2013 Open Championship Preview

The third major of the season, The Open Championship AKA The British Open, starts in just two days at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland. Personally, this is my favourite major out of the four, mainly because it's played on a links course and because of the history that is behind it.

For those of you who don't know, a links course, unlike a traditional golf course, forces many of its players to take shots or play the golf ball in a way that they normally wouldn't. For example, say you are 100 yards away from the green, on a normal course, you'd play a wedge or high iron of some sort and lob the golf ball high onto the green. However a links course, due to the weather or hole layout, might force you to play the ball low and bounce the ball onto the green. Links golf challenges you in all parts of your golf game. That's why I think the yearly winner of The Open Championship is usually an all-around excellent player in all aspects of their game.

 "I think this golf course is extremely fair. It's got a lot of flat entrances into greens to where good shots are getting rewarded more often that not here. [Muirfield] is all right there in front of you, there's no hidden tricks to it. Like I say, good quality golf gets rewarded." -Graeme McDowell on Muirfield Golf Club during his press conference earlier today. 

As with most Open Championships, the weather plays a big part in the tournament. Rain and wind can easily make the scores at Muirfield to turn for the worst and make for some exciting golf (at least for spectators), which is again unique to links golf.

My picks for winning The Open Championship this year or at least placing in the top 10 are as follows:

1) Graeme McDowell - He's probably one of the best links golfers at the moment (he's won twice already this year on links courses) and stated earlier today in his press conference that Muirfield plays towards his strengths. Plus he's an all-around great guy and my favourite golfer on tour.
2) Geoff Ogilvy - He's been pretty quiet over the course of the golf season, but I think he might just take the claret jug come Sunday afternoon.
3) Dustin Johnson - Another all-around good golfer who's has good finishes at The Open (2 top-10's in the last 2 Open Championships.

G-Mac has already won three times this year. Can he win The Open? (Photo from the Belfast Telegraph)

Stay tuned for more posts about the 2013 Open Championship,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews