THE OPEN: Five players to follow & five to forget

BY BRENDAN JAMES at ROYAL TROON

If you are looking to have a wager or you’re in a tipping competition for the 145^th Open Championship, here’s the lowdown from the course on who you should follow, and who you should forget about this week.

Firstly, let’s look at the players to follow.

1.JORDAN SPIETH

It’s only 12 months since the golfing world was in raptures about the possibility of Jordan Spieth winning the Grand Slam. Having banked the Masters and US Open, he missed the play-of at the Open by a single stroke in what would have been the most intense pressure the young man is ever likely to feel in his career.

He has looked very relaxed at Royal Troon since arriving here on Saturday and with some of the spotlight now shining more on Jason Day and Dustin Johnson he is likely to feel more at ease from his first shot of the tournament.

Jordan Spieth. PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

The other thing to consider here is he has arguably the best short game in the world. Royal Troon is a classic nine holes out and nine holes in layout, which doesn’t provide long hitters a massive advantage and adds to the benefit of a strong game around the greens.

Spieth finished tied for third in his last start at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, so form and confidence are on the rise.

CURRENT ODDS: $12.

2. ADAM SCOTT

Adam Scott is desperate to win The Open and his preparations for this week have been intense. He arrived in Troon on Saturday and played two rounds over the weekend.

He has flown under the radar a little since Monday, heading out for early morning practice rounds and then taking his range work to a nearby course away from the crowds.

Adam Scott. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

From what I have seen he is hitting the ball very well. You can forget what has happened with lost final round leads at each of the past three years. He might just be in the best frame of mind this week than he ever has.

And consider this. He ranks No.1 in score to par, number of birdies and eagles, rounds in the top-10 and rounds under par at The Open for the past five years.

CURRENT ODDS: $21

3. JASON DAY

The World No.1 has been talking about lessons learned from recent failures to close out tournaments, which he is using to motivate this bid for the Claret Jug.

Has been working very hard on his short game with caddie/coach Col Swatton to get a handle on the nuances of the Royal Troon greenscapes.

Jason Day. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

His record speaks for itself when it comes to the majors. He has five top-10 results in the last six majors, including a tie for fourth in the Open at St. Andrews last year when he missed the play-off by a single stroke.

CURRENT ODDS: $10 (equal favourite).

4. SERGIO GARCIA

The laws of probability suggest Sergio Garcia has got to win a major at some stage in his career and he’s a better chance than most this week.

His tie for fifth at the US Open at Oakmont last month was a sure sign his game is attuned to playing tough golf courses and Royal Troon is no pushover.

Sergio Garcia. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

He’s finished in the top-10 at a major championship 21 times without hoisting a trophy and there would no more popular winner if he can get his nose in front on Sunday afternoon.

CURRENT ODDS: $26

5. DUSTIN JOHNSON

There is no player in the game right now in better form than Dustin Johnson. He’s won the US Open and the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in his last two starts, which just follows on from the raft of top-10s he’s recorded throughout 2016.

Dustin Johnson. PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

My only concern is that he relies heavily on his length and given the nature of this course where the longer you are from the tee the more trouble presents his chief weapon, the driver, will spend a considerable amount of time in the bag over the next four days.

CURRENT ODDS: $10 (equal favourite)

And here’s five to forget…

1.RICKIE FOWLER

It’s only two years since Rickie Fowler finished in the top-five at each of the four major championships. But his record in the past six Grand Slam events has been dismal, including three missed cuts.

Rickie Fowler. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

His tie for 10^th at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational two weeks ago will give him hope but the course and conditions this week are significantly different from Firestone.

CURRENT ODDS: $34.

2. RORY MCILROY

Tee to green the Northern Irishman has few peers in the field this week. But his putting remains questionable.

In winning the Irish Open in May, he missed only a handful of greens but had a whopping 127 putts across the four rounds. Conversely the man he beat by three shots, Bradley Dredge, had 21 less putts.

Rory McIlroy. PHOTO: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images.

But it seems McIlroy is more concerned with fixing his swing, which the stats suggest is perfectly fine.

CURRENT ODDS: $12.

3. PHIL MICKELSON

Phil Mickelson hasn’t tasted victory since winning the 2013 Open at Muirfield.

He’s had some close calls this year and he fired a masterful 66 in the wind to close out the Scottish Open last week.

Phil Mickelson. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Lefty finished one shot out of a play-off with Ernie Els and Todd Hamilton at Royal Troon in 2004 so there is no question about his knowledge of the course and his ability to execute terrific shots.

But armed with a putter that runs cold more than it does hot these days, its hard to see Mickelson winning this week. If he did, he would join Jack Nicklaus and Old Tom Morris in winning a major championship at age 46.

CURRENT ODDS: $41.

4. DANNY WILLETT

The reigning Masters champion flew under the radar before his surprise victory at Augusta in April and he’s been pretty quiet the past few days at Royal Troon.

Followed him for a few holes on Tuesday and he looked a little frustrated at times. Whether that is the rising expectation to do well here on home soil or something troubling him with his swing time will tell.

Danny Willett. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

He’s enjoying his time as Masters Champ, having attended Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix last week, and with British success in those events the home crowd will be baying for a Brit to get over the line at Troon but it won’t be Willett.

CURRENT ODDS: $51.

5. CHARL SCHWARTZEL

The 2011 Masters Champion has won on both the PGA and European Tours this year and would have been a player to consider this week at Royal Troon except … he’s changed his clubs a few days ago.

The long-time Nike player has signed with PXG equipment and will play his new gear this week. I’m sure the PXG clubs are first rate, but heading into a major familiarity with your tools is pretty important.

CURRENT ODDS: $61.