The Open Championship can encounter problems in years such as this. Even dedicated sports fans suffer exhaustion when a European Championship and Olympic Games bookend the summer. The Open - like Wimbledon or Test matches - can feel as if it is jammed somewhere in the middle of the frenzy.
Against this backdrop, Royal Troon comes under pressure to provide something special. A repeat of last year, when Brian Harman coasted to victory under ugly skies at Hoylake, will not do. History is on this wonderful Ayrshire venue's side; Henrik Stenson's epic joust with Phil Mickelson here, eight years ago, was the last properly compelling Open Sunday.
That the R&A wants no repeat of Stenson's 20-under-par aggregate is apparent with one glance at the rough. Players could lose their caddies in there, never mind their golf balls.
Scottie Scheffler's outstanding touch in 2024 renders him the man to beat. His dominance on the PGA Tour has conjured memories of Tiger Woods in his prime. Even a tie for eighth at the US PGA Championship in May was remarkable given Scheffler spent Friday morning in a police cell. He has won six times this year; the last player to do that by July was Arnold Palmer, who duly added the 1962 Troon Open to his CV.
The Open is, however, a code Scheffler has been unable to crack.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 18, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 18, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Díaz doubles up to ensure a perfect start to Slot's reign
It was difficult to imagine a more perfect afternoon for Arne Slot - or a more harrowing one for Erik ten Hag who, just three games into the Premier League season, is back in familiar territory; the vultures circling, his credentials as the Manchester United manager under yet more scrutiny.
Atkinson strikes again as England sweep to series win
There was not a great deal of encouragement from the Lord's pitch and a thin crowd made for a slightly sleepy Sunday.
Cox gets her golden redemption to seal GB cycling's medal rush
There were three gold medals for Britain on a triumphant day at the velodrome, starting with a gold and silver in the men's B1,000m time trial and finishing with gold for Kadeena Cox in the C1-5 750m team sprint.
Germany Has economic giant of Europe now run out of road?
Sir Keir Starmer is not the first Labour leader to hanker after a closer relationship between Britain and Germany.
Tougher levies on North Sea profits risk loss of £12bn in taxes, say firms
The North Sea industry has warned the government not to toughen its windfall tax on oil and gas profits in the autumn budget, claiming it risks losing £12bn in tax receipts and jeopardising 35,000 jobs.
Norway halts outdoor tourism campaign over environmental fears
A Norwegian tourism campaign aimed at promoting the country as a destination for outdoor activities has been suspended after warnings that opening up the country's \"right to roam\" laws to mass tourism could lead to environmental destruction.
Capitol Hill women Taking on Trump - and changing the face of US politics
The halls of the US Congress were, for many years, a man's world.
Afghan women sing in protest over Taliban laws banning their voices
Afghan women, both inside and outside the country, have posted online videos of themselves singing in protest at the Taliban's new laws banning women's voices in public.
Ukrainian drones hit power plants deep in Russia
Ukraine has carried out one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia yet, with videos showing a series of explosions and fires at power stations and refineries, including in Moscow.
'Dangerous lottery' Evacuation plans for vulnerable 'inconsistent'
Firefighter, disability and Grenfell groups have criticised the existence of a \"dangerous postcode lottery\" as data revealed an \"inconsistent rollout\" of emergency evacuation plans for vulnerable people across London.
