Golf Comment: Rory McIlroy absence from the Open would be a major let-down
An injury so close to the Open Championship is a player’s worst nightmare so I feel for Rory McIlroy.
US Open and Masters winner Jordan Spieth has put him in the shade a little by winning the year’s first two Majors, and McIlroy would have been looking forward to defending his Open title. I’m sure Rory will do all he can to make it to the first tee next week, and nothing is sure yet so let’s wait and hope, but if he doesn’t recover then it will be a loss for the tournament.
One man who looks like he could be a contender is Bernd Wiesberger, who won his third European Tour title at the Open de France on Sunday. The Austrian faced a very tough golfing test in extreme conditions and also a rain delay but came through to win by three strokes, and that is a good omen as he heads to Scotland.
England’s James Morrison summoned a great performance to finish runner-up to him in France. It came just a week after he blew a lead in Munich and earned the 30-year-old his place at the Open. He looks a really strong, confident player right now and is on a positive run.
In the United States, New Zealand’s Danny Lee enjoyed a fantastic win for his maiden PGA Tour title at the Greenbrier Classic, six years after he caught the eye by landing the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia as an 18-year-old amateur. Well done also to England’s Greg Owen, who claimed one of the Open qualifying spots on offer at the Greenbrier.
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