The Open Championship 2015: What Can Fans Expect?

The Open Championship 2015…

The Open Championship 2015 - 18th_Green_and_Clubhouse St.Andrews

The Open Championship 2015 – 18th_Green_and_Clubhouse St.Andrews

The Open Championship 2015 is just under a month away and things are already beginning to heat up with pundits, players, and fans all clamouring to get ready for golfing’s oldest tradition.

Taking place at the venerable St Andrews Old Course between the 12th and 19th of July is the 144th Open Championship.

If you’ve not yet got up to speed on the prior goings-on surrounding the Championship, here’s all of the hottest news you need to know…

The Course…

Alongside iconic features such as the 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge, Hell Bunker, and Road Hole Bunker, players and their fans will likely be anticipating the rather tough ground for which the course is so known for, plus the rather tempestuous Gaelic weather!

Of course, the mere fact that this year’s Championship is being held at St. Andrews should be eliciting glee within golf lovers’ hearts, as nothing short of thrilling should be expected of a round at the spiritual home of the game.

The Players…

BMW Wentworth

BMW Wentworth – Rory McIlroy

All eyes this year will be on the ever-excellent Rory McIlroy who, alongside being touted by bookmakers to be the winner of this year’s event, will be looking to defend his -17 2014 win at Royal Liverpool, although a number of other contenders could perhaps steal the coveted trophy.

Jordan Spieth is currently experiencing a period of great golfing prowess having just added the US OPEN title to his Masters’ title at Augusta this year.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Walker, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, and Patrick Reed are all similarly playing at the standard one might expect from the victor, standards that are, once again, reflected in the odds.

The Open Championship 2015 also sees veteran Open winner at St.Andrews Tiger Woods playing in the event, however with the fallen star’s recent, rather terrible, record, it’s hard to see how the once poster boy of the golfing world could ascend once again.

However, to take a wider look at the ‘runners and riders’ in this year’s competition visit Coral to get the odds on the open and take the plunge; this competition could go any which way!

The Open Championship 2015…

Tom Watson - Ryder Cup Captain 2014

Tom Watson – Ryder Cup Captain 2014

One of the more emotional events taking place this year will be the departure of five-times champion Tom Watson, who will be playing his final open at St Andrew’s.

Watson was interviewed as saying,I feel maybe a little bit melancholy but the memories of all the years playing in the Open will make it pretty happy. I’ve had a wonderful experience playing here in the Open for these last 40 years… I want to walk across the Swilcan Bridge on Sunday, that’s my goal, and anything else will be gravy”.

Let’s all cross our fingers and hope that the 65-year-old veteran will get a chance to show off some of his exceptional talents at The Open Championship 2015, given that four out of his five Open wins were on the Old Course.

Golfing’s best event is only a month away, but if you want to book yourself some last-minute packages or tickets, head over to standrews2015open.com, or theopen.com.

By Ian Mullins