British Golfers Have Good Chances In This Year’s Open Championship

The best players in the golfing world are set to descend upon the Old Course at St Andrews which is playing host to this year’s Open Championship which looks set to be as hotly contested as in previous years. Last year’s nail biting conclusion saw veteran Tom Watson’s brilliant performance let down only by a final hole meltdown to Stewart Cink giving the American his first Open Championship at Turnberry.

This year though a lot of focus and expectation has been placed upon the golfers from the UK and Ireland as recent form for many of our home-grown players has been impressive with many famous golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter all looking forward to returning to St. Andrews where the tournament was last held in 2005.

Last month Graeme McDowell won at the US Open played out at the notorious links course at Pebble Beach, the latest of his major wins with the Welsh Open win just two weeks prior to his winning performance at Pebble Beach.

The Old Course at St. Andrews is well liked by many British golfers such as Ian Poulter who has said he ranks it well within the top 5 courses in the world he’s played on. Other familiar faces such as Justin Rose will also be present after his win at the AT&T National, an event hosted by the reigning world number one Tiger Woods.

With five UK and Ireland golfers currently in the World Golf Rankings Top ten our golfers now outnumber the Americans in the top ten and considering the recent successes of British golfers this is definitely an upward trend.

The Open Championship in St. Andrews this year is also a landmark event with the tournament also being the 150th anniversary of the annual tournament. Many amateur golfers will already have their tickets for the event that begins in the second week of July and will no doubt be keeping a close eye on many of their favourite golfers for tips and inspiration for when they are on the golf course themselves.

Players looking to play on championship courses like St. Andrews may have long waiting lists with courses in the area and at St. Andrews being very popular this year obviously. If you want to get a game on the course the Open is being played on it is normally easier to get a chance to play on the same course as the greats by either trying earlier in the year as well as the months afterwards, just be aware of any periods where the course is worked on such as spectator stands being worked on or any other work that may mean the course is closed temporarily.