It's 1:30 am...Do You Have Your TV On?

​It’s 1:30 am…time to wake up and watch some golf!  Even though the woolies may be out early this morning, we could be in for lower scores today. 
 
Downpours and thunderstorms chased the players from Royal Birkdale on Wednesday afternoon.  While limiting their last minute preparations, the rain brings good news to the players.  The turf will be softened with the heavy rain and should make the course a bit easier, so long as the wind doesn’t blow Thursday.  Royal Birkdale really only has one hole where you can definitely be thinking birdie (17), but the softer conditions should allow the players to hit some close approach shots.  We could very easily see a 64 from someone.
 
This Open Championship is about the most wide-open that I can recall.  There really is not a clear-cut favorite going into the event.  Dustin Johnson, Jordan Speith and Rickie Fowler are co-favorites at 14-1, followed closely by Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia at 16-1.  But this Open could be easily won by a player nobody is talking about.  Marc Leishman and Shane Lowry are players that come to my mind.  Ian Poulter has gradually come back into contending form recently.  Padraig Harrington even is a possibility. 
 
Thursday’s forecast just calls for clouds and 15-20 mph breeze.  Friday has rain in the forecast.  The eventual winner could benefit from timing…tee timing that is.  

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