The 150th Open Championship: Five Outsiders
Sam Elder
Posted on: 12 July 2010 - 15:31
Golf
The Open is rarely dominated by the favourites, with outsiders often cropping up to contend and often win. Sport.co.uk outlines five names who could surprise us all with a win this week:
Bo Van Pelt
Over the last year, Bo Van Pelt has been creeping up leaderboards in big tournaments without anyone really paying much attention. The Open Championship has a habit of throwing up surprise winners. This year’s could just be Van Pelt. 2010 has been a promising year for the 35 year old, notching up five top tens in nineteen events on the PGA Tour, including a 5th placed finish at prestigious Players Championship.
Chris Wood
In 2008 Wood finished as the top amateur at the Open in 5th place. The following year the 6’5’’ Brit finished in a tie for 3rd. The youngster clearly has a game well suited to links golf, and his calm demeanour will enable him to cope with the intensity of a major championship if he’s in contention on Sunday. At just 22, many have tipped Wood for future major success. That success could come sooner than expected.
JB Holmes
Cynics would argue that JB Holmes’ lack of subtlety and flawed short game makes him a rank outsider to win on a links course. However, length is unquestionably an asset at St Andrews, and Holmes certainly holds a fair bit of that in his locker. Although his record at The Open leaves a lot to be desired, several pundits have labelled the Old Course’s set up this year as favouring the big hitters. But if he wants to content, he’ll have to resist temptation and avoid St Andrews notorious bunkers.
Rory Mcilroy
Having been relentlessly tipped to take the world by storm since his emergence in 2007, Mcilroy has failed to shine in the majors as yet. However, he will undoubtedly be spurred on by his compatriot’s victory at the US Open last month. Still only 21, Mcilroy will certainly be a regular contender in the majors in the future, but whether he is ready to clinch a big title yet remains to be seen. He certainly has the game, that is without question.
Tim Clark
With real course management skills and a favourable temperament, the gritty South Africa is in with a real shout this week. Having already snapped up a great win at the Players’ early this year, I wouldn’t put it passed Clark to successfully plot his way around St Andrews. Clark’s also coming into the event with some decent form, having finish in a tie for 7th last week at the John Deere Classic.