The 2019 Open Championship Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is the 2019 Open Championship? Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st of July 2019
Where is the 2019 Open Championship? Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, UK
What is the total prize fund of the 2019 Open Championship? $10,750,000
What television channel can I watch the 2019 Open Championship on in the UK? Sky Sports Golf
Where can I stream the 2019 Open Championship in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the tournament online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for the 2019 Open Championship? https://www.theopen.com/ticket...
What is the course yardage at Royal Portrush? 7,317 yards
What is the par at Royal Portrush? 71
What is the course information for Royal Portrush? English architect Harry Colt’s masterpiece hosts the Open Championship for just the second time in its history and first since 1951, the only time this great championship has been played outside British mainland. Set amongst the rugged dunes with holes consistently changing in direction and elevation, two new holes - the seventh and eighth - have been created which replace the 17th and 18th. Like any links course, if the wind blows this week, this could be one of the toughest and greatest Opens in recent history.
What is the predicted weather for the 2019 Open Championship? As is often the case with links weather, the unpredictably is one of the reasons that makes this such an exciting championship. Rain is predicted for all four days' play, but at what times, volume and length of time is difficult to predict. Nevertheless, winds should be light to moderate for the week without the strong gales and rain that so often stops play.
THE HISTORY
Ever since the announcement was made that The Open would be returning to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951, this year’s championship has arguably been the most anticipated edition in modern golfing history. With the Irish crowd being renowned worldwide for their knowledge, enthusiasm and hosting seen in recent years through the Ryder Cup and Irish Open, this could be one of the most exciting Opens ever.
Italy’s Francesco Molinari will be returning to defend his crown after claiming the Claret Jug by holding off some of the sport's biggest names to win his first major. With only three players in the current game having won The Open multiple times (Tiger Woods x3 and Padraig Harrington and Ernie x2), there are several names who have a very strong chance of creating history this week.
The average winning score in the past ten editions stands at -11, ranging from as low as -20 to -2, proving how much links course can vary in difficulty depending on weather conditions, more so than traditional courses often seen on the main tours, and this week will be no different.
THE FAVOURITES
Rory McIlroy
In many respects, the Northern Irishman was always going to be one of the favourites for this year Open regardless of the form he carried in to the championship due to him having grown-up as a member around Royal Portrush as well as holding the course record here. Interestingly, Rory is often seen as a player whose game does not particularly suite links golf, and although there may be some truth behind this, overall his record firmly disagrees. He has not finished outside of the top five in this great championship since 2013 when he missed the halfway cut. Otherwise, a victory and an average finishing result of third suggests his game is more than well-matched to links golf. Having fine-tuned his game at last weeks Scottish Open with a T34 finish, he heads to NI leading stroked-gained total, showing there is no single weakness within his game right now. With the added home support, course knowledge, form and that little bit extra determination to win his first major since 2014, the world number three could be very difficult to beat this week.
Adam Scott
As a former world number one and major winner, the Australian seemingly goes under the radar these days, perhaps in part to the fact that he has not won worldwide since 2016. Nonetheless, with nine top 25s from 13 starts this season, including two runner-up’s and an average finish of 11th from the three majors this year, he is close to returning to the winner’s circle. Additionally, he should perhaps already own a claret jug if it wasn’t for his poor finish in the 2012 edition where Ernie Els pipped him having finished with four straight bogeys. Nonetheless, his all-round game is in great shape where he ranks third strokes-gained total, and 23rd SG: putting, a key area for Scott wherein the past, it has often undone so much of his imperious tee-to-green skills. Expect him to be in contention this week.
John Rahm
The young Spaniard claimed his second Irish Open victory in three years during his last start - both around tough links golf courses - making him a strong favourite this week for those performances alone. Moreover, Rahm has won twice as well as finished T3 and T2 from his past six worldwide starts suggesting his game is in as strong a shape as ever. As very much a modern game power player who bombs it and makes a tonne of birdies, his ability to flight the ball and hit strong iron shots from tricky lies makes him a dangerous player around a links course. Furthermore, as an aggressive putter, the typically slower but pure links greens will allow him to continue his fearless approach, and with being ranked 13th strokes-gained total shows he will be attacking this week knowing his game and confidence is exactly where it needs to be to claim a first major title with the Irish and European crowds giving that extra support.
THE OUTSIDERS
Matt Kuchar
The somewhat disliked American is on the face of it rarely out of form and is one of the most consistent players within the game. Still, this season has been one of his career bests with two victories already as well as two further runner-up’s and 12 top 25s, signifying the only thing missing from the resume of such a high calibre player is perhaps a major. A T20 finish at last weeks Scottish Open will have helped him tune up his links game and with a second-place finish in the 2017 Open Championship - where he was pipped by a spirited Jordan Spieth - he will feel this is possibly the best opportunity he has out of the four majors due to the demands of links golf. Ranked eighth strokes-gained total identifies how he produces such consistency, and as one of the games shorter hitters where he is ranked 125th in driving distance, Royal Portrush should further match his game where there is a greater premium on accuracy over length.
Marc Leishman
Although the Australian will be regarded as a big outsider this week, he should maybe be considered more a favourite considering his form this season and record in The Open Championship. Since 2014, he has only finished worse than T6 once in this major which included a playoff lost to Zak Johnson in 2015. Furthermore, he has a victory, six top fives and nine top 25s from 16 starts on the PGA Tour this season showing his calibre of play, and as a three-time winner in his native Australia where the courses can play firm, fast and windy like a links course, he has all the assets to win an Open. As a four-time tour winner, current world number 24 and a player ranked 27th in strokes-gained total, he naturally goes under the radar but should not be underestimated this week.
