You would think world number nine Jason Day – who previously spent 51 weeks atop the global standings, has won a major, and is ranked 14th in career prizemoney at $42.39 million – would be in a marquee group at Carnoustie for the 147th Open Championship.
Not so.
The 30-year-old has been drawn with Haotong Li, ranked 42 in the world, and Shota Akiyoshi, ranked 121.
Who?
Carnoustie is rightfully ranked the world’s toughest links course, so there’s a pretty fair chance the Australian’s playing partners will be having their troubles for the first two days.
And that could well damage Day’s momentum. You can’t win the tournament in first two days, but you sure can lose it.
Just look at some of the other groups.
World number one Dustin Johnson has Alex Noren (11), and Charley Hoffman (34). Number two Justin Thomas has the in-from Francesco Molinari (15), and South African Branden Grace (35).
Third-placed Justin Rose has defending champion Jordan Spieth (6) and the big-hitting Kiradech Amphibarnrat (30), while two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka (4) has Ian Poulter (29) and talented young Australian Cameron Smith (44).
It wasn’t that long ago Tiger Woods was ranked 1199, but after four back surgeries, he takes on Carnoustie as the 71st ranked golfer in the world. For the first two days he’ll be with Hideki Matsuyama (16), and Russell Knox (49) – a far better grouping than Day.
But most of the groupings are better – much better – than the Australian is with.
Even compatriot Adam Scott, who is hardly seen these days and has slipped to 82, has Zach Johnson (52), and Branden Steele (56).
But all eyes will be on Tiger – especially those of the commentators.
Tiger Woods (Keith Allison/Flickr – CC BY-SA 2.0)
Since his comeback, all they can talk about is “Tiger this” and “Tiger that”, and use the surnames of every other golfer in the field (bar the two Johnsons – Dustin and Zach – just to tell them apart to viewers).
Woods is now 42, and rated the world’s best golfer by far too many, which is factually and statistically wrong.
Jack Nicklaus is categorically the best, with 18 majors, 19 seconds, nine thirds, and 56 top fives. Woods is way in arrears, with 14 majors, six seconds, four thirds, and 31 top fives.
He’s not infallible anymore.
But keep fingers crossed Jason Day isn’t damaged in the first rounds by two partners most have never heard of.
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