Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Live - The Open

Live scoring console from opengolf.com (external site)
LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)

By Sam Lyon

US up
0743: A delightful birdie two from Jeff Overton sees him join American compatriot Mark O'Meara at the top of the leaderboard on one under, and early indications are that low scores are there to be made today if you can keep it in the short stuff. That's easier said than done, though, at this Turnberry course, which has more hazards than an It's a Knockout obstacle course.

0735: Well, I've resisted for over an hour, but the time has come to look at what many consider to be the front-runner at Turnberry. Tiger Woods - almost every expert's pick to win the Championship this year - hopes to return to Open action, after missing last year's tournament through injury, with a bang. "Anytime you have a chance to lift the Claret Jug it's special," says the American, and with anyone you care to ask saying this Championship could come down to length off the tee, who would be foolish enough to bet against Woods bagging his 15th major here?

0728: America's Mark O'Meara will be among those hoping to roll back the years this weekend and he gets his Open going nicely with a birdie at the first to go top of the early leaderboard. Otherwise it's pars all round mainly, while Michael Campbell stops the rot with a par at the fourth to stay four over.

From Steve taking 15 Year 6 pupils to Brancaster Staithe (Norfolk) for kayaking + crabbing: "Thank goodness for mobile technology as I can supervise the kids whilst connecting with the golf! Keep the sun shining as I'll be there at the weekend! Go Monty + Poulter!"

From Richard in godmanchester via text on 81111: "My favourite day of the year! Not much chance of me or anyone from work getting anything done today. A fiver on Nick Watney at 80-1 and a patriotic cheer for the Brits and we're away!"

0716: OK, the weather might be delightful, but this course is proving trickier than Paul Daniels for the opening threesomes this morning. Mark Calcavecchia follows his birdie at the second with a bogey at three to drop back into a pack of seven on level par, while England's Paul Broadhurst does the same at the third to drop to one over. However, their struggles are smaller than a church mouse's dinner compared to Kiwi Michael Campbell - the 2005 US Open champion is four over after three. Oopsa-daisy.

From Peter by the pool in Kefalonia via text on 81111: "No Greek coverage so tuned in via the web. Early predictions are Lee Westwood to outshine Tiger Woods later, and Ross Fisher to make a strong start for the Brits!"

BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac on Twitter: "How nervy must that shot have been for Broadhurst? Watched three groups go, most of them using irons. Let the games begin. Brekkie time!"

0705: Englishman Paul Broadhurst may have had the honour of taking the first tee shot at the Open, but American Mark Calcavecchia snatches the first birdie of the Championship at the second, placing him top of the placings with, admittedly, only a dozen players now out on the course. Heady days indeed.

From Anon via text on 81111: "Re 0650 - vol au vents with artichokes? Don't tell me my mother in law has got a gig doing the catering! Won't be many turning up for day 2 if that is the case!!"

0657: So, in case you haven't yet had the chance to float around this wonderous thing we call the BBC Sport website, allow me to nudge you in the direction of a whole wad of preview material, interviews and blogs. For example, are you wondering if this is the year the Brits can conquer The Open? Rob Hodgetts is on hand to aid your musing. Or perhaps the America-philes (made-up word alert) among you are considering placing a little bet on one of the likes of Kenny Perry or Jim Furyk? Well, Mark Orlovac is your man to help you decide where to stick your cash. Have a poke around over your morning coffee and croissant, why don't you.

From Ian in Kent via text on 81111: "Re: 0630 - Yelps? Yelps!? This is Ivor Robson! I think you mean 'announces in a light Scottish burr'. Cheers."

0650: Scotland's own Gary Orr is among those out and about on the course at the moment and, let me tell you, conditions are so good at Turnberry at the moment, even I could shoot a sub-100 round I reckon. And that would ordinarily be a claim more fanciful than a vol-au-vent smothered in artichokes.

From Owen in Edinburg via text on 81111: "Re: 0628: Morning Sam. Did you mean sunny climes or are you going hillwalking in South Africa for your hols? Sorry, early for such pedantry. Is it windy over there?"
Ah yes, good spot Owen. I do indeed holiday in the mountains. Ahem.

It's good news for a Briton at the Open
0643: Pars all round for the 2009 Open's first group meaning an Englishman leads the Championship folks! What are the chances of that still being the case come Sunday evening?

BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac on Twitter: "It really is a glorious morning here at Turnberry, the contrast with the first day at Birkdale could not be more stark. Wonder how the 1st group are feeling?"

0635: Broadhurst, alongside Kiwi Michael Campbell and American Mark Calcavecchia, strolls down the opening fairway to polite applause as the crowds begin to build nicely even at this early hour. And that allows me to give you an early pointer that this year's Open will be what can only be described as Twitter-tastic. We have Robin Hodgetts, Mark Orlovac, Iain Carter and Ged Scott - among others - in place at Turnberry and all of them are armed with a mobile phone and an intention to keep us all updated via the medium of Tweets throughout the next four days. Modern technology huh?

Sunshine
0630: "On the tee, Paul Broadhurst", yelps Open starter Ivor Robson, and the Englishman gets the 138th Open Championship under way with a super drive right down the middle of the fairway. Let me tell you, conditions could not be better at Turnberry right now - take a picture and slap it on a postcard, someone, please. If it stays like this, we could be looking at a heap of low scores today - something few were predicting earlier this week.

BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts on Twitter: "Quick cup of splosh, then out to the 1st tee. Not so warm. Lots of dew. Dry, with some clouds, some clear patches. Excited, it's the Open!"

0628: Turnberry - one of the most picturesque courses out there - plays host to the Open this year and, with literally seconds to go until the first shot, why don't you think about getting involved via text on 81111? Few things in life fully justify a 0430 alarm call, I'm sure you'll agree, but the Open is up there with Christmas morning and a long-haul holiday flight to the sunny climbs of who knows where. Get involved.

0625: Oh yes, I know what you're thinking... just when you thought this summer's feast of top sporting action could not get any more plentiful, along comes the 138th Open Championship. Settle yourself in for four days of quality, nail-biting, topsy-turvy golfing action because, as far as I can tell, any one of about three dozen players will fancy their chances of taking home the most coveted prize in world golf on Sunday evening. Are you ready to rumble?



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