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THE AUSSIE TRIO of Ashley Hall, Cameron Smith and Aaron Baddeley qualified for the 146TH OPEN at RSGC.
Jordan Spieth’s extra-holes victory at the 101st Emirates Australian Open will long be remembered as one of the most exciting, dramatic and hotly contested in the event’s long and distinguished history. But, while taking possession of the Stonehaven Cup and the first-place cheque for $225,000 would have been more than nice for joint runners-up Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith after both closed with brilliant 66's, the Aussies can at least take solace in a tasty little consolation prize. Along with compatriot Aaron Baddeley, the pair each secured one of the three exempt spots on offer for next year’s OPEN Championship at Royal Birkdale. For Ash Hall, the exciting prospect of teeing-up for a second time in the championship (he missed the cut at Royal Lytham in 2012) is a far cry from the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School, where he was competing only two months ago. The 33-year-old from Melbourne passed that test successfully, but failed at the second stage. "It’s great,” he said. “I love Birkdale. I played there as an amateur in 2005, so it will be nothing new to me. And I played the course again during the 2012 Open. It’s going to be fun. The Open is one of my favourite tournaments, so knowing I’m in this far out, is kind of nice. I love links golf. I love the way they play and it’s just a different way of playing golf. Much like Australian golf, you can bounce the ball around a little bit, so I don't think it’s any secret why Aussies have done pretty good in the past at the Open.” Queenslander Cameron Smith missed out in what would have been something of a “triple crown” of Australian golf by losing in that play-off but was also excited at the prospect of what will be his OPEN debut. “It’s going to be awesome,” said the 2011 Aussie Boys & 2013 Aussie Amateur champion with a huge smile on his face. “I actually played with the R&A Deputy Championship Committee Chairman, Peter Cowell earlier this week. I guess that was fate or kind of an omen. It’s the only major I haven’t played in yet, so I’m keen to get over there. That’s the one with all the history. I’d love to go over there and see what I can do.” Aaron Baddeley who has joint Australian & US citizenship claimed his spot by the narrowest of margins as one of five players tied for fourth place, the two-time Australian Open Champ (‘99 & 2000) broke the tie by dint of his higher position on the world rankings. Baddeley arrived in Sydney as the 149th OWGR, nine places better than New Zealander Ryan Fox, 17 ahead of Rod Pampling, 83 clear of Geoff Ogilvy and 173 beyond Jason Scrivener. Aaron is using a new set of sticks to open his 2016-17 season as he just signed a multi-year equipment deal with PING. ‘Badds’ (The 2006 Heritage Champ at Hilton Head, 2007 FBR Open, 2011 Northern Trust Open and 135 events later the Barbasol Champ last July in the USofA) has always garnered some interest on here - from frank60, huddys & applehunter to mention a few. He remains statistically speaking one of the best putters in the world, but his tee-to-green game remains one of the worst ! We’ll be keeping a close eye on those new clubs boys ! One of the peculiar highlights of his 2015 year must be his 'birdie' on hole 17 at the Valero Texas Open. A once-in-a-lifetime experience was to follow after pulling his tee ball at this drivable par 4 as Aaron was forced to swallow an unplayable lie. Now back at the tee and hitting his third, he promptly holed out from 336 yards for 'birdie'. Like Kenny Perry’s message to fans who may have thought that he was depressed after his playoff loss in the 2009 Masters tournament (that Cabrera won) - "I have been so blessed, I could never be disappointed or upset with my life. Jesus is No. 1 in my life. I hope that comes through in everything I do," he said. Baddeley is a committed Christian (like Spieth, Bubba, Ben Crane & Justin Leonard) and has confessed that it was his faith that prevented him giving up professional golf on numerous occasions. Remember ‘Amen Corner’ has not been too kind in the recent past. Baddeley's wife Richelle, whom he married on April 15, 2005, sums up Badds faith in God by saying: "He never asked, 'What are you trying to teach me? I want you to be the man you want me to be. I will go through these (bad) times if that is Your will'." Richelle has also been pivotal to Baddeley's resurgence. "I had to learn the balance of letting him be alone when he comes home sometimes upset. It's sheer frustration from him. He's played his best, and it just hasn't happened," she said. Baddeley and his wife Richelle have two daughters Jewell Kalaih and Jolee. While he has had many up and downs with his game as there’s no doubt he is well capable, he is not to be confused with 29-year-old Queenslander Steven Bowditch who suffers clinical depression. His nickname is “Badds.” Some might call it appropriate or a little ironic considering the high moral standards that he's set for himself? "My friends called me that nickname growing up. It’s sort of catchy. But my life is all about following the Lord and doing what’s right" - Baddeley. Amen. ![]() |
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Local man Darren Fichardt secured his fifth European Tour success after shooting a 4-under-par 34-34=68 in Sunday's closing third round at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club's East Course to finish at 15-under 200 and edge out British duo Paul Waring and Stuart Manley by a shot.
As well as ending his four-year drought at this level, Fichardt also punched his ticket for this summer's OPEN Championship as three spots were on offer here. Darren now gets the chance to peg it up in an Open Championship for the first time since 2010. He's never made the cut in his previous five. |
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Stuart Manley will peg it up for the first time in an OPEN Championship. The Welshman's 54-hole tally of 14-under 201 at the Joburg Open a weather-disrupted event secured one of the three spots on offer. England's Paul Waring also secured a place at an OPEN close to his Merseyside home - a welcome consolation after the agony of seeing a birdie putt at 18 to force a play-off with Fichardt catch the lip and spin out. Waring finished T19 at Royal Birkdale on his last appearance at the OPEN in 2008 so bank that info as he could be an interesting sleeper pick this summer on a course he knows well.
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Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Phachara Khongwatmai, Korea’s Younghan Song, and South Africa’s Jbe Kruger secured their places after qualifying at the SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club - the second event in The Open Qualifying Series.
The popular Thai golfer will look to make it sixth time lucky when he returns to The Open in July. It will be a busy summer for 50yo Marksaeng, who is set to play in the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl the following week. “I’m so happy. This is number six for me and I am just so proud to be in The Open and to make the Thai people proud of me also,” said Markaeng. Rising teenage star Khongwatmai kept a cool head to finish tied for second place on eight-under-par. The 17-year-old, who earned his first professional victory at the Sing Hu Hin Open aged just 14, played in The Open at Royal Troon last July. For the second year running Khongwatmai earns his exemption through The Open Qualifying Series, having booked his place last time in Thailand. “I’m feeling really excited and really happy. Last year I didn’t think I would get in The Open – I was very lucky to have played there. “I missed the cut but it wasn’t a problem for me because I played really good on the first day. On the second day, I played in the afternoon’s last two groups and it was very bad weather. Last year’s Singapore Open champion Song, 25, will make his Open debut. In 2016 the Korean recorded a slender victory over then world number one Jordan Spieth, beating the American by one stroke in a play-off to claim his maiden professional title. “I was very close to capturing the championship again and just missed out so I didn’t realise about getting the ticket to The Open until now,” said Song. “I haven’t play any links golf before but this is a really great honour to play in The Open.” Kruger owes his place at Royal Birkdale to a wonderful eagle at the last after his second shot skimmed over the surrounding bunkers to land within 20 feet of the pin. Kruger sunk his final putt to propel him up the leaderboard to join the mix of players on eight-under-par in second place. The South African is a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and will make his second appearance at The Open this summer after playing in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Kruger said his target was now to better that performance and make the cut at Royal Birkdale, saying, “I’m very excited, it has been a few long years for me. “It was amazing (playing at The Open in 2012). It was probably one of my first days of links golf so I didn’t play great. I played well the first day and then on the second I just fell apart. I didn’t really know how to play links golf but I think this time it’s going to be different – I actually like it now.” Next Event - TOQS Japan - Mizuno Open 25 May - 28 May 2017. |
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I detest these worldwide qualifying spots. They were implicated by The R&A to placate the IOC for golf to become an olympic sport.
I much preferred the old Sunday Monday 36 holes around local to the venue courses. They all rocked up: Crenshaw, Mize, Leonard, Brooks, (seen 'em all miss out yet to subsequently win a major). Club pro's & decent amateurs could live the dream and 2 decent scores may get through with 8 or more spots at each course. Some of the sudden death play offs were legendary. Paul Lawrie, Downfield GC 1999. He cruised through! |
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Roberto de Vicenzo, the Champion Golfer of the Year in 1967 and one of the sport’s most popular figures has died aged 94 just weeks after suffering a fall at his home. De Vicenzo was an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the second-oldest living Major winner.
The flamboyant Argentinian enjoyed a long and successful career which reached its apex when he lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool beating Jack Nicklaus by two strokes - The first Argentine to win a Major. Ever popular with the British galleries, de Vicenzo was just as renowned for his warm and engaging personality as he was for his sublime golf which saw him win 231 other tournaments, including eight on the PGA Tour, and would have been in a playoff at the 1968 Masters if he had not signed an incorrect scorecard after the final round. "What a stupid I am, (to be wrong here)" de Vicenzo famously said. He carded a closing 65 at Augusta National, but signed for a 66 and thus officially finished one stroke behind winner Bob Goalby. During the final round, De Vicenzo made a birdie 3 at the par-4 17th hole and finished tied with Bob Goalby. But Tommy Aaron, who was playing with De Vicenzo and keeping his scorecard, mistakenly wrote down a "4'' on the hole. De Vicenzo did not catch the error and signed the scorecard, meaning under the Rules of Golf he had to take that score. De Vicenzo said in an interview with ESPN Radio that when countryman Angel Cabrera won the Masters in 2009, it “brought a few tears to my eyes…because I would have loved to have that jacket myself as well.” De Vicenzo first got into golf as a caddie in Buenos Aires, retrieving balls from ponds but he rose from these humble beginnings to become the greatest golfer to emerge from South America. He first played in The Open in 1948, was a runner-up once and was third no less than six times. By 1967 he was a sentimental favourite, always a quality ball-striker, his putting not always reliable. Aged 44 he became the second oldest Champion ever, after Old Tom Morris who was 46 in 1867. In a tense finale, he held off the challenge of defending Champion Jack Nicklaus, helped by a birdie at the par-5 16th – now the 18th for Royal Liverpool’s recent Opens – when he struck a superb 3-wood over the corner of the out-of-bounds to the heart of the green. De Vicenzo’s victory was a joyous occasion and he was a hugely popular Champion. The crowd’s “sustained warmth and affection,” wrote Pat Ward-Thomas, “were tribute to a fine human being as well as a great golfer and a victory nobly won.” On the European Tour alone, De Vicenzo won the French Open, the German Open, the Dutch Open, the Spanish Open and the Belgian Open. De Vicenzo was also a success on the 50-and-over Champions Tour, winning the first US Senior Open in 1980, and the 1974 PGA Seniors' Championship. “A great sadness for Roberto de Vicenzo! No doubt Argentina and the golf today are mourning! Gracias por tanto Maestro! (Thank you for both master!)” - Cabrera paying homage to De Vicenzo via Twitter. |
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Roberto won 48 National Open Championships in 17 countries and played in 30 majors up to age 46 with 9 top 3 finishes.
More here... http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/03/21/roberto-de-vicenzo-deserves-more-than-masters-scorecard-blunder |
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13 Regional Qualifying events took place today around the UK and Ireland...
The qualifiers from The Island (just north of Dublin)..... MCCARROLL, Brendan Narin & Portnoo. LEECH, Gregory Golfanlage Schloss Nippenburg. LESTER, Rowan (A) Hermitage. HAPGOOD, Jake (A) Southerndown. |
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The leading five players from the T20 in the FedEx Cup after the Travelers last week are exempt to The OPEN if they are not already in the field - Charley Hoffman moved from 30th to 20th place.
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A few more qualifiers added later today. The Irish Open might surprise
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Richie Ramsay, Ryan Fox and David Drysdale qualify at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. A costly bogey on 18 for Daniel IM who just misses out on a place in the OPEN field.
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Drysdale broke the course record by one stroke at Portstewart, carding a nine-under-par 63 to finish tied for fourth place on 17-under-par with Justin Rose, who is already exempt for The Open, Fox and American Daniel Im.
Both Fox and Drysdale hold higher positions in the Official World Golf Ranking than Im and qualify for The Open as a result. |
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Good Work Catch,...........I am getting ready for the holliers next week.....getting my card marked early.
Jon Rahm 18.50 €15.90 €278.25 Brooks Koepka 44.00 €5.00 €215.00 Jeunghun Wang 855.86 €5.00 €4,274.30 David Horsey 749.40 €7.00 €5,238.80 (ps. food for thought/ this guy links Masters form/ Alfred Dunhill form with Open form.) http://www.golfbettingsystem.com/open-championship-tips.htm |
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Charl Schwartzel, €55 at 110.
He was 3rd in the US Masters in April, 2nd in the Fedex St Jude Classic in June His previous Open record: cut, cut, 22, cut, cut, 14, 16, cut, 15, 7, 68, 18 |
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2008 pod defends,
1 HARRINGTON, Padraig 74 68 72 69 283 2 POULTER, Ian 72 71 75 69 287 3 NORMAN, Greg 70 70 72 77 289 3 STENSON, Henrik 76 72 70 71 289 5 WOOD, Chris 75 70 73 72 290 5 FURYK, Jim 71 71 77 71 290 7 KARLSSON, Robert 75 73 75 69 292 7 AMES, Stephen 73 70 78 71 292 7 HOWELL, David 76 71 78 67 292 7 CASEY, Paul 78 71 73 70 292 7 CURTIS, Ben 78 69 70 75 292 7 ELS, Ernie 80 69 74 69 292 7 ALLENBY , Robert 69 73 76 74 292 7 STRICKER, Steve 77 71 71 73 292 7 KIM, Anthony 72 74 71 75 292 16 CHOI, KJ 72 67 75 79 293 16 SCOTT, Adam 70 74 77 72 293 16 LEONARD, Justin 77 70 73 73 293 19 LOVE III, Davis 75 74 70 75 294 19 JACOBSON, Freddie 71 72 79 72 294 19 WAKEFIELD, Simon 71 74 70 79 294 19 HANSEN, Anders 78 68 74 74 294 19 IMMELMAN, Trevor 74 74 73 73 294 19 MEDIATE, Rocco 69 73 76 76 294 19 MICKELSON, Phil 79 68 76 71 294 19 VAN DE VELDE, Jean 73 71 80 70 294 19 MCDOWELL, Graeme 69 73 80 72 294 19 HAVRET, Gregory 71 75 77 71 294 19 NOREN, Alex 72 70 75 77 294 19 WARING, Paul 73 74 76 71 294 19 SHERREARD, Thomas 77 69 76 72 294 1998 omeara wins playoff 1 O'MEARA, Mark 72 68 72 68 280 2 WATTS, Brian 68 69 73 70 280 3 WOODS, Tiger 65 73 77 66 281 4 FURYK, Jim 70 70 72 70 282 4 PARNEVIK, Jesper 68 72 72 70 282 4 RUSSELL, Raymond 68 73 75 66 282 4 ROSE, Justin 72 66 75 69 282 8 LOVE III, Davis 67 73 77 68 285 9 BJORN, Thomas 68 71 76 71 286 9 ROCCA, Costantino 72 74 70 70 286 11 DUVAL, David 70 71 75 71 287 11 FAXON, Brad 67 74 74 72 287 11 HUSTON, John 65 77 73 72 287 14 BRAND JR, Gordon 71 70 76 71 288 15 OLAZABAL, Jose Maria 73 72 75 69 289 15 TURNER, Greg 68 75 75 71 289 15 BAKER, Peter 69 72 77 71 289 15 SMYTH, Des 74 69 75 71 289 19 JAMES, Mark 71 74 74 71 290 19 SINGH, Vijay 67 74 78 71 290 19 ALLENBY , Robert 67 76 78 69 290 19 STRANGE, Curtis 73 73 74 70 290 19 LYLE, Sandy 71 72 75 72 290 1991 ian baker finch trots up 1 BAKER-FINCH, Ian 71 71 64 66 272 2 HARWOOD, Mike 68 70 69 67 274 3 COUPLES, Fred 72 69 70 64 275 3 O'MEARA, Mark 71 68 67 69 275 5 MUDD, Jodie 72 70 72 63 277 5 TWAY, Bob 75 66 70 66 277 5 DARCY, Eamonn 73 68 66 70 277 8 PARRY, Craig 71 70 69 68 278 9 BALLESTEROS, Seve 66 73 69 71 279 9 LANGER, Bernhard 71 71 70 67 279 9 NORMAN, Greg 74 68 71 66 279 12 CHAPMAN, Roger 74 66 71 69 280 12 SINGH, Vijay 71 69 69 71 280 12 WILLIAMS, David 74 71 68 67 280 12 DAVIS, Rodger 70 71 73 66 280 12 SUNESSON, Magnus 72 73 68 67 280 17 SHERBORNE, Andrew 73 70 68 70 281 17 TREVINO, Lee 71 72 71 67 281 17 SENIOR, Peter 74 67 71 69 281 17 BECK, Chip 67 78 70 66 281 17 MOULAND, Mark 68 74 68 71 281 17 WOOSNAM, Ian 70 72 69 70 281 17 LANE, Barry 68 72 71 70 281 17 FALDO, Sir Nick 68 75 70 68 281 17 BROADHURST, Paul 71 73 68 69 281 1983 tom goes nap 1 WATSON, Tom 67 68 70 70 275 2 IRWIN, Hale 69 68 72 67 276 2 BEAN, Andy 70 69 70 67 276 4 MARSH, Graham 69 70 74 64 277 5 TREVINO, Lee 69 66 73 70 278 6 BALLESTEROS, Seve 71 71 69 68 279 6 HENNING, Harold 71 69 70 69 279 8 ROGERS, Bill 67 71 73 69 280 8 DURNIAN, Denis 73 66 74 67 280 8 FALDO, Sir Nick 68 68 71 73 280 8 O'CONNOR JR, Christy 72 69 71 68 280 1976 super johnny grinds down sevé 1 MILLER, Johnny 72 68 73 66 279 2 BALLESTEROS, Seve 69 69 73 74 285 2 NICKLAUS, Jack 74 70 72 69 285 4 FLOYD, Ray 76 67 73 70 286 5 GREEN, Hubert 72 70 78 68 288 5 KITE, Tom 70 74 73 71 288 5 HORTON, Tommy 74 69 72 73 288 5 JAMES, Mark 76 72 74 66 288 5 O'CONNOR JR, Christy 69 73 75 71 288 10 BUTLER, Peter 74 72 73 70 289 10 FERNANDEZ, Vicente 79 71 69 70 289 10 SUZUKI, Norio 69 75 75 70 289 10 BURNS III, George 75 69 75 70 289 14 BARNES, Brian 70 73 75 72 290 15 FOURIE, John 71 74 75 71 291 15 DARCY, Eamonn 78 71 71 71 291 17 NEWTON, Jack 70 74 76 72 292 17 MARSH, Graham 71 73 72 76 292 17 WOLSTENHOLME, Guy 76 72 71 73 292 17 WEISKOPF, Tom 73 72 76 71 292 1971 lee and lu and you know who 1 TREVINO, Lee 69 70 69 70 278 2 LU, Liang Huan 70 70 69 70 279 3 JACKLIN, Tony 69 70 70 71 280 4 DEFOY, Craig 72 72 68 69 281 5 NICKLAUS, Jack 71 71 72 69 283 5 COODY, Charles 74 71 70 68 283 7 PLAYER, Gary 71 70 71 72 284 7 CASPER, Billy 70 72 75 67 284 9 SANDERS, Doug 73 71 74 67 285 9 THOMSON, Peter 70 73 73 69 285 11 NAGLE, Kel 70 75 73 69 287 11 BANNERMAN, Harry 73 71 72 71 287 11 YANCEY, Bert 75 70 71 71 287 11 SOTA, Ramon 72 72 70 73 287 11 DE VICENZO, Roberto 71 70 72 74 287 11 STOCKTON, Dave 74 74 68 71 287 there are some pretty impressive links players in them lists ! |
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Think it's time for Lehman, Sandy & O'Meara to call it a day at The OPEN
![]() Todd Hamilton, David Duval, Broadhurst & BIG John Daly take note |
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Currently 16 the field on here, don't remember the last time it was so Open.
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who was fav in 2008 after pods wrist saw his price drift ?
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I have Garcia as 12/1 fav that year.Wow,+3 won it ,more of the same would be an enjoyable watch.
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Just a heads up Skybet now going e/w 10 places for the open 1/5 odds. Some decent pri.ces available probbaly cut a lot of them soon.
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Thanks charlie, good spot. 33/1 Koepka ten places looks very attractive. Only wish I could get a decent amount on.
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Also like the look of Lovemark 250/1 for ten places...
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QUIZ QUESTION
Ben Curtis was ranked world number 393 when he won the Open in 2003. Which player won the Open this century with the next lowest ranking? |
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Could well be right KR ,the old memory is not what it was.In my notes I had Scott down as 12/1 fav but that is normally on the day so could of been 16's the field in the lead up.
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Todd Hamilton was way before I assume ?
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Louis ?
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cink?
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Hamilton, Oosthuizen, Cink all incorrect.
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clarke?
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cant think of anyone else
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Yes Clarke was ranked #111 in 2011 when he won. Hamilton was actually ranked #56 in 2004 despite me (and presumably a lot of others) kind of ranking it alongside Curtis in terms of shock value. But he had already won that year on the PGA Tour. Oosthuizen was #54 when he won at 400/1+, I believe there's a thread on here somewhere that documents it.
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oosti was my biggest ever win that year, thanks to following eddie and everyone else in on him lol
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cheers frames
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These days Birkdale only caters for 2 par 5s (15 & 17). There was a time 6, 13 & 18 were par 5 holes.
I confidently predict The 6th will be the toughest par 4 they'll see next week. |
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I layed Ben Curtis as bjorn approached 16th
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I had €250 win €100 place on Bjorn at 100/1 with PP.
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Most will see this as worst bet of the year i see it as BEST bet of the year RORY McILROY @ 16/1 1-10 1/5 SKYBET e/w bet of the year imo ......que the McIlroy knockers but i can take it.
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