OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SPRING 2018
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obsports.com
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TOUR REPORT
"I've had some rounds where I shot
7-under and I've shot 7-over out
there," says Trinity Forest member
and current British Open champ Jor-
dan Spieth. "It's not very difficult off
the tee. It's about where you position
the tee ball, which half of the fairway,
to be able to hold a lot of the greens on
the approach shots."
With nary a water hazard, a rarity
these days, but amid a beguiling blend
of strategically placed, artistically
sculpted bunkers and set of vexing
greens, Trinity Forest will likely re-
ward an imaginative player who pos-
sesses local knowledge.
I'm picking Spieth.
•••
OLD WORLD TRIPLE
Links golf tests every aspect of a
player's physical and mental capabili-
ties, especially when wild weather
moves in, which is why I so relish July
events on the PGA European Tour.
This year, the fun starts with the
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted
by the Rory Foundation. For the first
time, northwest Ireland's Ballyliffin
Golf Club will host on its modern
Glashedy course designed by Pat
Ruddy. It's 7,200 yards of wildly un-
dulating seaside terrain and if the
wind really howls, it will prove a for-
midable test.
One week later, we go from modern
to ancient: to Gullane Golf Club for the
Aberdeen Standard Investments Scot-
tish Open. Situated just minutes away
from hallowed Muirfield in East Loth-
ian, Gullane has hosted golf for 350
years, with top tournaments generally
held on its No. 1 course, which dates to
1884. Rickie Fowler won the event
when it was last played here in 2015.
Finally, the British Open, aka the
Open Championship, returns to Scot-
land's Carnoustie – dubbed "Car-
nasty" for good reason. Jack Nicklaus,
among others, considers Carnoustie to
be the toughest of all of the Open rota
courses. Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom
Watson and most recently Padraig
Harrington in 2008 have won Opens
here. Blow wind, blow!
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