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The OPEN Day One: Birds & Bogeys

What a great day at the Open Championship. And that was just the weather the low scoring and Philly Mick threatening the low score at a major championship was an added bonus.

Royal Troon was ripe for the taking and taken it was but Friday the forecast calls for typical Scottish weather so the odds of a low scoring round like today aren’t looking good.

2016 open lb

Here are some birdies and bogeys and from round one of the Open.

Birdies…

Phil Mickelson’s near 62. It’s a shame that putt on eighteen didn’t fall and give us a new record.

Patrick Reed went out early and set the pace with a 5 under 66, with just 24 putts. Sweet.phil hand

What about Martin Kaymer “The Disappearing Major Winner.” It seems that Kaymer contends and wins a major every few years and then disappears. He’s back with a first round 66.

Justin Thomas representing the youth movement, started like a hell-a-fire with four straight birdies, added another on seven But he his back nine 36 brought him down to earth. Still 67 to open is just fine.

How about 49 year old Steve Stricker shooting 67! This is a part time player that wasn’t going to make the trip and had to be convinced to come over to Royal Troon. Good choice.

Tony Finau is also carrying the colors for the youth movement at T4 with a 67 and a 330 yard average drive.

Defending Champ Zach Johnson had it to six under par before he bogeyed his last two holes.

Low scores abounded at Troon as 50 players finished under par. Let’s see how they fare on Friday with rain and wind bearing down on them.

The Golf Channel’s broadcast of their first major was very good. Utilizing their NBC Golf partners and new addition to NBC Mike Tirico gave us top notch guys calling the action. Rich Lerner, Johnny Miller and Tirico are three of the best in the business. Feherty and Rolfing and the rest of the crew make NBC/Golf Channel’s acquisition of the Open a bonus and a joy to watch.

Royal Troon, while greener that normal and susceptible to low scores looks like a heck of a course. I loved watching the Postage Stamp (8) and Railway (11) although the players weren’t as thrilled with them.

Bogeys…

Holes 10 and 11…..the holes themselves are so very tough. The 11th was the most difficult with the 10th right behind it. There were only six birds on the 11th and 8 on the 10th. Railway as the 11th is known for the commuter line that travels alongside the hole saw 45 bogeys and 25 doubles or worse. There were three nines carded on this treacherous hole.

Royal Troon's difficult 11th hole

Royal Troon’s difficult 11th hole

Maybe this is a hangover from the Fox U.S. Open coverage (I sure don’t miss it) but I was missing the “Protracer” video following the ball. That’s my only complaint from day one’s marathon coverage.

The Big 3 weren’t so big. Rory McIlroy led at -2 with Jordan Spieth at even par and Jason Day bringing up the rear at +2. So much for all that Big 3 talk… no matter what Feherty says.

And Rickie Fowler wasn’t much better at -2 and Dustin Johnson started out by putting his opening tee ball in the crap, managed a bogey and struggled to even par. So much for the hottest player in the game.

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