MAGIC OF THE OPEN OFFSET BY PERSONAL INJURY
A general view of the 18th green ahead of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Photo: Tom Shaw/R&A/Getty)
ORDINARY THOUGHTS: BY PAUL GALLAGHER
This is usually my favourite fortnight of the year; golfing nirvana, both in viewing and participation but one half of the 2026 version ended abruptly after two nasty broken ribs put paid to that!
Watching the game’s chief protagonists take a final lap around the Scottish links at last week’s Scottish Open while staring into the best week of the year – The Open, which got underway under bright sunshine at Royal Birkdale this morning is usually heaven. Such a backdrop is typically complemented by Open Week at my home club, Mourne Golf Club, with week-long competitions on the Championship Links at Royal County Down.
The former still grabs the attention as wall-to-wall viewing is compulsory from behind the screen of a working MacBook. This hack has been fortunate enough to cover half a dozen Opens and every year the coverage and innovation gets ramped up to new levels. To watch from the comfort of your own sofa has never been better, yet there is nothing like the buzz of covering The Open live, hammering keyboards to the tune of rolling deadlines and operating on fumes in 18 hour, action-packed days.
As for this sorry story, the taking part bit has been shelved for up to six weeks due to injury. This week is a stark, personal reminder of how fickle our wee lives really are.
Amid this stunning heatwave, sun-baked links golf is in abundance at present, but not in these quarters; that option was instantly removed the moment I unceremoniously dismounted a mountain bike before handlebars had a joust with my ribs as 80-kilos of rump went crashing into the dirt. Clearing a throat, a sneeze, a laugh, or a simple inhale are excruciating chores.
Drawing from the positives, it meant even more extended viewing of The Open coverage, and it doesn’t disappoint. From the opening bell on Monday morning, the ‘On the Range’ sessions on Sky Sports are great to watch. Access to the players is typically straightforward and the mood is jovial. It’s still early in the week and the professionals are engaging because they haven’t yet got fully down to business. They’re still shaking off tired limbs after hours spent relocating to Lancashire on private jets.
At times the two-pronged approach from the Sky’s roving reporters can appear like a game of one-upmanship of who gets to ask the first or best question as this hierarchy battle plays out with the cameras rolling. One of the best moves of the week was Di Stewart ‘doorstepping’ Jon Rahm, and so quick was Stewart, the big Spaniard quipped “I didn’t even get a chance to say no to you guys!”. All light-hearted stuff before getting down to business.
Former champion Darren Clarke was buzzing when it came to his turn in front of camera. A question was barely needed and like a coiled spinning top, the range reporters just needed to get DC started and off he went. The adrenalin spilling from players and those delivering the coverage was very real.
Who knew a standard coat hanger was an essential piece of kit when honing your swing skills. Wyndham Clark demonstrated its use admirably and you can be sure coat hangers around the country will be in big demand this weekend.
Another takeaway was how precise the players are when asked to take on a target or distance challenge at the Sky Bay on the range. To a man, practically every player asked the presenter half a dozen questions about wind, lie, run out etc before they would commit to a shot live on camera. It contrasted hugely to the hit and hope approach I and so many other mere mortals take. Attention to detail is everything for these guys – and it’s seriously impressive.
By the time Wednesday rolled around, the work was done. Whatever they have is the game they have. It’s time to go into battle with the famed Southport links that has been so well received. Royal Birkdale has undergone changes since it’s last hosting in 2017, and the consensus is it remains a fair test despite being significantly shortened by this week’s hard, running conditions. It’s links golf at its purest. Strategy and patience will come to the fore once more.
CROWD PLEASER
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy getting some final practice in ahead of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
(Photo: R&A/Getty)
Hard to pick a winner. There are cases to be made all over the place. Personally,
I’m drawn to Jordan Spieth and the case for another miraculous return to glory and achieve what he did in 2017. The home support has eyes for only one boy and that’s the wide-fitting pants of Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up on links courses round these parts.
And what of the seven-strong Irish contingent? It’s great to see so many tee it up at Royal Birkdale. The two amateurs Stuart Grehan and David Howard have their own compelling back stories and will hopefully express themselves around Birkdale. As always Rory McIlroy features near the head of the betting, while Tom McKibbin will be quietly confident as his career continues to trend upwards. Former Open champions, Clarke, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington are also looking for strong weeks.
All told, a small wager on Spieth will suffice as a weekend of compulsive viewing awaits. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to the day when I can trade bikes for balls [dimpled] very soon and grab what’s left of this blistering summer of golf.