American Brian Harman defends his title

American Brian Harman has probably not slept so well the last few days.  The reason is simple.  Tomorrow, Thursday 18th July, he tees-off at Royal Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland looking to defend his Open Championship title which he won at Royal Liverpool last year with an incredible six-shot advantage.  The world’s golfing greats will be there too keen to make their mark on the final Major of the season.

 

Thirty-seven year old Harman from Georgia, flew home proudly to America as the Champion Golfer of the Year last July.  Little did the left-handed golfer with the rather twitchy address routine realise at the time that he would win the Open and certainly not with such an enormous difference.  In testing weather conditions, he carded 13-under par leaving the likes of Jon Rahm (Spain), Jason Day (USA), Tom Kite (South Korea) and Sepp Straka (Austria) a massive six shots behind him.  Now that is what I call superb golf!

 

Who to watch

 

The defending champion Brian Harman tees-off at 9.58 local time tomorrow with Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Sahith Theegala (America).  Another great flight to watch is Jon Rahm (Spain) who is playing with England’s Tommy Fleetwood and the winner of last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, Robert MacIntyre (Scotland) at 9.36.

 

Dutchman Joost Luiten is in good company too.  He tees-off with multi-major winners from America Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson at 14.04.  Will the six-times winner on the DP World Tour be inspired by these golfing greats?  Let’s hope so!

 

Early birds

 

Teeing-off first at Royal Troon is the 1997 winner of the Open, Justin Leonard (USA) who is playing with the 2004 champion Todd Hamilton (USA) and a local lad, Jack McDonald (Scotland).  It is a very early start: 6.35, but I’m sure that the birds will be singing gloriously!

 

The 152nd Open Championship is taking place at Royal Troon for the 10th time in its long history.  Founded in 1878, Royal Troon is renowned as one of the greatest links courses.  It is for this reason that the course is a regular host to the Open.  The Swedish golfer, Henrik Stenson won the last Open here in 2016.

 

Will Brian Harman cope with the pressure of retaining his Open Championship title against the golfing greats from around the world?  We shall see!  Until then, please sit back and enjoy one of golf’s most wonderful events.

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Defending Open Champion from America, Brian Harman.