Scott Stallings has no expectations heading to Open Championship
By Jesse Smithey, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The 29-year-old
He'll give that style of golf another whirl next week at
"You can't have any expectations going over there," said Stallings, who won for the third time on the
"I didn't do a good job of that last year. I was like, 'This is the way I'm going to play the course, and this is the only way I'm going to play the course.'
"Obviously, it didn't work very well."
Stallings found out last week that his World Golf Ranking, which is 86th, was high enough to get him into the field at Hoylake.
That approach isn't lost upon Stallings, who also has picked 2009 Open champion
"I hit irons off the tee farther than I hit my driver," Stallings recalled about last year's Open Championship. "I've never dealt with that before. You take the yardage book for what it is. But for the most part, it's all about feel. It doesn't matter how you're swinging but how you manage your game and keep it out of bunkers and give yourself opportunities to get up and down for par and hopefully sneak a few birdies in.
"(And) everyone talks about the weather and how dry it was. All we've heard the last few weeks is how wet it is over there. Anything can happen over there. I've heard it's going to dump rain over there and I've heard it's going to be warmer than it was last year. You don't know until you get over there."
Stallings will be making his eighth major championship start. He has made the cut three times: the 2012 Masters, 2013 U.S. Open and 2013 PGA Championship. His best finish in a major was a tie for 27th at the 2012 Masters.
After a midseason slump this year, Stallings looks to be peaking. He has made the cut in five of his last six starts, and eight of his last 12 rounds have been 70 or below.
"That's golf," Stallings said. "Golf is the most gratifying game and frustrating at the same time. Sometimes I feel like I'm the best in the world. Sometimes I feel like I don't even know what club to hold.
"I'm progressively getting better, week in and week out. As a player, that's all you can really ask for. Results are going to come when they come. You can't go out there and try and force it."
Stallings must first play the John Deere Classic in
Conforming to a vastly different time zone as quickly as possible Monday will be first on Stallings' game plan.
"You have to try and get on their time as quick as possible," he said. " I think we get to
<p>"But it's the most historic event in golf. It's an honor to play, and I'm excited to get over there."
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