The 151st Open Championship produced no shortage of drama. From Royal Liverpool member Matt Jordan’s heroics to the controversial 17th hole, it had just about everything but a close finish.
Here are the seven biggest stories of The 2023 Open at Hoylake, where a very worthy winner in Brian Harman was named ‘Champion Golfer of The Year.’
The Local Heroes
Matthew Jordan of England tees off on the 1st hole during day one
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Matthew Jordan and Tommy Fleetwood certainly gave the Liverpool crowds at Hoylake a lot to shout about. Although the former never quite got into the mix for the title – how crazy would that have been? – Fleetwood was right there.
Royal Liverpool member, Jordan, qualified for The Open two weeks prior at nearby West Lancs, and was handed the honor of hitting the very first tee shot of the Championship.
With hundreds of friends and family watching on, the world number 329 somehow kept it all together to finish in a tie for tenth.
And that’s just where Southport-born Fleetwood ended up, although the six-time DP World Tour winner, who entered the weekend with a genuine chance of claiming a first Major title, left Hoylake with very different emotions.
“Hurting, gutted, dejected,” said the popular Englishman.
‘Little Eye’ a big talking point
Billy Foster was less than impressed with ‘Little Eye’
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Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie, Billy Foster, said before a ball was hit that the new par-3 17th hole, ‘Little Eye’, would cause problems.
Seve’s former looper didn’t mince his words when we asked him for his comments on the uphill short hole, one that features a small green and very little margin for error.
“They’ve created a monstrosity,” said Foster. “I hate it,” said coach, Pete Cowen, who added: “It could ruin somebody’s career if the wind goes in the wrong direction.”
In the end, it didn’t affect who won the Claret Jug. Some, like Travis Smyth, who made an ace there, even quite liked it.
However, according to a report in The Telegraph, the controversial 136-yarder will be reconstructed, with many members of Hoylake apparently not at all keen on the design.
Beware the…
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