Everything you missed on Wednesday at the British Open

This week we’re at the British Open and showing you everything you missed during the final day of practice at Royal Troon.

The first day of the 152nd British Open is just hours away, and Wednesday provided a final chance for the 156-strong field to fine-tune their links games before they take to the first tee to begin their campaign for the Claret Jug. Here’s our round-up of the day’s biggest stories…

R&A fully backs Portmarnock Open bid

Outgoing CEO Martin Slumbers revealed in his annual pre-Open press conference that the R&A will support Portmarnock Golf Club’s bid to bring the famous Major to the southern half of the Emerald Isle. The Irish course has asked the government for support in putting together a business case for adding the venue to both the men’s and women’s Open schedules.

“We fully support the club in its efforts to do this and we are actively involved in making those assessments,” Slumbers said.

“No decisions have been made yet, because we don’t even know if it’s possible. Realistically, the earliest chances would be 2028 for the women’s event and 2030 for the men’s event.”

Portmarnock Golf Club, not to be confused with the nearby Jameson Links and Portmarnock Resort, is located 10 miles north of Dublin and is widely recognised as one of the finest golf courses in Britain and Ireland.

Slumbers does not rule out future restrictions on drivers

Martin Slumbers has confirmed that the R&A will continue to investigate the compliance of the modern driver despite the decision to roll back golf ball regulations from 2028 in a bid to future-proof the game and courses.

“We decided the ball was the most effective way to go forward, but rest assured we didn’t lose sight of the driver,” Slumbers said.

“We’re going to keep thinking about this and talking to some smart people to figure out how we can do that.”

Fleetwood uses Scheffler’s superiority as a driving force

The Merseyside man finished T10 at Royal Liverpool last year, and has also secured a T4 and runner-up finish in 2022 and 2019 respectively. Fleetwood, who represents Team GB in Paris this summer, has spoken of his admiration for the dominant force in the men’s game ahead of Thursday’s opening round at Royal Troon. Scottie Scheffler goes into this week’s tournament as the 6/1 favourite in Aryshire having already claimed six wins in an incredible season that has also seen him claim a second Masters title.

“He’s the best player in the world and I think, in terms of his teammates, he’s great for us. We’re keen to catch up with him, keep an eye on him and be motivated by what he does.”

MacIntyre wants gold sprinkler after Scottish Open win

Robert MacIntyre addressed the media at his postponed press conference, probably because he celebrated his Scottish Open victory too grandly. He spoke about the lessons he has learned from winning two PGA Tour titles this season.

“To be honest, Myrtle Beach taught me not to try to win golf tournaments. Lower your expectations. I teed off Sunday at Myrtle Beach and my goal was to win the golf tournament. I birdied the first one, everything was great. I double bogeyed the second one. Then I think the golf tournament is over.”

Bobby Mac followed up his victory at the RBC Canadian Open in June with a stunning win at his home Open at the Renaissance Club last week – the victory he wanted most outside of the Majors. And when asked if he’d like a plaque to commemorate his victory in the same way as Rory McIlroy’s tournament-defining 2-iron… Scott replied with a cheeky grin: “I think it’s a gold-plated sprinkler.”

We have selected the best viewpoints of the Throne for you!

TG Digital Editor Rob Jerram will have sore feet tonight after walking around Royal Troon and visiting every grandstand to find the best spots for spectators to watch the action. Troon is a classic out-and-back links course, but you don’t have to walk for miles to find a great view, as Rob outlines in his comprehensive guide to finding the best seats in the house.

Leukemia survivor Michael Hendry is ready to begin

Less than two weeks after qualifying for the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool, New Zealander Michael Hendry was diagnosed with leukaemia after discovering a lump on his chin and was subsequently forced to withdraw to begin treatment.

Chemotherapy left him with a 30lb drop and barely the strength to walk up the stairs, but thankfully the treatment was effective, if unpleasant. And with a medical clearance from The R&A to play at Royal Troon this week, Hendry is back at The Open.

“It’s amazing to get the chance to play The Open again, considering how sick I was. Lying in a hospital bed, typing out my withdrawal symptoms from a hospital bed, losing 30 pounds in two weeks, it was brutal,” Hendry said.

“Having the correspondence from The R&A come back and say ‘we would love for you to come to Royal Troon if you are well enough to do so’ was a massive motivator for me. I think it had a massive impact on my recovery.”