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.
