2022 Open Championship: the greatest week of the year

Posted on July 11, 2022
Tweet

The Old Course at St Andrews will host the 150th Open Championship. The Old Course needs no introduction, neither do any of its famous landmarks like The Road Hole and its famous bunker, The Swilcan Bridge or The Loop, and as golf enters a most tumultuous period, going back to the Home of Golf makes sense on so many levels. This year, for the celebrations, record numbers of 290,000 people are expected to descend on the Old, Grey, Toon.



Being a winner at St Andrews is highly revered with its past winners including Tiger & Jack, but also include Zach J & King Louis amongst those fortunate to win here. Key to winning is definitely bunker avoidance, but also scoring on the Loop. Zach J won in 2015 with a clutch putt on 18 in a playoff, while King Louis lost that playoff but had won in a runaway in 2010.



Collin returns to this year’s Open as the defending champion after his imperious approach game display at Royal St George’s and in form after top 5s at both the Masters & US Open. No reason that his irons don’t get him into contention once again.

The Course and Surrounds
St Andrews does not pose a significant threat in terms of distance and has some of the biggest greens with various holes sharing greens - these 2 factors thus making putting and lag putting critical, in separating the best from the rest.

There are seven shared greens on The Old Course and each one serves hole numbers that, when combined, add up to 18. The 2nd and 16th, 3rd and 15th, 4th and 14th, 5th and 13th, 6th and 12th, 7th and 11th, 8th and 10th. Only the 1st, 9th, 17th and 18th holes have their own individual greens.



Potential Favorites
The Open Championship has a way of mesmerising players from the outset and Links golf is not for everyone, especially if the wind stiffens. The Old Course is one of those that needs winds to protect her. For an IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS of the top candidates from seasoned pundits and former players, check out the CBS and GOLF DIGEST picks.



Rory McIlroy
The people’s champion is long overdue in the majors and also holds the course record for The Open at St Andrews with a flawless 63 in 2010. Rory’s prep has included some friendly, banter filled games in Ireland, avoiding tournament play. His nemesis, the wind, blew him up in 2010, hopefully some of the games with Tiger included some training of those stingers.



Xander Schauffele
Winning the week before in Scotland, is never bad prep for The Open though there are not many who have won back to back. His major career has faltered this year with no top 10s yet, after a rollicking start to his career.

Scottie Scheffler
The world # 1 has been superb this year and although he had an MC in the wind at Scottish Open, he remains a threat. But there is a chance his season is run considering all the efforts already done? Is he a red herring?

The Others
The list is long but its impossible to ignore these guys. Looking at the forecasts, experience and wind management might be critical ingredients.
Jordan: performed well in 2015, destiny seems to have him chasing Tiger & Jack in so many respects.
Cambo: knocking on the door all year, a game that suits links courses, posted a top 10 at the Scottish, he will enjoy St Andrew’s too.
Any one of Hideki or Zala: why not? Both have enjoyed good runs this year and have all the form required for a win.

Outsiders: Fleetwood has form from the Scottish Open and T5 at the PGA Championship or Rahmbo, who can be an outsider as he has not had a top 10 this year in the majors nor really delivered at The Open before, despite being a bookies favourite. He does have an Irish Open win a few years back on a windy Links.