TEE ROOM: Bryson DeChambeau is in Seventh Heaven at The Open with his big hitting, Saudi rebel Phil Mickelson is still in demand for selfies and almost 4,000 people are heading for the camp site!
- Bryson DeChambeau’s big hitting on hole seven caught the eye in practice
- Patrick Reed caught the eye for his clothing – sporting the LIV logo on his clothes
- Phil Mickelson is another LIV defector but he remains in demand for selfies
- Sportsmail’s MIKE DICKSON looks at talking points emanating from The Open
Ahead of the Open tournament at St Andrews starting on Thursday, lots of eyeballs are landing on some of the game’s biggest stars – for good and for bad.
Many fans are desperate to land a selfie with Phil Mickelson, even with his image taking a pummelling since defecting to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Then there is Patrick Reed, another defector who, on Wednesday, sported the LIV logo on his sleeve and cap, doubling down amid the sport’s escalating civil war.
With that in mind, Sportsmail’s MIKE DICKSON looks at several talking points ahead of the famous old competition getting underway.
Bryson DeChambeau’s (right) big hitting was shown in all its glory in practice on hole seven
IF THE CAP FITS, PATRICK
Patrick Reed is doubling down on his LIV participation by sporting its logo on his sleeve and cap.
But signing with the Saudis is not always profitable – one of their Brits was dropped from a corporate entertainment Q&A session for a major sponsor.
PHIL’S SELFIE ABSORBED
Phil Mickelson’s image has taken a bashing with the LIV project but he remains one of the players who most engages with fans.
After Wednesday’s practice round the American spent 15 minutes signing autographs and posing for selfies.
Fans are desperate to land Phil Mickelson’s signature or grab a selfie despite recent criticisms
STILL CHECKING IN
There was a time when former R&A chief executive Peter Dawson would have been in the thick of the action this week.
He’s still busy, though, working as managing director of the fairway-side Old Course hotel, where Tiger Woods is staying.
SPECTATORS WILL CARRY ON CAMPING
This year’s Open camping village is of a record size – a huge, well-ordered camp of tents and teepees.
It’s on the Madras rugby ground by the course and with accommodation starting at £50 a night, there are 769 dwellings on the grass expected to house nearly 4,000 people over the week.
There will be close to 4,000 spectators heading for the camp-site at the Open this week
BRYSON’S SEVENTH HEAVEN
The course being at the mercy of big hitters was demonstrated in the last two days by Bryson DeChambeau on the 371-yard par-four seventh hole.
With the wind behind he drove the monster Shell bunker which protects the green, on both days shooting beyond it to the right.
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