Monday At The 152nd Open
Harman returns the Claret Jug as Slumbers issues warning about purse increases. Plus, the lengthened par 3 17th, a Tom Weiskopf tribute, and an update on Thursday's "low confidence" forecast.
The Open kicked into official countdown mode when Brian Harman returned the world’s premier carafe to the R&A.
Harman, last year’s winner at Royal Liverpool, pulled up to Troon in a pimped-out G-Wagen for the annual staged handover designed to keep those upscale courtesy cars coming.
This year’s edition seemed a slightly incongruous by featuring an official car going for £200,000 the same day the R&A’s chief warned against unsustainable purses in men’s professional golf. For his part, Harman went along with the pageantry out of an affinity for the Claret Jug and The Open.
“In my opinion, it's the coolest trophy in all of sports,” he said. “So I think it's deserving of all of the pageantry that is involved with it.”
Harman said he poured some high quality wine and bourbon into the fabled silver despite the murky base inside. Judging by Harman’s healthy appearance on Monday, he suffered no ill-effects from whatever might reside inside the ancient trophy.
With that tradition out of the way, Monday offered beyond-pleasant weather for practice played before very light crowds treated to excellent spectating possibilities. In addition to the players already having checked into the Marine Hotel or their rental homes, late-finishing Genesis Scottish Open participants turned up at Troon. The dramatic winner there, Robert “Bobby” MacIntyre, held to his word and celebrated the victory in his national Open by taking the day off.
Scotland’s great hope moved his press conference to Wednesday.
In today’s Quadrilateral I have a note on the 17th hole, a Tom Weiskopf tribute on the penultimate par 3, the R&A purse announcement accompanied by a strong Martin Slumbers statement, and an update on the “low confidence” weather prediction for Thursday’s opening round that sounds increasingly confident the heavy stuff might be coming on opening day of The Open.
17th Hole
Yesterday, I noted how Troon’s nine new tees blended in seamlessly. Following Monday’s walk around and deep ruminating before an evening tee time, I’ve decided one of the new grounds seems a bit excessive given the green complex and potential for distance-damaging winds.
Clocking in at 242 yards, the 17th is a total and possibly excessive beast.
The concept of adding more yardage at 17 seems driven by a desire to keep a similar long iron or fairway wood in the hands of today’s Olympics-worthy weightlifters. One problem: the green is perched up with fall-offs on all sides better suited to a 175 yard shot. The prevailing wind out of the left is rarely of assistance. And the hole sits on flat ground, making the green look like it’s 400 yards away.
But the actual putting surface is at least quietly contoured with a slight back-to-front tilt.
How No. 17 will play from the new tee will be determined over the next few days, but like many stout par 3s made longer for majors, the update feels motivated by keeping the same club in player hands over what best suits the hole. Such a calculus is always a bit confusing on time-tested venues since modern iron lofts do not match what previous Open winners used.
Historically, the hole has been a 2-4 iron in modern era Opens. Notable shots like the epic 3-iron by Tom Weiskopf in 1973 and Henrik Stenson’s final round 4-iron in 2016 were iconic (even if Stenson missed the putt he still posted an astounding final day 63).
Stenson’s shot came from the 220-yard tee.
In the last Open eight years ago, No. 17 played to a 3.22 average and ranked as Troon’s fifth toughest hole. I suspect the new tee will keep it there or even rank it as the third or fourth toughest hole.
Here is a video tour around the green shot recorded before I read the tribute to Weiskopf (detailing why the hole was chosen to honor the late great).
Tom Weiskopf Tribute
The late World Golf Hall of Famer and 1973 Open Champion passed away in August, 2022. He was not recognized last year by the R&A in lieu of the opportunity to salute the champion here 51 years ago.
This week Weiskopf’s signature is displayed on the grandstand backing the par 3 green where he sealed his lone major victory. Weiskopf wired the field in 1973 making him the only Troon champion to do so and one of only seven to hold the outright lead over four Open days.
He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame posthumously in June.
Prize Fund Announced…With A Warning
The R&A announced a modest $500,000 increase in The Open’s purse with $3.1 million going to the Champion Golfer of the Year.