Latest news with #JustinRay
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Open Championship news: Scottie Scheffler keeps bonkers trend alive amid Claret Jug chase
The post Open Championship news: Scottie Scheffler keeps bonkers trend alive amid Claret Jug chase appeared first on ClutchPoints. Entering Sunday's final round at the Open Championship, Scottie Scheffler was firmly in pursuit of his first Claret Jug. The 29-year-old American has already captured two Masters Green Jackets, plus this year's PGA Championship. Can he add a fourth major trophy to his collection? According to Golf Digest and golf journalist Justin Ray on X (formerly Twitter), Scheffler has won his last nine opportunities after leading a tournament after 54 holes. Heading into Sunday, Scheffler had a four-stroke lead over the field in Ireland. 'If history holds true, Scottie Scheffler is your Open Champion,' posted Golf Digest on their X (formerly Twitter) profile Saturday afternoon. At the moment, Scheffler holds a five-stroke advantage on the trio of Chris Gotterup, Harris English and Haotong Li. Another trio sits at six shots behind the leader. If Scheffler maintains his steady play, then his streak of nine wins in a row will almost certainly turn to ten. If that happens? Then once again, one of the world's best professional golfers will lift a piece of silverware. Although this time, it will finally be the Claret Jug. Scottie Scheffler seeking first ever win at Open Championship Through ten holes, Scheffler's five-shot advantage is a pretty solid margin. He's two under par for the day, so a couple more birdies certainly wouldn't hurt. However, the onus is on each of his competitors, including his playing partner Li, to bridge the gap. As history has shown, Scheffler doesn't lose in these situations. Will Sunday prove to be different? Despite the hopes and wishes of his competition, it is looking more and more likely that Scheffler will be one major title win away from finishing his career Grand Slam. He's in the prime of his career and looks to close out his tenth consecutive 54-hole lead in a row. By Sunday evening, the golf world will know if Scheffler has accomplished yet another career milestone. As each moment passes, glory for Scottie is looking more and more likely. Related: Which past Open Championship winner sees Nikola Jokic in Scottie Scheffler? Related: Scottie Scheffler downplays Tiger Woods comparisons after Open Championship win
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Past Open Championship winner jumps into lead on Friday behind hot putter
The post Past Open Championship winner jumps into lead on Friday behind hot putter appeared first on ClutchPoints. Round Two is underway at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, and Brian Harman has taken the lead. After winning the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool, the lefty has not been around the lead in many majors. But a sizzling round on Friday has him in the lead as the halfway point approaches. Harman took the Open Championship lead on a hot putter, which reminds many of the 2023 tournament. 'Brian Harman strokes gained putting per round in majors since beginning of 2023: The Open: +1.45. Other 3 majors: +0.40,' Justin Ray of TwentyFirst Group posted. Harman did not make many fans during his win at Royal Liverpool in 2023. The University of Georgia product is not known as the fastest player, waggling his club many times before swinging. His affinity for hunting was not taken well by the British press at the time, and he blew away the field for an anti-climactic win. Harman shot two under par in the first round of the 2025 Open Championship, sitting two shots behind the lead. He quickly joined the pack at four under with birdies on the first and second holes. A four-pack of pars before a birdie on seven led him to a front-nine 33, three under par. He made the turn with two more birdies on 10 and 13, made four straight pars, and then birdied the 18th. A six under 65 put Harman in the lead at The Open Championship with a 36-hole score of eight under. Harman has three top-ten finishes in majors in his 37 starts coming into this week. Liverpool is his lone win; he finished T-6 at the 2022 Open Championship and finished second at the 2017 U.S. Open. Despite a poor major career, Harman has a chance to join a historic list of players with a win at Royal Portrush. Only 13 players have multiple Claret Jugs since World War II. Harman could become the 14th. Related: Tyrrell Hatton credits Guinness amid Open Championship success Related: Keegan Bradley's bizarre admission about Ryder Cup captaincy
New York Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
2025 Open Championship live-betting guide: Tips, weather, stats
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Every golf tournament is different, but none are more unique than the Open Championship. It is played on foreign soil, on a links-style course, and the weather has a massive impact on the proceedings. There are 156 players in the field at Royal Portrush, but none will have a bigger say in how things go than Mother Nature. While some may think that the unpredictability that these elements bring to the table hinders bettors because it makes the Open tricky to predict, the opposite is true. This kind of chaos presents an opportunity for those who know how to utilize it to their advantage, especially when it comes to live-betting opportunities. By the time you're reading this, Round 1 of the Open Championship could be more than halfway over, but that doesn't mean that you've missed out on your chance to cash in on the goings on in Northern Ireland. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you make savvy live-betting decisions for the last major of the 2025 season: How important is a hot start? Things change quickly at the Open Championship, and you'd think that a tournament defined by unpredictability and chaos would allow for some late-closing winners, but the opposite is true. According to golf statistician Justin Ray, each of the last 25 winners of the Claret Jug were within five shots of the lead after 18 holes, and the last 15 Open champions boasted a first-round scoring average of 67.1. Tommy Fleetwood during a practice round at Royal Portrush. Getty Images Last year's winner, Xander Schauffele, shot 2-under in Round 1, putting him four shots back of the lead. Shane Lowry, who won at Royal Portrush when it last hosted this event in 2019, carded a 67 in the first round, putting him one back of J.B. Holmes. That said, a solid start doesn't guarantee that you will be a contender over the weekend. Seventeen players shot under par in Round 1 at Royal Troon last year. Ten of them finished the tournament over par. Betting on golf? Don't be afraid of backing a slow starter either Although the data tells us you need to be within five strokes of the lead after Round 1 to have a chance of winning, it doesn't mean you should completely write off a slow-starting player, especially if they're one of the heavyweights. There were four players who finished T2 at the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, and three of them shot over par in Round 1. The other, Sepp Straka, was even after 18 holes. Last year, Billy Horschel finished T2 along with Justin Rose. While Rose got off the blocks hot, Horschel was 1-over par after the first round. Betting on golf? The Weather As always, Mother Nature is going to play a pretty big role at Royal Portrush this weekend. It seems like Thursday afternoon will be challenging with rain and wind in the forecast. If a player with an afternoon start time gets through Round 1 with their head above water, it could be an indicator that they're in sharper form than their score suggests. It looks like Friday and Saturday will be generally pleasant, but Sunday will be tricky. Don't be afraid to take a shot on a player three or four shots back of the leader, as Round 4 could be absolute carnage. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stunning Tommy Fleetwood stat makes Travelers loss even worse
The post Stunning Tommy Fleetwood stat makes Travelers loss even worse appeared first on ClutchPoints. Tommy Fleetwood stepped onto the 18th tee at the Travelers Championship with a one-shot lead over Keegan Bradley. With no wins in his 158 PGA Tour starts entering the week, it looked like the Englishman was going to get the monkey off his back. But a phenomenal shot from Bradley and a brutal three-putt from Fleetwood changed everything. After his Travelers loss, Fleetwood made some brutal history. Advertisement 'Tommy Fleetwood: 42nd top-10 finish on PGA Tour; most by any player without a win last 40 years,' Justin Ray of the TwentyFirst Group posted on social media. Fleetwood changed his club before hitting his approach on the 18th hole. That classic sign of overthinking was all Bradley needed to see to pounce on his competitor. The Ryder Cup captain stuck his approach to less than six feet and put all of the pressure on Fleetwood. His first putt was just outside of Bradley's approach, giving his competitor a perfect read. When Fleetwood missed the second putt, Bradley kicked the door down. From a three-shot lead to losing in regulation, it was over for Fleetwood. In his long PGA Tour career, Fleetwood has lost in playoffs, blown leads early in rounds, and now suffered from a brutal 72nd hole collapse. When speaking with the media afterward, he explained his feelings after the loss. 'I'm upset now, I'm angry,' Fleetwood said, per the PGA Tour's social media page. 'When it calms down, look at the things I did well and look at the things I can learn from…[I] felt like I did a lot of good things, but there are things I can definitely do better and have to do better.' Advertisement Just last week, Fleetwood missed the cut at the US Open. While this is a marked improvement from that tough result, he does not get that elusive win on American soil. Bradley, meanwhile, picks up his second Travelers win in three years. Related: PGA Tour news: 'Angry' Tommy Fleetwood breaks silence on painful Travelers Championship loss Related: Keegan Bradley stuns Tommy Fleetwood to capture second Travelers win
NBC Sports
18-06-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Analyzing the KPMG Women's technological advances
Justin Ray joins the Golf Central desk to discuss the "next evolution" behind the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, where new technologies and insights will benefit golfers in live time.
