10 Reasons to get Excited about the 2008 Open Golf Championship
1. The 2008 Open Golf Championship is to be held at the Royal Birkdale golf course, near Southport, in the North West of England. Birkdale was recently voted the best golf course in England, and 2008 is the 9th time that the golf tournament has been held at Royal Birkdale. Many of the world's leading players will be competing for the famous Claret Jug.
2. The Open Golf Championship is the greatest golf tournament of all, and also the most prestigious. It was first held in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The next 11 Open Golf championships were also held there until 1873, when the Championship was hosted at St Andrews Golf Course. Since then, many UK golf courses such as Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Royal Birkdale and Turnberry have held the Open Golf Championship. North West courses Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham have also hosted the Open. 2008 marks the 137th Open.
3. Padraig Harrington is the defending Open Golf champion, and won at Carnoustie, in Scotland in 2007.
4. The course for the 2008 Open Golf Championship is 155 yards longer than the last time it was played at Birkdale ten years ago in 1998. The 2008 Open Golf Championship course is par 70, and the course itself is 7,173 yards long.
5. In addition to spectating, golfers can enjoy playing some of the region's many golf courses. There are 160 golf courses within an hour's drive of Birkdale. Many of these courses have already hosted prestigious competitions such as the Ryder Cup, PGA Championships and the Curtis Cup.
6. There will be no Tiger Woods at Royal Birkdale this year due to injury. He is currently recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which will keep him from playing golf for a while.
7. Current favourites, according to the bookmakers, include Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and last year's winner, Padraig Harrington. American golfers have won 5 out the 8 Opens at Royal Birkdale.
8. Mark O'Meara was the winner of the Open the last time it was held in Birkdale, winning in dramatic style in 1998, after an exciting match play with Brian Watts. This year, however, he isn't rated by the bookmakers.
9. Non golfing visitors can enjoy Southport, Liverpool, Manchester, and Blackpool or easily explore further afield such as the Lake District, or Wales
10. The North West of England benefits from a great transport infrastructure, which includes a comprehensive motorway and train network, as well as 3 international airports nearby - Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool.
Make sure you don't miss out on the 2008 Open Golf Championship, which promises to be exciting, and the world's best golfers playing the best golf course in England. As well as OPEN Packages Formby Hall offers a PGA Academy, a 9 and an18 hole golf course and a Hotel. Book your accommodation today, and ensure your place at the Open 2008.
This year the 2008 Open Golf Championship is coming to Royal Birkdale. The Open coming to town means all eyes of the golfing world we be on Royal Birkdale and the areas surrounding including the Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa.
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