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British Open

Frayed Knot Jul 16 2009 08:10 AM

Or, as the British call it, The Open - since there was no need to specify which open it was when they started it sometime around the 1860s, and just because those upstarts in the colonies now have their own Open that's no reason they should need to alter the name of theirs. They're in Turnberry this year on Scotland's west coast near Glasgow and rumor has it that there's both sun and a lack of wind combined with temperatures that are actually allowing them to play in short sleeves. I don't know how you even call it July in Scotland if these guys aren't going to be playing in less than three layers. Maybe tomorrow. But Tiger, of all people, didn't take advantage and logged a +1 on a day where there are numerous golfers in red numbers. Included in that gaggle is 5-time former champ (including once at Turnberry) the 59 y/o Tom Watson who's the current leader in the clubhouse at -5. Plenty of golfers still on the course (they have daylight until nearly 10PM and they lay out the schedule to use just about all of it) and so the weather could be drastically different by the time they get in.

Centerfield Jul 16 2009 10:20 AM

Does Turnberry have those cool crater-like sand traps? They are my favorite part of the British Open. I think if I ever hit into one, my round would be over. What do the rules of golf say if you are incapable of hitting it out of one of those things?

Frayed Knot Jul 16 2009 10:31 AM

]Does Turnberry have those cool crater-like sand traps? They are my favorite part of the British Open. I don't think Turnberry has as many of those walled, pot-bunkers as some of the other BO courses (like say St Andrews) but there are some like seemingly all the courses they use in their rotation. ]What do the rules of golf say if you are incapable of hitting it out of one of those things? Go home? Seriously, I've seen guys pitch the ball from one part of the trap to another just so they have an angle to get their next shot back up out of what seems like an entranceway to middle earth.

MFS62 Jul 16 2009 12:09 PM

="Centerfield":j8k2n7kw]Does Turnberry have those cool crater-like sand traps? [/quote:j8k2n7kw] A few days ago, one of the golf analysts said the tough feature of this course is the sloping fairways. Drives down the middle can often end up off the fairway by the time they stop rolling. BTW- heard today on ESPN radio (Eric Isilias - sp?) that Tiger has NEVER won a major when entering the last day behind the leader(s). Later Edgy DC Jul 16 2009 12:29 PM In a world where most folks have never won a major fullstop, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Frayed Knot Jul 17 2009 10:33 AM Wind is kicking up, rain is kicking in, scores are headed upward, and Tiger is in serious danger of missing the cut. He just bogied 8 & 9, then threw in a double bogey on 10 to fall to 3-over for the day and 4-over for the tourney. metirish Jul 17 2009 11:14 AM Just heard on a sports update that Tiger had double bogied the 15th and is now 7 over.....projected cut in 4 over....not looking good for him. Farmer Ted Jul 17 2009 11:34 AM I want to know more about Marino, the fantastic start of the old guys on day 1, the history of Turnberry. No, TigerTV has taken over once again. Not. Going. To. Make. The. Cut. Yet, dominating 75 percent of the TV coverage. Yuk. Frayed Knot Jul 17 2009 12:56 PM I've argued this before but I'll repeat; as long as Tiger is out there on the golf course - and especially if he's in danger of missing a cut - he is the story and deserves every bit of TV coverage he gets. Now if it's Sunday and he's out of contention and they're still paying attention to him then I'll join the complainers. But until that point they need to follow him virtually shot for shot. In the meantime viewers saw plenty of Watson, plenty of Calcavecchia and enough of the other names and contenders (remember some of this is happening at 4AM our time) to hold our interest. Tiger finished up with birdies on 16 & 17 to get back to +5 (he was briefly at even before going 7-over in a 6-hole span) but it's probably not going to be enough. Cut is currently projected to be +4 so unless the late finishers finish poorly enough to drive the cut line to +5 Tiger's going to miss his 5th cut as a pro, the 2nd in a major. Just for comparison, Padraig Harrington (winner of the last two British Opens) has missed 8 cuts this year. metsguyinmichigan Jul 17 2009 01:39 PM And Tiger misses the cut. Frayed Knot Jul 19 2009 08:41 AM Just for a bit of perspective, other athletes born - as Tom Watson was - in 1949: Larry Holmes Bruce Jenner Mike Schmidt [u:2qfo8h4q]Archie[/u:2qfo8h4q] Manniing Final round in under way, Watson currently tied for the lead w/several others. TheOldMole Jul 19 2009 09:20 AM I can't stop watching. Incredible drama. Frayed Knot Jul 19 2009 11:26 AM AAARRRRRRRGH!!!!!! Edgy DC Jul 19 2009 12:53 PM He's won a handful of Opens, but he'll remember the one that got away the rest of his life. At least, if he's like me, he will. Farmer Ted Jul 19 2009 02:29 PM Tiger Woods flailing and smashing his clubs all over Scotland like a whining bitch. Beautiful. Frayed Knot Jul 19 2009 03:19 PM And Stuart Cink - who finally add a major to his otherwise solid career by birdie-ing the tough 18th and romping in a playoff - gets to be remembered for being the guy who busted up best story being written in years. Everybody likes him (from what I hear) ... and no one was rooting for him. metirish Jul 19 2009 04:33 PM Wasn't it last year Greg Norman was the old man story at The Open? Rockin' Doc Jul 19 2009 05:12 PM metirish - <i>"Wasn't it last year Greg Norman was the old man story at The Open?"</i> Norman was fighting for the lead entering the final round last year at Royal Birkdale. He unfortunately imploded on the final day. By all accounts, Stewart Cink is a down to earth, stand up family man that is well liked by his peers on the PGA Tour. However, he found that few people, beyond his immediate family, were pulling for him at Turnberry today. Tom Watson's improbable pursuit of a historic major victory cast Stewart Cink in the role of villain for the final round of the 2009 Open Championship. As much as I like Stewart Cink and am happy for him winning his fisrt major, I was pulling for Tom Watson to win today. Tom Watson is one of the most gracious champions the PGA Tour has ever produced in my opinion. Farmer Ted Jul 24 2009 05:24 PM http://a.espncdn.com/i/mag/blog/2009/07 ... 76x324.jpg