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Guide to 2017's big golfing events

Get your diary out and start planning now for 2017 – there’s plenty of golfing goodness to look forward to…

22 December 2016 2 minute read Guide to 2017's big golfing events

Royal Birkdale hosts the Open this year. Richard Sellers/PA Wire

It’s time to get your golfing diaries out – or open your calendar app – and start pencilling in a few key dates for 2017. There’s a lot going on next year, so we’ve highlighted the big 5 events, where they are, and what to expect…

The 146th Open Championship
Where: Royal Birkdale 
Date: July 16-23

What to expect…

This is the big event on the British golfing calendar. It’ll be returning to Royal Birkdale for the 10th time. Last time it was held here, in 2008, Padraig Harrington won – the first European to win the tournament on the course.

Expect it to be a challenge from the start, with its links first hole a real humdinger. It’s also known for spinning golfers around with few consecutive holes facing the same direction.

Jason Day is currently the bookies’ favourite, with Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlRoy not far behind – but a lot can happen between now and July.
  

Will Willett walk away with a win in 2017? Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Will Willett walk away with a win in 2017? Peter Byrne/PA Wire
   

The Masters
Where: Augusta National
Date: April 3-9

What to expect…

After 2016’s fairy tale win for our very own Danny Willett, the 2017 tournament has a lot to live up to. But you can expect plenty of talking points and more than likely a new face walking away with the traditional green jacket. In the past decade there have been nine bodies inside the jacket – with only Bubba Watson taking home the prize twice.

As with The Open, the best bets for a win are Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlRoy – but you never know at The Masters. Willett was an outsider when he won.

The US Open
Where: Erin Hills, Wisconsin, USA
Date: June 15-18

What to expect…

This year, the US Open heads to the beautiful town of Erin in Wisconsin for the first time. This relatively new course (which opened in 2006) is a beaut. It’s laid out to be part of the rugged landscape, so feels very natural to play on.

And, as it’s America, the nature is big. It’s set on 600 acres and overall can run to a massive 7,834 yards – so get your walking shoes on if you want to watch.

As for the winner, we’d put our money on local boys Spieth and Johnson. The US Open has been won by Americans 50% of the time in the past decade.
   

Dustin Johnson must be a favourite for the PGA Championship this year. Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Dustin Johnson must be a favourite for the PGA Championship this year. Peter Byrne/PA Wire
   

The PGA Championship
Where: Quail Hollow, North Carolina, USA
Date: August 7-13

What to expect…

This will be the 99th PGA Championship and we expect it to be a good one. Quail Hollow is a regular stop on the PGA Tour with the Wells Fargo Championship, so plenty of players will be familiar with its long course and the famous one-shot 17th hole.

Our money would be on Dustin Johnson. Not only is he in great form, but the course is a mere 90 miles from his home town, so he’ll be well supported and on familiar ground.

The Walker Cup
Where: Los Angeles Country Club, California, USA
Date: September 9-10

What to expect…

It’s been a while since this elegant venue played host to a USPGA-sanctioned golf event. The last was in 1954, when the US Junior Amateur Championship came to town.

In fact, the Walker Cup has only travelled to California once before, back in 1981 at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach.

The 2017 competition will be played on the club’s North Course, which opened in 1921. This is a great course with plenty of challenges. It’ll be interesting to see who can deal with the Californian sun on this course.
   

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