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British Open 2019: Featured pairings for the first two rounds at Royal Portrush

By Brandon Raper

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 17: General view of the 16th hole during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 17: General view of the 16th hole during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /
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Tommy Fleetwood British Open 2019 Royal Portrush featured groups
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 17: Tommy Fleetwoodof England plays a shot during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

6: Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Thorbjorn Olesen (7:53/12:53 PM)

The first truly premier grouping of the afternoon wave of players begins just shy of 1 PM (13:00 for locals), with Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood and Thorbjorn Olesen.

You’d think that I’d take a look at this group and focus on Justin Thomas, and in almost any other year you’d be completely on point. But my entire focus is firmly on the well-coiffed Englishman, Fleetwood.

The world’s 20th-ranked player, Fleetwood struggled in the three American major championships this year, finishing T-36 at the Masters, T-48 at the PGA Championship, and T-65 at the U.S. Open. That’s been a disappointment as he’s dedicated his year to the PGA TOUR, but now he gets to head back to the friendly links (and cool, damp weather) of the United Kingdom.

He’s got a pair of top-25 finishes in his two post-Masters European starts, and he’s one of the guys who I think have a real shot at their first major this week.

Justin Thomas has struggled with injuries this year, but he just put together his best week since the Masters, finishing tied for ninth at the Scottish Open. A golf traditionalist if there ever was one, JT acknowledges that he hasn’t played outstanding golf in Opens past, but he’s still heading into Portrush with a clear head.

"“I wasn’t hitting lower shots when I was home, or chipping with different clubs,” he said of his preparation for this British Open. “I try to take it like I do every week. I have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get accustomed to the greens, to get accustomed around the greens. But I also played the Scottish [Open] last week [where he finished T-9] to where I don’t feel like I have to do as much to get prepared for this week. So I would say it is more about me getting into the right state of mind.”"

When it comes to Olesen, American fans don’t get to see too much of him, but he’s got far more cred when it comes to the European Tour. He’s only 63rd in the Official World Golf Ranking, but he did pick up a T-15 at the Irish Open recently. He’s had a couple of good runs at the Open, including a top-ten finish in 2012 and a tie for 12th last year. He certainly has the firepower to keep up with his better-known partners.

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