tommy does golf
A golf podcast covering everything and anything in the world of golf. 3 PGA golf professionals (with over 100 years worth of worldwide experience in the industry) share their opinions on topical golf content from around the globe. It's random, light-hearted banter and we hope it's informative and easy listening.
tommy does golf
The Open Championship Preview and Quiz - The Final Major Roar
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The 2026 major season reaches its thunderous conclusion as Tommy and the lads serve up 26 minutes of pure golfing gold. It’s a full-throttle, banter-fueled ride into the oldest and most revered championship on the planet.
Somewhere on that ancient links, a champion is about to etch their name onto the immortal Claret Jug. Tommy cracks the whip with a quiz that'll separate the golf nerds from the casuals – expect some dodgy guesses and as always some laughter.
But the lads have done their homework too. They've dissected every bunker, slope, and devilish pin position to bring you the inside track on Royal Birkdale and just what awaits the players. Then comes the moment you've been waiting for: their betting tips. Who's lifting the Jug? The lads lock in their picks – and you'd be mad not to listen before placing your bets.
This is the last major of 2026. The final chance for glory.
Grab a drink, settle in, and get stuck into birdies, banter, and an absolute belter of an episode.
The Open is nearly here. Let's go.
To learn more about us or to get in touch head to: tommydoesgolf.com
Welcome to Tommy Does Golf, the podcast where three old timers give you our opinions on everything golf. I'm Tommy Long, joined by fellow PGA professionals James Morgan and Paul German. With over a hundred years and counting in the golf industry between us, you are well into our back lines. We'll do our best to stay on topic, but just like our teashots these days, this podcast could go anywhere. We're hoping you enjoy the banter, and maybe, just maybe, we'll share a few pearls of wisdom along the way. Let's get into it. Welcome to our Open Championship preview. With the Masters, USPGA and US Open all having been and gone, the remaining chance for major glory in 2026 lies at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Burkdale. Joining us for this episode, our tipster Supreme, Mr. Neil Hickman, is back in the building. Welcome back, mate. In this episode, backed by popular demand, we'll start with a quiz. I'll test the crew on the oldest major championship of them all with some specific Royal Burkdale questions thrown in for good measure. Play along and see if you know more than they do. After the quiz, I'll share what I've learned about Royal Burkdale. And finally, we'll discuss our picks for this one. The players we think could be taking home that famous claret jug. Let's get stuck in. Okay, fellas, time for the quiz. Are you ready? Ready as we'll ever ready as ever. Okay, here we go. Question one. We're gonna start with what is probably the easiest question out there. What is the official name of golf's oldest major championship and where was the first championship held in 1860? Neil. Presswick. It was a Presswick. And it is known as the Open. The Open Championship. Not the British, it's the Open. Underlined. Okay, they will get on that. Next question. Here we go. Who was the first American-born player to win the Open Championship? Anyone? What year? I'll give you a clue. We'll give you the year. 1922. Have a stab in the dark, come on. Give me your name, each uh Walter Hagen?
SPEAKER_03Walter Hagen.
SPEAKER_02Walter Hagen. Pretty good stab there. Alright, here we go. How many times did Jack Nicholas win the Open Championship? It was three. It was three. Yeah. He won it in 1966, 1970, and 1978. Alright, next question. How many times did Arnold Palmer win the Open Championship? James. Two. He did. Palmer won it in 1920. He did. 1961 and 1962. Good knowledge there. Next question. Alright, so in what decade did the Open Championship first travel outside of Scotland? In what decade did the Open Championship first travel outside of Scotland? Neil Evercrack, what do you reckon?
SPEAKER_011890.
SPEAKER_02Oh my words, it was the 1890s. It's on fire. Okay, next one. Who remains the oldest champion in open championship history? And how old was he? Neil, come on.
SPEAKER_01Old Tom Morris.
SPEAKER_02It was old Tom Morris. Forty-six in a hundred and two days. He was 46. Alright, ready? Next one. Which country has produced the greatest number of open champions?
SPEAKER_03James. Well, it's either USA or Scotland. Right, so pick one.
SPEAKER_02Who are you going for? I'm gonna go Scotland. Okay. Scotland's war, you're not a gambler. USA. USA, Scotland. Okay, so 34 different players have combined to lift the claret jug on 46 occasions. Pretty cool. Alright, now if you don't get this one, shame on you. Who was the first left-handed player to win the Open Championship? Paul, it's not Larry Miles. I was gonna say Larry Miles, but you going for? Who are you going for? You must know.
SPEAKER_00Come on, Paul. My mind's gone completely, but it must be Bob Charles.
SPEAKER_02It is. So Bob Charles. 1963. Okay. Alright. Here we go. How many open championships did Peter Thompson win? Paul. Five? It was five. Well done. Okay. Didn't he win four out of five? He did. He won in 1954, 55, 56, and 58, making him the only player in the modern era to win the OKEN three times in a row. His final open victory was in 1965. Okay. Which American legend won the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1961?
SPEAKER_00Paul Arnold Palmer.
SPEAKER_02It was, you were paying attention. Yes. Well done. Didn't at school though, did you? Okay. Which hole proved pivotal in Jordan Speith's dramatic victory at Royal Burkdale in 2017? 13th? It did. 13th hole. Speath salvaged the bogey and then played the final five holes in five under parts. Secure the victory. This one's easy, and then if you boys have done a little bit of homework, I think you should all get this one. So we can do an all together now answer on this one. How many times has Royal Burkdale hosted the Open Championship? All together now. Ten. Ten. Well done. Okay. Znecho. Alright. Who won the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1971? Paul, you've got your hand up. Who are we going for? Lee Travino. It was Lee Travino. And he joked that it was a good course for a Mexican after he won that. So happy days, well done. Alright, nice easy question, this one. Which major championship had Marco Mira already won before claiming the open at Royal Burkdale in 1998? James. Must have been the Masters. It was the Masters. Same year. Okay. Which Australian won at Royal Burkdale in 1991 after shooting a final round 66? Neil. Nean Baker Finch. It was Finch.
SPEAKER_03Can you name the Aussie that finished second?
SPEAKER_02Oh no, I can't, James.
SPEAKER_03Mike Carwood. Mike Harwood.
SPEAKER_02That's why I asked the question, so none of that. Alright, okay, here we go. Here we go. Has any player ever won the Open Championship at Royal Burkdale more than once? Paul, come on. Peter Thompson. So the answer is yes, and Peter Thompson is. Oh, 1954 and 1965. Royal Burkdale has hosted the Ryder Cup twice. In what years was it held there?
SPEAKER_03Wouldn't have a clue.
SPEAKER_02No idea. Well, you talked about the other day, didn't you? You told us about the old Jack Nicholas the concession, which was obviously at Burkdale. So 1965 and 1969. Oh I wouldn't have known that either. Amazing. Okay. You'll get this one though, boys, because we're all old. Who won the Open Championship at Royal Burkdale during Britain's famous heatwave summer of 1976?
SPEAKER_00Paul.
SPEAKER_02It was Johnny Miller. James knew that. Alright. Why was Padre Harrington's victory at Royal Burke Dale in 2008 historically significant? Anyone? Back to back. He became the first player since Tom Watson in 1982 to successfully defend the Open Championship. Amazing. Alright. This is a pretty obvious question, so I'm gonna give you a little second part to this question. Which open venue has hosted the championship more times than any other? And how many times would that be? Neil.
SPEAKER_01St Andrews 30 times. Well done.
SPEAKER_02Good knowledge.
SPEAKER_01Had to be.
SPEAKER_02You need to get out. Wow. You do, you need to get out. Homer golf. Alright, here we go. Which player won the Open Championship after coming through final qualifying. Anybody? Paul Lurrie. No. 1999 at Carnusti. Beat John Van der Vel. Biggest ever comeback. 1999. I think that's enough, boys. I think you did really, really well. I don't know how much cheating was going on there, but I you're pretty good at it. Okay, now it's time for me to share what I've learned about Royal Burkedale. Unlike most lynx courses where spectators are standing on fairly level ground, Burkedale's holes meander through these massive valleys between towering sand dunes. The natural topography creates amphitheatres everywhere. It really is one of the best on-course viewing experiences in championship golf. You can literally see everything. The club was founded back in 1889 but moved to its current site in 1897. But the birthdale we know today, well, that was really forged in the 1920s and early 1930s when the legendary architecture firm of Hawtree and five-time open champ J.H. Taylor completely reshaped the place. Instead of making players hit over the dunes, they routed the fairways to run in between them. And that's why it's so fair. You hit a good shot, you get rewarded. You hit a bad one, and you know it's probably going to cost you. But like all great venues, it's never stood still. The twelfth hole was added in the 1960s. The greens were completely rebuilt in the 1990s after drainage issues at the 1991 open. And for this year's open, Mackenzie and Ebert have been busy redesigning the fifth into a risk reward short par four. They've also created a brand new par three 15th hole. For the open, Royal Birkdale plays as a par 70 at just over 7,100 yards. When the wind gets up off that Irish sea, it can be absolutely brutal. But that's what makes it so special. It asks every question. Can you drive it straight? Can you control your ball flight? Can you hit long irons under pressure? And can you stay patient when Parr suddenly starts feeling like a birdie? This will be the eleventh time that Royal Birthday will have hosted the Open, and its list of previous champions is extraordinary. Peter Thompson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Marco Mira, Padrake Harrington, and Jordan Speaker. And then there's Ian Baker Finch. Now I may have mentioned before that I have had the pleasure of playing with Ian. His 64 and 66 over the final weekend in 1991 is still one of the great closing performances in Open Championship history. I contacted Finchy to ask him for some insights about Royal Burkdale. I mean, who better to ask than a man who won the claret jug round there? I asked him what he thought the toughest stretch of holes was. He came straight back to me with his answer, holes one to eighteen, Tommy. But then, in seriousness, said the toughest three-hole stretch, in his opinion, is eight, nine and ten. So right around the turn. He also earmarked holes one, six, eight, ten, thirteen, sixteen, and eighteen as the toughest holes. But he did go on to say that there have been a number of changes since his victory 35 years ago. And so it will be fascinating for him to see how the players fare this time around. So, in summary, Royal Burkdale, it's not the quirkiest links, it's not the wildest, but it might just be the fairest. And that's why it produces such worthy champions. Gents, before you add any further thoughts about this venue, James has a long-term weather forecast for us. So, James, is it going to be sun cream or wet weather gear?
SPEAKER_03It's just going to be a typical British summer, unfortunately. Unlike the US Open, where it absolutely blew and had quite a major uh impact on the golf course and on the players. It's just in the low 20s and just light breezes, few showers. So it's not actually going to have as much of an effect as it can do on the open, because you know the guys start at six o'clock in the morning and last ones to be off about four o'clock. But at this stage, the long range is for very light winds.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Moderate breeze, moderate breeze off the Irish Sea, but a moderate breeze can actually still play a big part in the score. It's a Lynx golf. So if you've got a slight breeze into a par three that's playing 250 yards, and then in the afternoon you've got a slight breeze on your back, that's the difference between maybe hitting a three-wheel into a par three or a five or six line, maybe. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Neil, you've just been over to the UK. That was part of your world tour, wasn't it? And it's been very hot. So I'm thinking it's probably going to be playing quite firm and bouncy. So they've had a bit of rain just recently, so yeah. So it's just a lot to soften it up. I hope they don't soften the greens up too much, though, eh? Because it is nice when you see the Lynx golfing, you see them pitch it 20 yards short and judge the bounce and judge the run, because that's what Lynx golf's all about, isn't it? I think if they're getting soft, these boys are just gonna go lung if it's not windy, if it's light breeze, like you say. Okay. Paul, have you got anything to add about the golf course? Anything you've learnt that you might want to just share with us?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, a couple of things. Okay. First of all, the fourth, which is a par three, that's been lengthened. But 25 yards doesn't sound a lot, but it can make a big difference, especially obviously having talked about weather conditions. It's been slightly reshaped, a couple of bunkers, front bunker has been taken out, which does allow for a slightly different approach into that green specifically. Yeah. And the 14th, part five, now this hole has been lengthened from 542 yards to 602 yards. Wow. It was the easiest hole on the golf course in previous opens at Bogdale, but now with this extension, it is now looking as though it's going to play a lot tougher this time round.
SPEAKER_02Thanks, Paul. Anything else, fellas, to add about the golf course? Or we've pretty much covered it. We've got it squared away, haven't we? I think you've got it all well covered. All right. Let's have a little chat about who we fancy for this tournament. Now, obviously, at the start of the year in our 2026 predictions forecast, James, you went for Tommy Fleawood. Tommy Fleetwood. Paul, you went for Justin, I believe. Justin Rhodes, you did. And I went for Tyrrell Hatton. So those guys, interesting to see how they do. The pressure's on myself and Paul because James is the only person to pick a major winner this year when he picked Rory going back to back for the Masters. So James, over to you. Your additional picks and the reasons why, please.
SPEAKER_03So in doing my extensive research before this, over a cup of tea for about 15 minutes. If that this supercomputer has picked 17 of the major winners out of the last like 25. Is that right? This supercomputer says that Ludwig Oberg is going to make a late charge, but he didn't say whether he then goes on to win it. He had to subscribe to it. Okay. Anyway, I mean, he's got such a good-looking golf swing. He does. And if it's not windy, there are only moderate breezes. I think he's got a real good chance. He's starting to show he's got the backbone to win a tournament. So I'm hoping he's he's going to get up there.
SPEAKER_02Do we know what his odds are, Ludwig, for this one? I mean, I know that we're over a week out, but what would he be? 25 to 12. Something in that sort of region. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And then I like your pick of Tyrrell Hatton. I don't I love watching him play. I mean, it's a roller coaster ride with him. Yeah. But I think a ball strike around that goal, of course, I think he's got a real good chance.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and if he's firm and he puts well, he is good at rolling the rock. And if the fringes are crusty and tight, are they going to be playing a lot of Texas wedges, these boys? And that could play into his hands as well a little bit, but we'll have to see.
SPEAKER_03And then I've got a little outsider as a top ten, Alex Fitzpatrick. Yeah, okay. He's been playing some really good golf ever since uh he won with Matt the year, and also it's the fact that he's been playing like he played in the US Open, he's played in all these different competitions on different golf courses, and he's up there in all of them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and of course he'll have a side bet with his brother, surely.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you'd have to, wouldn't you? No, absolutely. So I'm just gonna have him as a little top ten. Okay, so Neil's got the odds here. We've got Alex at $51, and then you've got Ludwig at 26.
SPEAKER_02Okay. So okay, so you've picked out Ludwig, you've picked out Alex to have a bit of a run. Obviously, you've got home favourite Tommy Philippe within play. I mean, we all want Tommy to get over the line, don't we? What home? And he'll have such huge support up there being close to home.
SPEAKER_03And he's been over at least two or three times in the last month. Yes. Just playing it on a regular basis, just trying to get used to it in different conditions. Yes. But then again, like home conditions, look what that did to Rory. I mean, he snap hooked it out of bounds on the first hole. Um, you know, and then Scotty Scheffler, best in the world, US Open, he didn't have a great start either. So let's see after day two how he's going. Yeah. If he's in the top ten, well, then it's gonna go precisely.
SPEAKER_02Well, look, there's no pressure on you because you've already got a winner in the bag this year. So the chances of me and Paul squaring it up are very, very slim. But yeah, that's pretty good. All right, well, look, Paul, I'm gonna come to you. Got Rosie in the bank already, you've chosen him. Who else do you fancy for this one?
SPEAKER_00So my top pick, my number one spot, I'm gonna go with Victor Hovland. I just think he's hitting form at the right time. He's just a solid player, even though there might not be any wind, you always feel that that kind of player will perform well on a link style golf course. So, yeah, Victor Hovland. My second pick, odds wise, an outsider. I'm gonna go with the only Chinese player in the field, Hao Tong Li. Okay. We all know how good a player he is. But in 2017, he finished third on his own at Birkdale. So he knows the course, he's played it before. Yeah, and then third is a guy called Scott Vincent, who is from Zimbabwe. The last person from Zimbabwe to win the open was, of course, the great Nick Price. It was 32 years ago. So it's about time.
SPEAKER_02Turnbury nil, was it? I was there. Okay, so Scott Vincent, your number three pick, Zimbabwe, the connection, Nick Price. Okay. Obviously, at the start of the year, I went for Tyrrell. Gonna stick by that. I'd like to see Tyrrell Hatton play well, certainly have a run at it. He's 31 to 1, I think. Something like that, Tyrrell. Those odds may change before the tournament starts. Another player that I've gone for, and I don't I don't particularly want him to win, to be honest with you. I just think he might have a run at it. He's a player that would definitely be in the argument of one of the best players yet to win a major championship. Patrick Cantley. He's 56 1. I don't know. I just fancy he might have a run at it, Patrick Cantley. Good player, quite slow. His record in majors is a record. For someone that's good at golfer as he is. Yeah, so hey, he might turn that on his head, you know. You never know. Another player that I've picked out, the Americans always go well at the open, don't they? They seem to have dominated it over the last 35 years. I've gone for Russell Henley. Russell Henley, also, strangely enough, 56-1. He's had two top tens in the last two Open Championships. He came fifth in 2024 and he came tied 10th, I think, last year. So gone for Russell Henley, good putter. And then the final player that I don't know, he's always kicking around. I've gone Keegan Bradley. 101-1. So Keegan Bradley, I think, is an outsider. He's quite streaky, but when he's in the mix, he's annoyingly good at staying there. So Keegan Bradley would be another player. So funny enough, I've gone one Englishman and three Americans, yeah. So we'll see. But don't bet on who I've just said because obviously I've learned a shocker of the year. Neil, let's come to somebody for some sense. Who have you got? Um, yeah, top pick.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think he's a great ball striker. I've gone for Xander, he's my top top pick. I think going into it, he's tied third favourite, Pans 17.
SPEAKER_02When did Xander actually win his Open Championship?
SPEAKER_0124. Two years.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_03So 25 he finished seventh, and 23 he was tied 17th, 22 tied 15th, 2021 he was tied 26th. So he's up there round about. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Second pick, not a very popular person in golf, not my favourite guy, but not a lot of people say, but I'm gonna go Wyndham Clark. Okay, but yeah, Wyndham Clark is my second pick.
SPEAKER_02So what's he paying? 34. He's 34. So what's Xander? Xander must be what? 17? It's 17, okay.
SPEAKER_01Yep, and Maury Cow has hit some form, but I didn't go there. Sam Burns, I picked on the last one. He did come runner up, but I'm gonna leave both of those. I've got to pick an Englishman because it's coming home this year. And I'm gonna go Aaron Rye to pick up his second mate. Wow. Wow. Okay. Very steady golfers, paying 61. Is he really? Okay. So I think it was a surprise win that he held off Scotty and he won his first major. And I think he could do it. He's a very steady player. So they're my three. Xander, Windham, and Aaron.
SPEAKER_02Pretty good picks. I wonder if we'll get the winner amongst us. We've probably what pulled out 14 names there between us. James.
SPEAKER_03Just for me, it's like you see the big yellow leaderboard. It's the open leaderboard on the 18th fairway. It sticks out. It is iconic. My my boss, Craig Defoy, played in the open in 71. Trevino won it, Mr. Lou was second. That's right, Mr. Tony Jacklin was third, and Craig DeFoy, my boss, was fourth. Wow. And there was this picture of the yellow leaderboard he had this in a frame. That's pretty cool. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And then he came back to work and put some grips on for a 28 member. That would have been it as well. I'm not that familiar with Royal Burke Dale, to be honest with you, so I'm really looking forward to watching this one. And of course, it's our last taste of major golf until April next year. So let's hope it's a goodie. We will be doing a majors wrap so we can chew through everything that's happened, and James will probably gloat about picking the only major winner of the two winners. Two winners, yeah. We're feeling pretty confident this time around. Thank you again for your time. I think that's a wrap. Epic. Thanks, all the best. If you've made it this far, we hope it's because you've enjoyed listening to Tommy Does Golf. To make sure you never miss our podcast, please hit follow. For more of our content or to get in touch, head to TommyDuzgolf.com. So until next time, no matter how you're playing, smile, laugh, and most important of all, enjoy the walk.