Bronco Mentality Big for Graham DeLaet at British Open

Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet is a big underdog at this week’s British Open but as a former Boise State Bronco, he’ll be fine with that status. Al Dannity says the Saskatchewan big hitter could make an impact at Muirfield.

Graham DeLaet is a power hitter. At the British Open that rarely counts for much of an advantage. This weekend however promises to be different. With the ground hard at Muirfield, balls are expected to roll far down the fairways. For a +8600 outsider, that might be all the edge DeLaet needs to make a push.

The underdog mentality will be vital to DeLaet this weekend. Having grown up in Moose Jaw, SK, DeLaet played at Boise State University and finished a year before the Broncos took the sporting world by storm with their Fiesta Bowl Upset of Oklahoma. There’ll be no hook and ladder or Statue of Liberty plays in DeLaet’s arsenal this weekend but he won’t be intimidated going up against the big guns.

Putting has never been DeLaet’s strong suit but he won’t be too heavily handicapped at Muirfield. With the greens expected to run slower than usual, DeLaet should be able to keep up with the pack. Fundamentally this tournament is going to come down to course management and that’s where DeLaet’s first-time status becomes a huge factor.

If things go bad, they get awful pretty quickly. A first-timer on a course as tough as Muirfield can’t afford to let the occasion get to him. If DeLaet does then he could be overwhelmed by nerves. Instead DeLaet needs to look at this tournament with the nothing to lose approach with which he announced his entry. Having been granted a wild card into the event, the world number 67 knows that nobody will be watching out for him. That could be doubly true for his first round with DeLaet likely to be finished before most of his friends and family back in Saskatchewan and Idaho are out of bed.

This has been a break out year for DeLaet. He currently sits 23rd in the FedEx Cup standings. That’s enough of a jump to show progress but no so much that Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy will be wary of a challenge from the Canadian. That’s just the way a Boise State Bronco likes it. With a bit, ok a lot, of luck and some steady nerves there could be maple syrup in the Claret Jug on Sunday.