The Open

Much of the build up to the 151st Open at Hoylake focussed on Rory McIlroy who has now gone 13 years without winning a Major.

His defenders – of whom there are many – argue that he consistently hits the top ten and wins other tourneys and loads of moolah.

Others argue that he has been distracted by the LiV fission and, before that, litigation with his management company and the break up with Caroline Wozniacki that allegedly affected his game.

His critics, like me, point out that he is incapable of playing 4 match winning rounds;  Jordan Spieth has a much better Open record; and in these years of famine Broooks Koepka has won 5 Majors, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rabin two and Scottie Scheffler is now the world number one in the rankings.

So far Rory is way down the leaderboard and another Briton – ‘Tommy Lad’ Fleetwood whom I am pleased to say I backed each way at 20/1 -well up it.

Brian Harman is the leader – a consistent performer on the US PGA tour – who mastered the windy conditions of Hoylake yesterday.

One of the advantages of following the Open on the telly is you can – with a switch of the handset – also see what is happening at the Test Match at Old Trafford and indeed the Tour de France.

Now – with rain forecast all day Saturday in the Test and Le Tour a procession for Jonas Vingegaard – I can focus on the golf and the final pairing of Butch Harman and Tommy Lad.

My other picks – Adam Scott, Victor Hovland and Jon Rahm – are well down but the former two might yet achieve a top eight position.

One of the commentators noted that 8 of the European positions in the Ryder Cup are filled.

I reckon these must be Rory, Jon Rahm, Victor Novland, Justin Rose, Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Victor Perez.

The other 4 are up for grabs and we still do not know the position after the Liv/DP World Tour compromise.