International Courant
Many storylines, together with an beginner Christo Lamprecht tied for the lead, at The Open Championship from Royal Liverpool have come from Day One of many historic event.
However one factor is for certain: Holes 17 and 18 at Royal Liverpool are a “monstrosity,” in response to Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie, Billy Foster.
When the event teed off on Thursday, the course’s last two holes had been a nightmare for a lot of golfers, as treacherous bunkers across the inexperienced took victims left and proper.
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Justin Thomas of the USA reacts on the 14th gap on Day One in every of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership on July 20, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs)
The primary on 17 — a model new, brief par-3 at 138 yards — requires a exact tee shot that has a direct line to the pin. If not, the golfer will doubtless discover themselves in one of many bunkers stationed across the supposed goal.
After all, with winds swirling round Hoylake, it’s laborious to be as exact because the golfer desires.
Then, it’s time for the driving force with a 599-yard 18th and last gap for the spherical. There’s a number of out of bounds areas to take care of off the tee. Extra bunkers await the golfer on their method pictures as effectively.
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“I’d say it’s honest, as a result of it’s unfair to all people,’’ Jon Rahm stated through Yahoo! Sports activities previous to the event. “Prefer it’s golf, and it’s life. Easy as that. All of us should play the identical holes. When you hit a great shot, you’ll positively almost certainly have a birdie probability. If not, you’ll take care of it. I get you’re going for that on a championship Sunday.
“You might have a one-shot lead, that gap may be pivotal.”
Lucas Herbert realized rapidly at Gap 17 how laborious these bunkers are to flee after he aired his tee shot over the inexperienced, saying it was “fairly laborious to really feel the wind.” He ended up with a triple bogey after his first try out of the sand went awry, and he got here into the outlet with the lead at 3-under.
Phil Mickelson was one other who struggled on the seventeenth, discovering it laborious to get out of the bunker on his first attempt as effectively.
For Brooks Koepka, although, he doesn’t thoughts the problem and thinks the seventeenth is definitely fairly enjoyable.
Rickie Fowler of America performs his third shot on the eighth gap in the course of the first spherical of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership on July 20, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (David Cannon/Getty Photographs)
“I prefer it,” he instructed Yahoo! Sports activities. “I’m an enormous believer within the brief par-3s — make it tough, precisely like that. I believe all the most effective par 3s on the planet which have ever been designed are 165 yards or shorter.
“Simply don’t hit it over there, and also you gained’t have an issue, proper?”
However the 18th noticed some brutal tee pictures and lies within the greenside bunkers from quite a few golfers, together with Rickie Fowler. Hospitality tents and room for spectators makes it a slim tee shot, and Fowler discovered himself out of bounds not as soon as, however twice. He would end his spherical with a triple bogey to go 1-over on the day.
There was additionally Justin Thomas’s implosion, as his latest play continues to falter at majors. He scored a depraved quadruple bogey after he couldn’t keep out of the bunkers, hitting out from one to the opposite and even duffing a pitch shot again in.
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He’s in peril to overlook one other main lower with an 82 posted in his first spherical.
Rory McIlroy virtually suffered the identical destiny as his friends when he was trapped within the bunker at 18. He tried to hit it out the primary time and failed, however with one leg in and one leg laid on the grass outdoors, he managed to get his ball near the outlet with an opportunity to save lots of par.
A fist pump got here out after he knocked in his par putt, ending even on the day.
Usually, you don’t see reactions like that on the primary day of any event, however that fist pump exhibits how laborious it’s for these golfers to get the job achieved.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Eire reacts on the twelfth inexperienced on Day One in every of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership on July 20, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs)
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These two ending holes will proceed to pester these execs and amateurs for the following three days. However, like Rahm stated, it’s for everyone to endure.
Scott Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital.
Remaining two Open Championship holes baffling execs at Royal Liverpool: ‘Unfair to all people’
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