Open Championship FRL Tips 2022

• Open Starts: 6
• Open FRL Best: 1^st (2010, 2014)
• Open FRL Top-8s: 5
• Last 6 Event FRL Form: 17/1/21/5/2/1
• Tee Time: 9.58am

A mid-morning tee time for Rory McIlroy is the green light to back him at around twice his outright odds, yet 33 FRLs in his career balances with 33 outright victories and suggests that one or other of the prices is wrong. I’d wager that the FRL bet carries a little bit of value in that respect.

5 of those FRLs have come in the Northern Irishman’s last 17 starts, included in which was an opening round of 65 at the US PGA Championship in May, plus an opening round of 62 last time out at the Travelers Championship, and the reality is that if there’s any criticism of Rory’s play of late then it’s been how he’s performed after these fast starts, rather than sluggish Thursdays.

Of course, a closing 62 to take the Canadian Open a month ago is the exception to the rule, however it’s fair to say that strong positions at both the US PGA and US Open haven’t been capitalised upon.

Twice the Open Championship leader after 18 holes, his fast start in 2014 at Royal Liverpool led to a wire-to-wire victory and his to date only success in golf’s oldest Major; the other FRL came here at St Andrews in 2010. 63 to open that week was followed by a disastrous 80 in the Friday wind, however he’s clearly shown the aptitude to score on this course and another blistering start is quite possible. RESULT: 2nd

• Open Starts: 3
• Open FRL Best: 32^nd (2021)
• Open FRL Top-8s: 0
• Last 6 Event FRL Form: 56/91/59/42/109/1
• Tee Time: 7.52am

Thursdays tend to be less of an issue than Sundays for Cameron Tringale as 4 career FRLs versus no individual PGA Tour titles is testament. 61 to open last week at Renaissance was the 34 year-old’s lowest professional round, and not entirely dissimilar conditions this week up the coast in Scotland could produce another fast start.

One thing that often catches the eye when working through FRL stats each week is that fast starts can often come in quick succession; indeed in this week’s stats, JT Poston and Haotong Li have both achieved FRLs in consecutive starts as they’ve seemingly got the taste for low rounds on Thursdays. As a 3-figure chance, I’m happy to take a punt that Cameron can follow their lead.

Looking at some recent FRL winners at The Open, Jordan Spieth (2017), Dustin Johnson (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014) and Zach Johnson (2013) had all led after the first round on their previous outing globally to suggest that this is a more common occurrence than you might expect.

Rory completed the Scottish Open/Open Championship FRL double back in 2014; although I’m not suggesting that Tringale completes the sequence and wins his maiden Open title this week, perhaps he can get out of the blocks quickly once again. RESULT: 35th

• Open Starts: 6
• Open FRL Best: 1^st (2018)
• Open FRL Top-8s: 1
• Last 6 Event FRL Form: 91/128/56/91/76/15
• Tee Time: 10.31am

I’ll complete my trio of Thursday hopefuls with Kevin Kisner, who Steve Bamford has quite rightly added to his outright market longshots team.

5 career FRLs from 340 starts at the various levels doesn’t overly excite, however 2 of those have come at Majors – the 2017 US PGA Championship and the 2018 Open – and the promise of a firm, fast renewal this week encourages a bet on Kisner who often struggles with the dimensions of the US-hosted Majors.

66 to open at Carnoustie came in firm conditions and he stuck around for the duration, eventually finishing 2 shots shy of Francesco Molinari’s 8-under total after a final round 74.

4^th at The PLAYERS in March and a losing finalist at the WGC Match Play a fortnight later promised so much for a strong 2022 campaign from the 38 year-old, however he’s been largely off the boil since – until that is he shot rounds of 67. 64 and 66 at The Travelers last time out to give himself a live chance of a 5^th PGA Tour title. A little rust in contention might explain a closing round of 71 for a tie for 6^th, however that was a welcome return to form nevertheless and perhaps he can build on that early this week with a rapid start to his 7^th Open Championship. RESULT: 101st