Fitzpatrick, the 27-year-old from Sheffield, who plays on the American circuit, currently has everything he needs to do the Double US Open/British Open – the two big “open championships” involving amateurs in the 156-strong field. The last one to do that was Tiger Woods in 2000.
To find the penultimate winner of this doubles – American Tom Watson – you have to go back to 1982. Even before that, only golf greats had struck at both tournaments: Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and before that twice Bobby Jones.
The fact that this double is so rare is due to the fact that the places at the US Open and the British Open have a very different character every year. That doesn’t stop Fitzpatrick’s chances, as the rascally-faced golfer also learned his trade on British coastal courses – of which St Andrews is the most famous.
Wood’s badass outsider
Woods, who will play the first two rounds of the British Open with Fitzpatrick and Max Homa, is a sentimental favorite for some. But that he could win the oldest golf tournament again after his victories in 2000, 2005 and 2006 is not a realistic expectation. Since December 2020, the 46-year-old has only played two tournaments after his serious car accident in February 2021, both this year at the US Masters in Augusta in April and the US PGA Championship in May.
With so little practice, it seems next to impossible that the US star could keep up with the competition in the tournament. For Woods, it’s all about making the cut. However, he is now physically much fitter than before. “My leg is much stronger now.” In April-August it would have been “impossible to play all 72 holes,” he admitted.
Numerous contenders
As always, the list of contenders is very long. Once again the American world number one Scottie Scheffler, winner of the US Masters in April, is expected to be far ahead. But after his stellar performances in the first four months of the year, he’s slacked off a bit. Collin Morikawa can probably be trusted just as much. The US golfer won last year’s British Open at Royal St. George’s.
Another contender is Rory McIlroy, who said of the controversial LIV tournament series, “It would be better for the sport if I won. But I won’t begrudge anyone if they win here just because they’re on a different tour than me.” With two wins on the tour and four top-ten finishes at the first three majors of the year (runner-up at the Masters). In any case, McIlroy is one of the top favourites. It would be his fifth major title.