Fantasy Golf Tournament Preview- The Open Championship

OVERVIEW
The year’s final major is this week and the way the schedule has been modified it seemed like it flew by for some reason. This week we head overseas to Rory McIlroy’s homeland for twelve hours of broadcast golf also known as the Open Championship. This year’s edition will be hosted by Royal Portrush, a course built in the late 1800’s and re-designed in 1932 and again in 2017. The course itself has been called a rugged, brutal test of links golf (as it’s placed near a large body of water). There are no trees on the course (WIND!) and very few bunkers, so if the wind doesn’t blow I expect a low scoring affair. Because of the lack of bunkers and trees, players will need to keep their tee shots from entering the rough which will be where the penalties come as the rough is made up of tall heather, fescue grasses and briar. Players with a good short game should fare well here as the course isn’t very long at just over 7,300 yards and the greens are fairly small (making precise approach shots regardless of yardage will be a key factor this week).  For One & Done games this week if you haven’t burned the likes of DJ, Brooks, Rory, Rahm etc. – all of them are in play as you want a winner who has Top 5 upside. For those who don’t have them available I’d be looking at Xander, Spieth, Kuchar, Casey, Rose and Hideki. For longer shots I like Leishman, GMAC, Pepperell, Sullivan, and Kisner.

TOURNAMENT BACKGROUND

o The Course
• Royal Portrush Golf Club
• Par 71
• 7,300 yards
• Bentgrass greens
o Location: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
o Corollary Courses/Performances:
o Past Champions:
• 2018: Francesco Molinari -8 over Kevin Kisner, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose & Xander Schauffele [Carnoustie]
• 2017: Jordan Spieth -12 over Matt Kuchar [Royal Birkdale]
• 2016: Henrik Stenson -20 over Phil Mickelson [Royal Troon]
• 2015: Zach Johnson -15 in a playoff over Marc Leishman & Louis Oosthuizen [St. Andrews]
• 2014: Rory McIlroy -17 over Rickie Fowler & Sergio Garcia [Royal Liverpool]

KEY STATS TO TARGET

o Strong Emphasis – SG: APP, Par 4 Scoring, Birdies or Better, Scrambling
o Important – APP 125-150 yards, Par 5 Scoring, Bogey Avoidance

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