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The Open Championship, 2006.
July 20-23, 2006.
Royal Liverpool, Hoylake



The 2006 British Open, the year's third major, runs from July 20-23 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake. Last year's winner, Tiger Woods, figures to be the sportsbook favorite. Phil Mickelson, winner of this year's Masters and a near-winner at the U.S. Open, will likely be a popular wager as he looks to bounce back from his 18th hole meltdown at Winged Foot. Woods won by five shots last year at the British Open, at 14 under. Woods also won the British in 2000. Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, still arguably the best player to not win a major, will look to use his strong U.S. Open finish to breakthrough at Hoylake and should again be a fan favorite. At 43, however, the odds don't figure to be in Monty's favor.

The Open Championship breakdown ( updated thru July 14)
• frequently referred to as the British Open - especially in the United States of America.
• the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf.
• The Open Championship is played the weekend of the 3rd Friday in July.
• Is the third major to take place each year following The Masters and the U.S. Open and before the PGA Championship.
• It has been an official event on the PGA TOUR since 1995.
• The European Tour has always recognized The Open as an official event.

Records
• Oldest winner: Old Tom Morris (46 years, 99 days), 1867.
• Youngest winner: Young Tom Morris (17 years, 5 months, 8 days), 1868.
• Most victories: 6, Harry Vardon (1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914).
• Lowest absolute 72-hole score: 267, Greg Norman (66-68-69-64), 1993.
• Lowest 72-hole score in relation to par: -19, Tiger Woods (67-66-67-69, 269), 2000.

Past winners
• 2003, Ben Curtis ( score 283).
• 2004, Todd Hamilton ( score 274).
• 2005, Tiger Woods ( score 274).

Are there any driveable par-4's on the course this year like last year? I don't know much about the course they are playing...

Click here to read about the course:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/5166406.stm


Seems flat, tame, and a tad boring. Could be tricky, however.

Hoylake is actually in Northern England. It is running but not burnt and I can't see anyone going for any of the shorter par 4's because the risk will be too much and they ARE out of reach unless down wind (25mph+).
The complaint of too many internal OOB's are unfounded, they are closer than most other venues but nothing like the railway at Lytham. OOB right 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9.

The weather will drop from 90's on Wednesday to high seventies by the weekend.

Fairways are tight and there will be lot of run,making it difficult to use the big timber and stay on the fairway unless you shape it around the dog legs. Shortest par four is 372 and is not as straight as the shorter par fours at St Andrews. It will be big risk reward to take on the par fours or hit the par fives in two because of the bounce,roll and rough around the greens. The greens will not hold as they are firm, requireing more shots to pitch short and run onto the green.

Tiger's stinger two iron would be his favourite option on a number of holes.

http://www.royal-liverpool-golf.com/ecology.htm

For the ecologists watching the Open


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/sp...=1&oref=slogin


Add Billy Andrade to the good guys list.