Captain's Prize Competition

One hundred and eighty golfers enjoyed the weather on Saturday in Ton Negal's Captain's Prize competition.

Pat Owen claimed the overall winner's prize with 41 points (West Course), the only score in the 40's. Martin Taylor was close behind taking the 1st place prize on the West course with 39 points along with Nigel Dorning taking 1st place on the East, again with 39 points.

As this year's sponsor of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, BMW were also offering the chance to be at the event. Well done to Pat Owen and Nigel Dorning who will now play the regional qualifier at Wentworth Golf Club in September.

Lady Captain's Day

In Helen Kennedy's Lady Captain's Day event, seventy ladies played in the two days of the competition which was won by Tita McCart on the Tuesday with 37 points. Bassey Dunbar was second on count back from Sophie Bargeron with 36 points.

On the Sunday Liz Martinez Gray took the honours on count back from Lyn Baimbridge with 36 points.

Dutch National Seniors Strokeplay

It's deja vu all over again as Tita McCart wins the Dutch National Seniors Strokeplay Championship for the second time last week. With a total of 153 (75-78), Tita finished four strokes ahead of her next competitor, Nan Croockewit of the Hilversum Golf Club, who finished with a total of 157 (78-79). Laurence Nolte from Royal Hague Golf Club seized the third place with 158 (80-78).

"I am very happy that I won" said Tita afterwards in the clubhouse. "Last week I won the Ladies Captain's Prize, which gave me confidence for this tournament." Congratulations Tita!

Hoeck Cup

On a breezy day on the West course,18 pairs played for the Hoeck Cups. Some 40 years after first collecting the trophy, David Alldread got his hands on one of them yet again. Partnered by Angela Mace, David scored 40 points in the greensomes format. Countback separated the Nadins and Charlicks, with Wally and Sandy's back nine giving them second place over Alan and Sandra.

I spent two days earlier in the week up at Hoylake watching and filming the practice days. The course is in magnificent condition, please enjoy some of the photographs I took:

It's the biggest week in golf at Hoylake, could it be back to back wins for defending champion, Phil Mickelson? He started the year with a runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi, but hasn't finished better than tied for 11th since.

With no questions about his health, Mickelson's play has been confounding. He has struggled for most of the year, but he returns to a championship which he finally figured out.

Though he missed the cut two years ago, Mickelson tamed Muirfield last year, winning the Open Championship for the first time. He had finished second three years ago and has been somewhat hit or miss recently, but his record is far better than it had been.

Tiger Woods and Mickelson have been giants in the game over the last two decades, but obviously have questions about their games. Will that open the door for a newcomer, or will one of the other reigning major champions conquer Hoylake?

The reigning major champions -- Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer -- enter this championship in varying degrees of form. Dufner has missed the cut in his last two starts, and he doesn't have the best record at the Open Championship.

Watson had a hot stretch earlier this year, which included his second Masters title. But he has cooled off lately, and like Dufner, doesn't have the best record at the Open. Watson has made the cut in three of his five British Open starts, but hasn't cracked the top 20.

Then there is Kaymer. He dominated the U.S. Open to claim his second major title to go along with his 2010 PGA Championship win. He is as hot as anyone entering the week, and has a solid record at the Open Championship. The German contended in 2010 and 2011, but struggled in both final rounds.

Or we could see an out-of-nowhere-winner like Ben Curtis or Michael Campbell, or we could see Ernie Els or Woods return to their major championship winning ways.

Royal Liverpool is hosting just its second open in the last 46 years. Prior to Woods winning there in 2006, the last champion at Hoylake was Robert De Vicenzo in 1967.

Those two posted winning scores of 18- and 10-under par, so Hoylake is susceptible to low scores, but as always that is weather dependent. The last two Opens at Hoylake have been played under firm, fast conditions. The long range weather looks to be damp for three of the four days, with light winds throughout.

A soft course could open the door for any number of players, and little wind means the bombers like Watson and Dustin Johnson could attempt to overpower the course.

Kaymer's play at Pinehurst could be useful at Hoylake. He putted from off the green throughout the week and it worked like a charm. That type of play is normally good at the Open Championship, but if there are damp conditions, that might take away that type of play.

As I said earlier, the Open Championship is the most wide-open of the three majors. Trying to predict the winner is like trying to predict the weather in that it's, nearly impossible.

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