HOME FAVOURITE RUSSELL Knox is guaranteed to have a big following when The Open Championship tees off at Carnoustie on Thursday as the Irish Open champion has been drawn to play alongside Tiger Woods and Hideki Matsuyama on the opening two days.
Tee times and pairings were released for the major this afternoon with Irish interest on the course early Thursday morning when Paul Dunne gets underway with Ross Fisher and Austin Cook, followed by Shane Lowry’s 07.41 tee time with Patrick Cantlay and Tyrell Hatton.
Former champions Darren Clarke, Bernhard Langer and Retied Goosen will get underway at 09.36, before the appetising draw of Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler and Chris Wood.
Padraig Harrington will play alongside Bubba Watson and Matt Wallace from 14.48. Rory McIlroy will be with Marc Leishman and Thorbjorn Olesen, one group ahead of favourite Dustin Johnson and Charley Hoffman (13.04)
The Open Championship selected pairings and tee times (view the full list here)
Paul Dunne, Ross Fisher, Austin Cook — 0730
Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay, Tyrell Hatton — 07.41
Darren Clarke, Bernhard Langer, Retief Goosen — 09.36
Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Kiradech Aphibarnrat — 09.58
Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Chris Wood — 10.09
Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed — 10.20
Rory McIlroy, Marc Leishman, Thorbjorn Olesen — 12.53
Dustin Johnson, Alex Noren, Charley Hoffman — 13.04
Justin Thomas, Francesco Molinari, Branden Grace — 13.26
Padraig Harrington, Bubba Watson, Matt Wallace — 14.48
Tiger Woods, Hedeki Matsuyama, Russell Knox — 15.21
If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.