More Open News As The 150th Nears
The championship is getting 21st Century tracking, stats, range coverage and a 22% purse bump. Plus, Tiger and Rory at Ballybunion. Jordan Spieth talks Old Course. A Gullane sunset.
While the R&A rolled out several 150th Open announcements in advance of next week’s championship, Cameron Tringale maintained a three-stroke lead in the Genesis Scottish Open. The southern Californian will go out Saturday with Gary Woodland in the final pairing at 3:40 pm BST. Recent U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, is four back after a 66, as is recent Travelers winner Xander Schauffele. Other notables at even par include Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, and Patrick Cantlay.
Those released from wasting their time on the unnecessarily-forced, often-goofy and Old Course-unadjacent Renaissance Club include many notable 2022 Open Championship contestants: Sebastian Munoz, Lucas Herbert, Billy Horschel, Colin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris , Marc Leishman, Scottie Scheffler, Henrik Stenson, Nicolai Hojgaard, Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland, Mito Pereira, Keegan Bradley, Danny Willett, Justin Thomas and Francesco Molinari. Several of those names—notably Morikawa, Scheffler, Zalatoris and Hovland—have never been to St Andrews. They will get a much-needed head start on their crash course in extreme strategic design. They’ll also get to practice ground game shots Renaissance Club does not allow for or reward in strong wind like the field has seen this week.
Meanwhile in Fife, the R&A announced several items of note.
The 150th Open winner will receive $2.5 million in prize money.
The total purse of $14 million marks a 22% increase over last year.
The prize money has increased 60% since 2016.
Among the majors, The Open still trails the U.S. Open ($17.5 million), Masters ($15 million) and PGA Championship ($15 million).
The first ten non-qualifiers after two rounds earn $10,500; the next 20 receive $8,500 and all other pros get $7,000.
Daniel Berger has withdrawn from The Open due to a back injury. He will be replaced by former Pepperdine Wave great Sahith Theegala, OWGR 62. Alex Noren is next on the “reserve list.”
Two groups were announced for Monday’s Celebration of Champions featuring former Open winners and other R&A champions. Defending champ Collin Morikawa will hit the first tee shot at 3.05pm BST alongside reigning Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist, Women’s Amateur Champion Jess Baker and Asia-Pacific Amateur winner Keita Nakajima.
The last group out 5.05pm BST will be Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, 2018 Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall and Lee Trevino.