Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Pros battled the elements Friday at Royal Birkdale

Pros battled the elements Friday at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England – Umbrella futures were on the rise Friday, and there’s no doubt that the quarterly earnings of raingear companies received a bump. Royal Birkdale was hit with proper Open Championship weather in the second round, leaving caddies with sore backs from the heavier luggage they had to lug around the links. The rain required them to not only carry extra clothing, but simultaneously balance a towel, umbrella, yardage book and whatever else their boss needed to keep dry. The weather was reminiscent of what we saw in the past two Open Championships here along England’s Lancashire Coast, as weather from the Irish Sea tormented the world’s best. No one has finished under-par in either of the past two Opens held at Royal Birkdale, and that was thanks in large part to high winds and rain. The field had to deal with both Friday, and often at the same time, sending the scoring average up more than two strokes. The field averaged 71.9 on Thursday, but that rose to 74.0 in Friday’s inclement weather. Rain is always a nuisance, while wind can at least occasionally be an aid. Not on this day, though. The winds came from the southeast, blowing across many fairways and often into the players. “The way it is out there now, it’s not much fun,â€� said Charl Schwartzel, whose 78 was 12 strokes higher than his first round. He teed off at 9:47 a.m., and was likely one of the players Jordan Spieth was watching as he awaited his tee time five hours later. Kevin Na, who fired 75 after a first-round 68, called it, “a good day to sit at home and watch a movie.â€� Most players opted for to watch the golf instead. One of the advantages players have at The Open Championship is that they can procure plenty of intelligence from tuning into the television broadcast before their afternoon tee time. Since all players tee off from No. 1, there’s nearly 10 hours between the first and last “games,â€� as they’re called at The Open. Spieth, known for a golf intelligence that matches his passion for the game, was among those players who tuned in. “I would have gladly stayed on the couch,â€� he said. “It was tough watching. It wasn’t a great feeling knowing we were coming into something harder than what we were watching.â€� Adam Scott, who teed off at 8:25 Friday morning, also watched the telecast, though for a different reason. With his day done by the early afternoon, he didn’t need to do any studying. He just wanted to commiserate with colleagues who struggled with the conditions. “I don’t normally tune in, but hopefully watching will make myself feel a little better,â€� he said after shooting 74 on Friday. He sits at 3-over 143 (69-74). The morning half of the draw had to deal with high winds. How windy was it? Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar both used 5-irons on the 162-yard 12th hole. McIlroy came up short. Kuchar watched the wind blow his shot 30 yards, from a mound left of the green toward the middle of the putting surface. The rain came later, falling hardest at about 4 p.m. A rain delay is about as rare as a tree at an Open Championship, because of how quickly a links course can drain, but play was stopped for a half-hour due to water pooling on the greens. The afternoon half of the field actually had an average score that was 0.8 strokes lower than the morning starters (73.6 to 74.4), but rain can be more of a hassle because of the extra work it requires to stay dry.Precipitation also produces dramatic visuals as players scurry for cover, wipe off their grips and turn hats backwards to keep water from dripping on their golf ball. The reality is, though, that the wind settled down at times as the rains arrived. Spieth said that taking advantage of the (relatively) calm periods was key to Friday’s 69, which puts him at 6-under 134 (65-69) and in the lead. Friday’s weather undoubtedly pleased those fans who wake up early to watch players struggle through “Open weather.â€� The funny thing is that the weather didn’t deter the gallery members on the grounds, either. Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up a few minutes from Royal Birkdale, was surprised by the number of fans who followed him through the worst of the weather. He shot 69 on Friday just to make the cut. “There’s no way people should be out on that golf course right now supporting anyone,â€� he said. Even the beloved local son. The scoring at Open Championships is heavily dependent on Mother Nature, as centuries-old links courses often lack defenses against modern technology. The conditions didn’t just make it difficult for the players. Rich Beem, winner of the 2001 PGA Championship, was known for a carefree attitude during his playing days. He now serves as an on-course commentator for Sky Sports, and when gallery member asked if he was enjoying following the leader, he couldn’t fake it. “The fun factor left long ago,â€� he said sarcastically. The constant crackle of rain drops hitting waterproof material was a quiet undertone as Spieth finished Friday’s 69, which was one of just eight under-par scores shot Friday. He will take a two-shot lead over Kuchar into the weekend. Spieth is pleased, of course, to be in the lead as he pursues the third leg of the career Grand Slam. That wasn’t what made him happiest as he sat in the interview room Friday afternoon. “Right now, I’m happy to be inside, first and foremost,â€� he said. He wasn’t the only one.

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1st Round 2-Balls - S. Lowry / J. Spieth
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Shane Lowry-120
Jordan Spieth+100
1st Round 3-Balls - A. Furue / L. Coughlin / C. Boutier
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Ayaka Furue+135
Celine Boutier+200
Lauren Coughlin+200
1st Round 2-Balls - L. Glover / J.J. Spaun
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
J J Spaun-115
Lucas Glover-105
1st Round Match-Up - L. Glover v H. English
Type: Requests - Status: OPEN
Harris English-115
Lucas Glover-105
Tournament Match-Up - D. Berger v J J Spaun
Type: Requests - Status: OPEN
Daniel Berger-150
J J Spaun+115
Tournament Match-Ups - J.T. Poston vs J J Spaun
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston-130
J J Spaun+100
1st Round Match-Ups - J.J. Spaun vs W. Clark
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J J Spaun-110
Wyndham Clark-110
1st Round 3-Balls - N. Korda / H. Green / M. Sagstrom
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Nelly Korda+105
Hannah Green+180
Madelene Sagstrom+300
1st Round 2-Balls - D. Berger / G. Woodland
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Daniel Berger-155
Gary Woodland+130
Tournament Match-Ups - D. Berger vs M.W. Lee
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Daniel Berger-155
Min Woo Lee+120
1st Round Match-Ups - J. Day vs D. Berger
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Jason Day-115
Daniel Berger-105
1st Round Match-Ups - H. English vs G. Woodland
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Harris English-125
Gary Woodland+105
1st Round 2-Balls - K. Vilips / R. Fowler
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Rickie Fowler-145
Karl Vilips+120
1st Round 2-Balls - H. English / J. Bridgeman
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Harris English-125
Jacob Bridgeman+105
1st Round 3-Balls - M. Katsu / L. Grant / L. Li
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Linn Grant+140
Minami Katsu+180
Lucy Li+210
1st Round 2-Balls - P. Rodgers / R. Hisatsune
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Patrick Rodgers-120
Ryo Hisatsune+100
1st Round 2-Balls - M. Hughes / R. Gerard
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes-110
Ryan Gerard-110
1st Round 2-Balls - T. Detry / N. Dunlap
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Thomas Detry-165
Nick Dunlap+140
1st Round 2-Balls - W. Clark / W. Zalatoris
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Wyndham Clark-125
Will Zalatoris+105
Tournament Match-Up - W. Clark v MW Lee
Type: Request - Status: OPEN
Min Woo Lee-115
Wyndham Clark-115
1st Round 2-Balls - J.T. Poston / R. MacIntyre
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston-110
Robert MacIntyre-110
1st Round 3-Balls - S. Power / A. Svensson / R. Fox
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Seamus Power+145
Ryan Fox+160
Adam Svensson+240
1st Round 2-Balls - J. Day / T. Finau
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jason Day-135
Tony Finau+115
Tournament Match-Ups - S. Theegala v T. Finau
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sahith Theegala-120
Tony Finau-110
1st Round Match-Ups - B. Hun An vs T. Finau
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Byeong Hun An-115
Tony Finau-105
1st Round 3-Balls - C. Ramey / J. Dahmen / C. Hoffman
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Charley Hoffman+160
Joel Dahmen+170
Chad Ramey+200
1st Round 2-Balls - C. Kirk / C. Young
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Cameron Young-110
Chris Kirk-110
1st Round Match-Ups - S. Jaeger vs C. Kirk
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Stephan Jaeger-120
Chris Kirk+100
1st Round 2-Balls - A. Rai / S. Jaeger
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai-150
Stephan Jaeger+125
Tournament Match-Up - A. Rai v X. Schauffele
Type: Request - Status: OPEN
Xander Schauffele-190
Aaron Rai+145
1st Round Match-Ups - A. Rai vs B. Harman
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai-120
Brian Harman+100
1st Round 3-Balls - B. Haas / C. Kim / E. Compton
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Chan Kim-155
Bill Haas+270
Erik Compton+350
1st Round 2-Balls - C. Davis / M. Greyserman
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Max Greyserman-125
Cam Davis+105
1st Round 3-Balls - M. Andersen / S. Fisk / T. Aiken
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Steven Fisk-115
Mason Andersen+225
Thomas Aiken+300
1st Round 2-Balls - B. Harman / B. Hun An
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Brian Harman-115
Byeong Hun An-105
1st Round 2-Balls - A. Eckroat / B. Horschel
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Billy Horschel-130
Austin Eckroat+110
1st Round 2-Balls - L. Aberg / X. Schauffele
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Ludvig Aberg-110
Xander Schauffele-110
1st Round Match-Up - L. Aberg v M.W. Lee
Type: Requests - Status: OPEN
Ludvig Aberg-140
Min Woo Lee+115
Tournament Match-Up - C. Morikawa v L. Aberg
Type: Request - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa-120
Ludvig Aberg-110
Tournament Match-Ups - L. Aberg vs X. Schauffele
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Ludvig Aberg-120
Xander Schauffele-110
1st Round Match-Ups - X. Schauffele vs C. Morikawa
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa-150
Xander Schauffele+125
1st Round 2-Balls - C. Morikawa / S. Theegala
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa-210
Sahith Theegala+175
1st Round Match-Ups - M.W. Lee vs S. Theegala
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Min Woo Lee-115
Sahith Theegala-105
1st Round 2-Balls - M.W. Lee / J. Rose
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Min Woo Lee-120
Justin Rose+100
1st Round Match-Ups - J. Rose vs M. McNealy
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Maverick McNealy-120
Justin Rose+100
1st Round 2-Balls - M. Kim / A. Novak
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Michael Kim-125
Andrew Novak+105
Tournament Match-Up - M. McNealy v M. Kim
Type: Request - Status: OPEN
Maverick McNealy-120
Michael Kim-110
1st Round 2-Balls - J. Highsmith / M. McNealy
Type: 1st Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Maverick McNealy-135
Joe Highsmith+115
1st Round 3-Balls - L. Thompson / N. Hataoka / J. Thitikul
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul-105
Nasa Hataoka+190
Lexi Thompson+320
1st Round 3-Balls - H. Ryu / B. Henderson / J.Y. Ko
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Hae Ran Ryu+135
Jin Young Ko+180
Brooke Henderson+225
Volvo China Open
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Tapio Pulkkanen+450
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra+500
Jordan Smith+1200
Matthew Jordan+1400
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen+1400
Haotong Li+2000
Daniel Hillier+2200
Jason Scrivener+2200
Kazuma Kobori+2500
Ewen Ferguson+3000
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2nd Round 3-Balls - J. Campillo / S. Bairstow / L. Jefferson Go
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jorge Campillo+130
Sam Bairstow+130
Lloyd Jefferson Go+350
2nd Round 3-Balls - H. Li / A. Otaegui / D. Hillier
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Haotong Li+110
Daniel Hillier+200
Adrian Otaegui+250
2nd Round 3-Balls - S. Soderberg / Z. Dou / A. Hidalgo
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Sebastian Soderberg+140
Zecheng Dou+175
Angel Hidalgo+220
2nd Round 3-Balls - K. Nakajima / J. Veerman / W. Ding
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Keita Nakajima+145
Wenyi Ding+160
Johannes Veerman+230
2nd Round 3-Balls - M. Jordan / C. Syme / E. Lopez Chacarra
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Eugenio Lopez Chacarra+150
Matthew Jordan+150
Connor Syme+240
2nd Round 3-Balls - A. Wu / R. Neergaard-Petersen / C. Hill
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Rasmus Neergaard Petersen+100
Calum Hill+190
Ashun Wu+300
2nd Round 3-Balls - B. Peng / P. Larrazabal / R. Langasque
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Romain Langasque+125
Pablo Larrazabal+135
Bo Peng+350
2nd Round 3-Balls - S. Norris / T. Kho / N. Elvira
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Shaun Norris+135
Taichi Kho+180
Nacho Elvira+220
Tournament Match-Up - A. Rai v S. Straka
Type: Requests - Status: OPEN
Sepp Straka-130
Aaron Rai+100
Major Specials 2025
Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN
Scottie Scheffler+160
Bryson DeChambeau+350
Xander Schauffele+350
Ludvig Aberg+400
Collin Morikawa+450
Jon Rahm+450
Brooks Koepka+700
Justin Thomas+700
Viktor Hovland+700
Hideki Matsuyama+800
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PGA Championship 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Xander Schauffele+1400
Jon Rahm+1800
Collin Morikawa+2000
Brooks Koepka+2500
Justin Thomas+2500
Viktor Hovland+2500
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US Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Xander Schauffele+1200
Jon Rahm+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Viktor Hovland+2000
Justin Thomas+2500
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The Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+550
Xander Schauffele+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Jon Rahm+1600
Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
Tommy Fleetwood+2500
Tyrrell Hatton+2500
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Ryder Cup 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
USA-150
Europe+140
Tie+1200

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