning the Claret Jug the last time the tournament was held at Royal St George’s in 2003 before his challenge was halted by a double bogey at the 16th. But that tricky par...
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Many of the main contenders were joslting for position in round one of The Open at Royal St George’s and some were certainly happier than others. Ian Poulter shot a steady 69 and is currently one under, four behind Great Dane Thomas Bjorn. Poulter said: “It would have been disappointing to have finished over par today wiith the shots that I executed.
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Tom Lewis has admitted he still just wants to make the cut despite a first-round 65 making him the first amateur to lead the Open since Michael Bonallack in 1968. After Thomas Bjorn fired the same score in much tougher conditions in the morning, Lewis came out and rattled off four birdies in a row on the back nine to...
Written by The Open 2011 on Thursday 14 July 2011
Scott Jamieson spoke to TG after shooting an opening 75 in his Open Championship debut. “I played well from tee to green but I was disappointed not to make the most of some good chances in the middle of the round. Then I had some bad bogeys at 12, 13 and 14, which was very disppointing. “It’s great to be here and...