Kagawa
Out of the English guys I think Rose has both the game and mentality to win one. Still young, too.

Would always give Poulter a chance at the Open also.
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Totally agree with your thoughts on Rose, but I have my doubts about Poulter, he seems to play better in match play tornies and not in 72 hole tornies.

I have to question if any of Poulter, Rose, Westwood or Donald will ever win a major.

Poulter - great at matchplay when he can come face-to-face with an opponent and play each hole as it comes, but when it comes to playing 4 good rounds of golf and not having an opponent directly to feed up, is sadly lacking.

Rose - for me has all the attributes to win, but perhaps lacks a real killer instinct - does he truely believe in himself.

Westwood - maybe his best chances have come and gone, Always seems to find one too good, plays consistently well but can he produce a real moment of magic and sustain it when needed?

Donald - so many people (including those in the game) rave about Donald, but for me I think he is a bit of a 'flat-track' bully. Performs consistently well on tour, but doesn't get himself into contention often enough in majors, and very often hits a very good last round when perhaps the pressure is off and doesn't really have much of a chance.

Sometimes a good consistent player doesn't necessarily win a major (like Monty in the past), whereas a streaky player could simply come good over major week, but do little for the rest of the year.

You can get 66/1 on rickie fowler with Hill.

I think that's great value on a real contender.

Good summary there Kinsang.

I think Rose might win one, and I still wouldn't rule Westwood out either.

I think we were blessed to an extent with some of the European golfers around in the 80s/90s. I was looking at it earlier, and with 6 majors Faldo is arguably the greatest European golfer of all time. If he had had 1 more he would have been one of the all time top 12 major winners, all of whom are absoloute immortals.

European golf is in great shape. Let's not forget that McIlroy and and McDowell are both British and major winners with proper winning pedigree.

Out of the English guys, Rose is the best bet. If Westwood had a reasonable short game, he'd have won a couple by now as his long game is supreme. Rose is a solid golfer with a lot of ball striking talent. If his putter gets hot for a week, which is his biggest issue, then he's certainly capable.

Poulter does have a genuine chance at the Open. If the course is shorter and the conditions poor, his game can stand up to that sort of golf. He's been close before.

JPB - I agree that we had great talent in the 80s. Both Faldo and Seve were brilliant but in different ways. Faldo was the ultimate professional, a bit like Lendl in tennis, and it was this professional approach that has set the way for others. Seve was of course a one-off genius. Don't forget Langer, whose iron play was second to none, and probably should have won more majors. Lyle reached a great level also, but just couldn't maintain it. And then the likes of Woosie and Olazabal followed.

I agree that Rose may have the best chance out of the 4, although even then I'm not truely convinced. At least Westwood can say that he has been close a few times, I think Poulter has had a couple of seconds (altho he never really looked like winning either) but both Rose and Donald haven't really given themselves winning chances.

3 of my 4 pre-tournament picks were Fowler, Watney and Scott. At least one player out of the pack sets a decent clubhouse total, I'm hoping it's Watney or Fowler. I actually think Watney might grab a place and it'll be a what if scenario after an opening 78.

As for Scott, can he hold himself together after the Open collapse last year? Big test for him, although maybe a plus that he's not in final group, and playing with a fellow countryman.

Just to add I think if McDowell wins another it will be a nice bonus, but seriously expect McIlroy to reach double figures. He is the one player since Tiger to show that when he's on his game, he can blow a field away. He's still a little off the boil, but surely there's a few green jackets waiting to be fitted for him.

I give Donald next to no chance. He's just a bit of a nothing golfer. I know that sounds harsh, but he's probably the last golfer out of the top 30 that would strike fear into opposing players.

You just know he'll play alright and his short game will be good. He'll probably go out and shoot a 64 now...

McDowell is class. Definitely more majors for him. He isn't flaky and he plays tough courses better than most. He's already contended in a few since his first victory.

Can't agree on McIlroy getting 10+. If he does then fair play, but I don't see any Tiger like dominance from him as his game, at his worst, is very poor. With Woods, his dogged consistency and ability to scrape scrores when playing badly is what made/makes him so good. I don't see the weekly consistency for McIlroy to the extent that he could get to a 70+ PGA tour victories or 10+ majors.

Kagawa - I don't think anyone can match Tiger in terms of dominance - his achievements so far have been out of this world. His ability to win when not at his best is something that ONLY he can do - I don't believe any other player has ever shown that ability, and the vast majority usually miss or just scrape through the cut.

McIlroy is still very young and already has 2 majors. He dose still need to learn the grinding side of the game, but he has more than ample time to do that, and I believe his attitude to keep trying to improve is a good one. So I don't expect McIlroy to be in contention / win tournaments week in week out the way Tiger did for a good spell, but I think he is one of those players that is highly motivated by the majors and will raise his game for the majors. I think 10 majors is a realistic target, but I don't think he will necessarily win bucket loads of tournaments.

Agree about Donald - good solid player, but doesn't really do anything brilliantly. I suppose the grind of a US Open might be his best chance, but then you look at what McIlroy could do and Donald seems miles behind.

great points boys

the point that I was trying to make, is I think reflected in kisang's comments.

I agree that we are blessed with a number of really quality players at the moment.

My point was though that I think that the quality is not quite as high in the late 80s early 90s, and that that it is easy to forget that.

I went to a couple of the ryder cups at the belfry, and in the team you would have :

-Faldo
-monty
-seve
-olly
-woosie
-lyle
-langer

All major winners, and in the case of seve and Faldo, 5 and 6 time major winners.

I think we have better strength in depth now - not sure that sam Torrance, Christie oconnor jnr etc would make the team these days, but in terms of having guys who are going to win majors, I think the current crop are just that touch away from the guys of the previous generation.

Nicklaus 18
woods 14
hagen 11
player 9
Hogan 9
Watson 8
palmer 7
snead 7
sarazan 7
bobby jones 7
harry vardon 7
Faldo 6
Trevino 6


That's some list.

If rory can get 10 then he would be an all time sporting great.

if rory can get 5 or 6 he'll be an all time great anyone who can match Seve is an all time great

McIllroy

anyone going to take the 66/1 on fowler ?

edit my previous post. of course monty didn't win a major. 7 time ? tour winner though.

some fell's just hit 3 in the water on the 12th

playing 7 off the tee

McIlroy already on 2 majors, just a couple of weeks shy of turning 24. No-one can predict the future, but he is a special proven talent already, and with 3 of the 4 majors on US courses which suit his style of game so well, double figures is realistically within reach. For me it's a case of how badly he wants it and if he remains motivated - so unless he does a John Daly and goes off the rails, he'll be challenging for the next 15 years at least.

Re: Fowler - as mentioned before, I was on him pre-start, at 50-1, along with Scott and Watney. I assume you have backed him JPB, but all this talk about him, I hope you don't 'scud' him!!!!

at least he could see the funny side

don't know how he can possibly be longer odds now than before it started. strange one that.

It's Kevin Na, I'm sure he took a double digit figure a few years ago somewhere else. I'm also sure that he's one of these slow players that people are trying to quicken up.

snedeker reminds me a bit of matthew haggard.

* hogg *

Who will win the green jacket this yr ?


My moneys on

Rory McIlroy

Phil Mickelson

Keegan Bradley


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at the OP!