Connect with us

News

The 2008 Open – A Short Preview

Published

on

 

The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since 1998. The face of golf has certainly changed since then. In the 1998 Open, Mark O’Meara bested upstart Brian Watts in a playoff to win the Open. That was O’Meara’s second major win of 1998, he also donned the green jacket at Augusta. The late 1990s were a great run for Mark. After this big win, O’Meara pretty much faded into relative obscurity on the PGA Tour. He would never attain this level of dominance again. Other golfers within a handful of strokes in 1998 were a young Tiger Woods, Jesper Parnevik, Jim Furyk, amateur phenom Justin Rose (who then quickly disappeared for a bit after turning pro), and Davis Love III.  

Things have certainly changed since then. Tiger Woods has been quite a dominant force in Open Championships since 1998.  Tiger has won three Claret Jugs since the Open was last held at Royal Birkdale. And, if he didn’t win them, he seriously contended for them. This will not be the case in 2008. Tiger will be watching The Open Championship from his plasma screen television while wishing the constant throbbing in his leg would go away. There is an old saying that goes like this; when the cat is away, the mice will play. Sure, that is pure cliché, but it is so true for 2008. Everyone is all of a sudden playing to win, rather than for second place or a top ten finish. The field actually has a chance, on a course that will be fair for those who can drive the ball into the fairway. Aside from the oddity they have as a clubhouse, this course is one of the best in the Open rotation. Royal Birkdale was formed in the late 1800’s, so it is chock full of golf history. Royal Birkdale’s cup runneth over; they have hosted the Curtis, Walker and Ryder Cup events in the past. 

Golf legend Tom Watson won his last major at Royal Birkdale, the talkative Lee Trevino won here and Ian Baker Finch won his one and only major here. So, stay tuned for the next installment of Open Championship golf at Royal BirkdaleThis is the place that Seve Ballesteros made his big splash in golf when he finished second. The Royal Birkdale Golf Club hails this course on their website as “quite simply, the best of all the great golf courses to have staged The Open Championship.” Wow, that is a hard statement to swallow because there are so many great Open venues for the Open Championship. I myself am partial to St. Andrews, but Royal Birkdale will be a fair, yet formidable test for all involved. Their stacked sod, deep bunkering will certainly wreck havoc on many golfers’ game for those who hit errant shots.

Now is the time for Colin Montgomerie to finally win his Open. Royal Birkdale is the only course in the Open Championship rotation to never have crowned a champion from the United Kingdom. Montgomerie has really played well the past few years; I would like to see him string four complete (and low) rounds together for the 2008 Open. Tiger will be back next year with a vengeance and ‘ol Monty may never have as pure a chance as he does this year. I am also watching Ernie Els, he could definitely win at Royal Birkdale as well. His clock is also ticking and he needs to get his game together right now and secure another major victory. Can Phil keep his aggressive course management under control and properly utilize his incredible short game to beat the field? I think if he listens less to Dave Pelz and just plays smartly, he could be a serious contender as well. Can a resurgent Lee Westwood follow up his third place at Torrey Pines? Sergio Garcia is the odds on favorite at 8-1 odds to win. I wouldn’t bet on it, not with his putting. Will dark horse frontrunner Andres Romero be able to post a similar repeat performance of the 2007 Open? Stay tuned because in a little more than a week the 2008 installment of the Open Championship begins and we’ll all find out.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Juansky

    Jul 14, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    I really don’t think Ernie Els will be much of a threat. He’s been struggling too much mentally and I don’t think he’ll be mentally strong enough to make the KEY putts. Sergio will not win because of his weak Sunday putts unless Sergio can build a HUGE lead coming into Sunday. I think Phil has a good chance of winning if he stays level headed and doesn’t try too hard to win. Phil needs to keep himself in check and keep the snow man away from his score card. This years open is really up for grabs without Tiger, I’m looking forward to another mysterious and exciting finish.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

on

In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.

They wrote:

“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”

Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
  • jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
  • jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
  • Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”

Entire Thread: “Most Birdies Without Breaking Par.”

Continue Reading

News

Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

on

In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.

@DTorres asked:

The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?

Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.

We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
  • bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
  • CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”

Entire Thread: “Best current stock shaft 2026.”

Continue Reading

News

GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

Published

on

A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down. 

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

Buy here.

 

  • GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Continue Reading

Announcement

Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use have been updated as of January 29th, 2026. Please review the updated policies here Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. By continuing to use our site after January 29th, 2026, you agree to the changes.

WITB

Facebook

Trending