It is ‘moving day’ at The Open on Saturday with all those who have made the cut at Royal Portrush looking for a big day that can either set them up for a tilt at the title on Sunday or a large pay cheque at the very least.
Just nine shots separate the entire field teeing off on the third day of action so there is a chance for everyone to get involved in the title mix with a good round on Saturday. The weather is set fair so we should be in for quite some tournament.
Round 2 Recap
It was a round of two halves on Friday with the morning starters getting much the better of the conditions while the later players off the tee having to deal with the rain but at the end of it we have joint leaders on eight under par in our pre-tournament pick Shane Lowry and JB Holmes. They lead by one from the English pair of Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood with a group of players on six under that includes Justin Rose. Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth will hope for big weekends from five under and then there is our other pre-tournament bet Matt Kuchar alongside Jon Rahm on four under. Three men we won’t be seeing in the mix this weekend are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy as all three missed the cut.
Apart from Lowry getting himself in position to give us a decent pay out on Sunday, Friday was a day to forget betting wise with all three of our three ball bets coming up dry. Annoyingly Romain Langasque lost to an amateur while Matt Wallace’s under par round was not good enough to see off Patrick Reed. Corey Conners had a mare in the other one so there is work to be done for sure.
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Saturday Betting
As ever on a Saturday in a major we have a third round leader market but when nine shots separate first and last going into the day literally anyone can lead if the wind gets up a bit in the afternoon so it isn’t really a market I’m too keen to get stuck into. In fairness, if Shane Lowry can lead at the end of the round I’ll be in a great position to collect big on Sunday while Kuchar, Matt Fitzpatrick and Henrik Stenson are all within realistic striking distance so there is no need for chancing our arm in a market which could be a lottery with a number of potential winners.
Saturday 2 Balls
The field are out in two balls off the first tee from here on in with the last pair out being Shane Lowry and JB Holmes. They go off at 15.50 BST while the English pair of Westwood and Fleetwood go out 10 minutes before them. As you would expect at this stage of a major there are some season groups going out onto the golf course for the crowds to follow before the leaders set off, and for us at home to enjoy on the wonderful coverage which begins before the first tee shot is hit, which you don’t always get in majors. Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka are probably the pick of them at 15.20 while Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm at 14.40 could be feisty. Much earlier in the day Branden Grace and Sergio Garcia form a decent two ball at 12.35.
Lucas Bjerregaard vs Tony Finau
Match tees off at 14.50 BST
My only two ball bet on Saturday comes in a group on the fringes of the leaders as Lucas Bjerregaard takes on Tony Finau in a pairing of two men who are sat on four under par and within striking distance of the lead.
I wonder how well Finau would have gone in this tournament if he was out in the worst of the conditions because I’m not so sure this track suits him too much. While he can smack it a long way, that isn’t really the test this week and you need a touch and finesse around the greens which is not his forte. Finau probably won’t be outhitting Bjerregaard by too far so the extra quality the Dane has on and around the greens can see him over the line in this two ball. Bjerregaard is naturally suited to links golf. That isn’t the case for Finau so I’m with the European man here.
Tips
Back L.Bjerregaard to beat T.Finau for a 4/10 stake at 2.63 with 888sport
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