5 main speaking factors forward of the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship

The Previous Course at St Andrews will host the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship from July 14-17.

Right here, the PA information company appears at a few of the speaking factors forward of the ultimate main championship of the 12 months.

Can Tiger Woods contend for a 3rd Open victory at St Andrews?

Woods was on the peak of his powers when he received his first Open title by eight photographs at St Andrews in 2000 and returned 5 years later to carry the Claret Jug for a second time after ending 5 strokes away from Colin Montgomerie. Now aged 46 and nonetheless not totally match following the automobile accident in February final 12 months which nearly resulted in his proper leg being amputated, the 15-time main winner sat out final month’s US Open to ensure he may play at St Andrews and stated he was a lot stronger after enjoying the JP McManus Professional-Am in Eire.

Will we see an historic low rating?

Branden Grace created historical past when he turned the primary man to shoot 62 in a significant in the course of the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, whereas Ross Fisher holds the course document at St Andrews following a 61 within the Dunhill Hyperlinks three months later. If a scarcity of wind leaves the Previous Course weak to related scoring, Montgomerie fears a sub-60 rating could possibly be potential. “It doesn’t should have a 59 on it,” Montgomerie advised Golf Month-to-month.

Is it the final main for LIV rebels?

The R&A confirmed final month that gamers competing on the LIV Golf tour, who’ve been suspended by the PGA Tour, wouldn’t be prevented from enjoying at St Andrews. Former champion Phil Mickelson is exempt till he’s 60 and different main winners have shorter exemptions, but when LIV Golf fails in its bid to be allowed to award world rating factors in its occasions, their gamers may discover it increasingly more troublesome to safe a spot within the majors.

Can Rory McIlroy flip high 10s into an overdue win?

McIlroy completed runner-up within the Masters, was eighth within the US PGA Championship and fifth within the US Open this season, but was by no means actually in rivalry on the again 9 within the last spherical of any of them as he seeks a primary main win since 2014. An ankle harm prevented him defending his Open title in 2015 at St Andrews, the place he shot a 63 within the first spherical 5 years earlier however adopted it with an 80 in poor circumstances and finally completed third.

How will US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick carry out?

Matt Fitzpatrick was not within the area the final time St Andrews hosted the Open in 2015, having solely turned skilled 13 months earlier, however the 27-year-old will journey to Scotland as one of many favourites following his US Open triumph at Brookline. A tie for twentieth at Portrush in 2019 is his finest Open lead to six appearances, whereas he has a finest end of fifteenth within the Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship, which incorporates two rounds on the Previous Course.