British Open 2017: 5 things we learned
Following the 2017 British Open and Jordan Spieth’s first-ever win at The Open Championship, a look at five things we learned
Given the history of the tournament and at Royal Birkdale, many expected the 2017 British Open to be a high-scoring slugfest. The skinny preview of the third major championship was that it would likely be a war of attrition on the links. Instead, that wasn’t wholly the case as Jordan Spieth took the Claret Jug and his first Open Championship with a 72-hole score of 12-under, all four of his rounds coming in under-par.
There’s no question that Spieth’s win was historic in a number of ways. Winning the British Open puts him a PGA Championship victory away from completing the career grand-slam — at only 23 years old. What’s more, the way that he did it after almost collapsing and then composing himself down the home-strech of the back-nine was incredible.
Even with the lack of elements overall at Royal Birkdale for the tournament, it was still a great event. It was a tournament that had a record-setting round of 62 from Branden Grace, big names like Spieth, Matt Kuchar and even Rory McIlroy lurking around should anyone falter and an event that was simply entertaining from wire-to-wire.
With The Open Championship out of the way now, it’s time for the home-stretch of the PGA Tour season. Only one major championship remains and the FedEx Cup playoffs are looming. Having all that in mind, let’s look at five things we learned from the 2017 British Open.
5. Matt Kuchar deserves mention among world’s elite
Without question, Matt Kuchar had moments to overtake Jordan Spieth in the final round, but couldn’t convert when he needed to. He missed a few mildly makable putts that would’ve been huge. At the same time, however, Kuchar may have been the most consistent player throughout the entire British Open. He came in with a steady gameplan and veteran wherewithal and used it to take him to a second-place finish. Had Spieth not gotten hot at the end of the back-nine, he would’ve won.
What’s crazy, though, is how little you hear about Kuchar at times until he’s on the first page of the leaderboard. And yes, he’s been on that first page numerous times throughout 2017 and for much of his career. His second-place showing was his best finish this season, but he also has five top-10 finishes, a remarkable 12 showings in the top 25 and only four missed cuts all season.
In a sport that’s becoming dominated by big-hitters and players of that ilk, the 39-year old Kuchar can’t hang in that regard. However, he doesn’t need to hit the ball a quarter-mile off of the tee to be successful. He’s one of the best all-around players on the tour and he’s tore it up this season. In three majors this season, he finished tied-fourth at The Master, tied-16th at the U.S. Open and now second at the British Open.
He might not be spectacular and, at his age, he might not have any upside ahead of him. But it’s past time that people start further giving him his due. The rosy-cheeked veteran is an elite golfer and deserves to be recognized as such.