*** 2026 The Open Championship Royal Birkdale***

[clonedude]

It’s funny because Rory and Bryson are both easy to hate for very different reasons

I can agree that Rory has some issues... BUT... one huge difference... Rory not only didn't go to LIV, but he took the leadership role in saving the PGA and keeping it relevant. I will always appreciate Rory for that.

Bryson mostly is just a POS though.

 

[washedup82]

I can both agree with this, and still choose Rory over DeChambeau 7 days out of the week.

I get it. DeChambeau did himself no favors several years ago. Eccentric to say the least and clearly pushed the buttons of many on the tour. But to me he seems like he's made a conscious effort the last couple years to engage people and just go about his business. I see a lot of people mention his youtube channel etc. but I've never taken the time to look at any of that.
Rory just strikes me as a pompous, holier than though prick. And he seems to be getting worse as his game has taken the next step. Just my opinion.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Scottie with 3 birdies thru 5 holes to get within 3 of Burns

 

[DSM4Cy]

I get it. DeChambeau did himself no favors several years ago. Eccentric to say the least and clearly pushed the buttons of many on the tour. But to me he seems like he's made a conscious effort the last couple years to engage people and just go about his business. I see a lot of people mention his youtube channel etc. but I've never taken the time to look at any of that.
Rory just strikes me as a pompous, holier than though prick. And he seems to be getting worse as his game has taken the next step. Just my opinion.

I think Rory is a conflicted, emotional guy with an inferiority complex thing. He’s certainly made mistakes but he generally comes back to a better place afterwards. Obviously the situation with his wife was awful but they reconciled, some of his comments about PGA/LIV after they announced the merger (that never happened) were whiny but I understood why he specifically could have been so upset. I see Rory as a kid who grew up with similar expectations to Tiger, at least back at home, and has done a pretty good job meeting those in comparison. But he’s definitely flawed and prone to think a bit too selfishly. I did love his comments on Bryson though.

DeChambeau is the guy who pushes the rules to their limits and beyond because he knows he can get away with it unless someone is closely monitoring. Then he whines like a crybaby when he’s called out. His move to LIV automatically removes him from me rooting for him. But now even LIV isn’t enough for him, he’s always talking about his own brand and how LIV is limiting for him, he might quit and just do YouTube. To each their own but to take the LIV money and still have it not be enough…he talks about growing the game through his YouTube and his personality but as a lifelong golf fan I really don’t care to grow the game by bringing in people who’d respond to that. It’s just like some of the gross golf crowd behavior at Phoenix, Ryder Cups in the US, and the US Open at Shinnecock. Too many drunk bros out there acting disgusting towards non-American players. We don’t need golf fans like that.

 

[DSM4Cy]

Scottie with 3 birdies thru 5 holes to get within 3 of Burns

Scottie was -4 with making zero putts and honestly not driving or striking the ball well either. If he figured even one of those things out on the range last night he could shoot a 63 or 64, which I don’t think would be enough. He’s going to have to shoot at least a 62 if not better.

 

[clonedude]

I get it. DeChambeau did himself no favors several years ago. Eccentric to say the least and clearly pushed the buttons of many on the tour. But to me he seems like he's made a conscious effort the last couple years to engage people and just go about his business. I see a lot of people mention his youtube channel etc. but I've never taken the time to look at any of that.
Rory just strikes me as a pompous, holier than though prick. And he seems to be getting worse as his game has taken the next step. Just my opinion.

Hate to break it to you... but most of these guys are "pompous, holier than thou pricks" for the most part.

I have to give a TON of credit to anyone that stayed on the PGA Tour though.... that says a LOT. Jack Nicklaus himself said there was basically nothing to play for on the LIV Tour... you were getting guaranteed money... no incentive to compete and be a competitor. Why play the game if it's not a competition? Those were his general thoughts. I think Tiger said similar things. Not to even mention where the money was coming from, but I better not get into that.

 

[Rural]

Hate to break it to you... but most of these guys are "pompous, holier than thou pricks" for the most part.

I have to give a TON of credit to anyone that stayed on the PGA Tour though.... that says a LOT. Jack Nicklaus himself said there was basically nothing to play for on the LIV Tour... you were getting guaranteed money... no incentive to compete and be a competitor. Why play the game if it's not a competition? Those were his general thoughts. I think Tiger said similar things. Not to even mention where the money was coming from, but I better not get into that.

lol, having. spent a little time around pros on driving ranges in the late 70s to middle 80s, entitled airheads would be the upper crust.

 

[cycloneman003]

I can agree that Rory has some issues... BUT... one huge difference... Rory not only didn't go to LIV, but he took the leadership role in saving the PGA and keeping it relevant. I will always appreciate Rory for that.

Bryson mostly is just a POS though.

I guess I’m just in the group that gives Rory a lot less love over the PGA/LIV conflict. It was an easy thing for Rory to white knight for the PGA. He was already a superstar and worth well north of $100mil and (probably personal cynicism here) he could gain a lot of fan support by being that guy. In the end, he still also made like $50mil extra in loyalty bonuses from the PGA so he certainly still helped his bank account too.

I tend to doubt that almost all pro-athletes are doing anything for reasons other than self interest though and their personality/actions outside of their sport tend to show that too.

 

[NWICY]

In 2017 Rory “hosted” and “played” the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club (Northern Ireland).

He didn’t attend any of the charity events.

Flew in on his helicopter and played 18.

Flew out.

Flew in on his helicopter and played 18.

Missed the cut.

Flew out and that was it.

Not as just the player, but also the Host of the tournament.

That’s something an Ass like David Simms of Tin Cup fame would do.

So was that because it was in Northern Ireland, not Ireland? Or was there other issues?

 

[clonedude]

I guess I’m just in the group that gives Rory a lot less love over the PGA/LIV conflict. It was an easy thing for Rory to white knight for the PGA. He was already a superstar and worth well north of $100mil and (probably personal cynicism here) he could gain a lot of fan support by being that guy. In the end, he still also made like $50mil extra in loyalty bonuses from the PGA so he certainly still helped his bank account too.

I tend to doubt that almost all pro-athletes are doing anything for reasons other than self interest though and their personality/actions outside of their sport tend to show that too.

You can support LIV if you want.. not me.

It was well known that Rory could have got a TON more money on LIV... and Tiger too. AND... wouldn't have had to compete at all... just show up and play like garbage.

 

[cycloneman003]

You can support LIV if you want.. not me.

It was well known that Rory could have got a TON more money on LIV... and Tiger too. AND... wouldn't have had to compete at all... just show up and play like garbage.

Did I say I supported LIV? Nope. It’s fine to like Rory too, I just don’t and give him less credit.

Also, you make it seem like the entire tour other than Rory went there. Like 75-80% of the top 100 in the world stayed with the PGA. The guys who ran off and took Saudi money are in the minority and earned the grief they get. I just don’t think it’s such a heroic thing to have turned it down.

Edit: and I’m talking top 100 at the time LIV launched, not current. Obviously most of those guys fell off a cliff and/or weren’t playing for ranking points

 

[NENick]

Scottie was -4 with making zero putts and honestly not driving or striking the ball well either. If he figured even one of those things out on the range last night he could shoot a 63 or 64, which I don’t think would be enough. He’s going to have to shoot at least a 62 if not better.

Conditions are too good and too much ground to make up. Now he's missed a couple of (relatively) short putts that could've got him to -9.

 

[clonedude]

I desperately want Burns to win this thing... but I do LOVE how fast Fox plays the game... seems like a VERY likable guy.

 

[clonedude]

omg... what a putt that was. this guy barely takes any time at all and seemingly putts better than some of these guys that take 5 mins to analyze a putt from every angle and then use that new system where they walk the entire line of the putt and close one eye and get the feel of the green with both feet, etc.

 

[isucy86]

Bryson is a guy who I've historically been conflicted about. Not a big fan of his personality, but he's a very talented golfer. A lot is made of his scientific approach to golf, but his touch around the greens and putting is pretty special.

I don't even fault the guys going to LIV Golf. Sure money was a big attraction, but I also think many of the elite guys thought they might be starting something different- aka AFL or ABA.

But his personality (or ego) always seems to be a issue. I have no issue his disagreeing with R&A on ruling. But it was a douche move to threaten to pull from the Open. And even bigger douche move to hold the tournament hostage over Friday night!

 

[3TrueFans]

Bryson is a guy who I've historically been conflicted about. Not a big fan of his personality, but he's a very talented golfer. A lot is made of his scientific approach to golf, but his touch around the greens and putting is pretty special.

I don't even fault the guys going to LIV Golf. Sure money was a big attraction, but I also think many of the elite guys thought they might be starting something different- aka AFL or ABA.

But his personality (or ego) always seems to be a issue. I have no issue his disagreeing with R&A on ruling. But it was a douche move to threaten to pull from the Open. And even bigger douche move to hold the tournament hostage over Friday night!

You're not taking into account the sick clickbait Youtube thumbnail he's going to get out of doing it that way though.

 

[clonedude]

Bryson is a guy who I've historically been conflicted about. Not a big fan of his personality, but he's a very talented golfer. A lot is made of his scientific approach to golf, but his touch around the greens and putting is pretty special.

I don't even fault the guys going to LIV Golf. Sure money was a big attraction, but I also think many of the elite guys thought they might be starting something different- aka AFL or ABA.

But his personality (or ego) always seems to be a issue. I have no issue his disagreeing with R&A on ruling. But it was a douche move to threaten to pull from the Open. And even bigger douche move to hold the tournament hostage over Friday night!

You don't fault the guys for leaving for LIV? Yikes... I guess that's a take. Free to your opinion.

 

[clonedude]

This will be likely be such an exciting finish.

It will be VERY interesting to see if Young can post like a 10 under... if that will be enough? Could be at this point.. looks like it's getting real windy.

 

[BigJCy]

Ugh Burns

 

[enisthemenace]

I’m a fan of Burns, but he does this to himself on Sunday’s a lot.