Imurg
addict
Reged: 15/03/2008
Posts: 511
Loc: Aylesbury Bucks
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how many stars will play the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next year??
I know the wind was tough at Birkdale, but playing an"American" Style target course the week before the Open does seem a bit daft. Lets face it, Padraig hasn't played it the last two years and - oh- he won the Open!!!! Twice!!! In sucessive years!!!!
Seems to me that the ideal warm-up for the Open is playing the Irish PGA or knocking it about on some other links. Don't forget Tiger does this too. Will the likes of Mickleson,Els,Rose,Garcia, etc etc etc try the same tactic next year? Could turn the Scottish into an ordinary European Tour event.
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In the bag
Ping G10 10.5* stiff
Ping G10 4 wood 17* Regular
Callaway Big Bertha 7 wood steel 21*
Ping G10 Hybrid 24*
Callaway X-20 Tour Irons 5-pw
Ping Tour W Chrome 50/12
Ping Tour W Chrome 54/14
Ping Tour W Chrome 58/8
Ping Karsten Piper
Handicap 11. Going the right way for a change
In the mind......
Who knows??
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SS2
enthusiast
Reged: 09/10/2007
Posts: 288
Loc: Glasgow, Scotland
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The Scottish Open is a great event at a great venue. It should still survive if it loses a few big names who want to get some links practice before The Open.
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2008 Starting Handicap: 12.2
2008 Ending Handicap: 12.6
2009 Target: Ask me in January '09
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birdieman
veteran
Reged: 28/02/2007
Posts: 1410
Loc: Aberdeenshire
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Mickelson prepares better than any but he just doesn't have a great links game.
Harrington was brought up playing coastal courses in a poor climate, a bit like Paul Lawrie years ago.
McDowell still made decent job of Birkdale bar Thursday because he too was brought up on links golf.
I don't think missing 4 days to play Loch Lomond makes any difference.
The fact Loch Lomond is so far away from a links event makes it better as a tournament, if it was played on a links it would really just be the poor mans Open, as it is it's a great tournament in it's own right.
Can't see players dropping playing it, it's a big money purse too.
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driver: Bridgestone J33R, 9.5 deg, stiff Aldila NV
3+ wood: Wilson Staff Pf6 13.5deg stiff aldila NV
2r utility: Mizuno Hi-fli CLK 17deg stiff
4r utility: Cobra Baffler 23deg stiff
irons: Titleist 735CM 4-PW, S300's
wedges: Mizuno 53 & 58 deg MP-T series Black Ni
putter: Odyssey white hot XG No.5 CS
handicap 5.2
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murphthemog
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/03/2007
Posts: 2366
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It is also the last chance to qualify for the open.
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A Scotty is for life, not just for Christmas
In the bag, mainly Titleist stuff.
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HomerJSimpson
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/08/2007
Posts: 2809
Loc: Bracknell - Berkshire
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I think a few played it this year to a) try and get into the Open and B) chase Ryder Cup points. If it wasn't Ryder Cup year I don't think as many of the higher ranked Europeans would have played.
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Happy Golfing
Homer
Handicap 13.7
Callaway Big Bertha 460 11 degree
Cleveland Hi Bore XLS 3 wood
Callaway HI bore XLS 5 wood
Cobra DWS Baffler 3 hybrid
Taylor Made Tour Preferred Burner graphite 4-PW
Taylor Made Z TP 52 degree wedge (zip grooves)
Taylor Made Z TP 56 degree wedge (zip grooves)
Taylormade Rossa Spider Putter
Taylormade TMX golf bag (red/white)
Titleist Pro V
www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk
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realgolferuk
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 19/08/2007
Posts: 2891
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Seems to me that if anyone is serious about playing on a windy links course and wants to do well it would be worth spending the week before at a similar club/course.
Some players needed to play for various reasons at Loch Lomond, a week spent next door (e.g. at Hillside) would seem a much more sensible idea.
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Dave
Returned from 5 years of not playing - played off 8-11, now 12 .
Member of the Tommy Armour 845 appreciation society (current membership 2!)
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rgs
old hand
Reged: 14/03/2007
Posts: 705
Loc: Dublin Ireland
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Harrington played in a 4 day tournament The Irish PGA both in 2007 & 2008 preceding the Open-The Irish PGA moved the event to this date and a lnks course at Harringtons suggestion-in hindsight a great decision.
IMHO the biggest difference between practising on links and playing a tournament is the fact you only have one ball in tournament play and need to play at tournament pace-whereas in practise you can always hit another ball and hit numerous putts on the green.
The Scottsh Open will stay a top event for a few reasons-last chance to get into the Open and the significant prize money on offer.
The 3 local PGA units i.e Welsh,Scottish & English PGA should organise their own event that week on a links course and see if the top local pros turn up.
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Ping G5
Taylor Made Rescue 19degree
Macgregor DX 5 wood
Wilson Deep red 11 3-SW
Taylor Made RAC Satin TP 56 Degree SW.
Odyssey Dual Force 2 Putter.
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