British Open Coverage
It was well documented that those with the early tee times on Thursday got the worst of the weather at the 2008 British Open. According to the commentators, the course played about four shots tougher for those went off in the morning.
Indeed, the average scores for the top 15 at the end of the tournament confirmed their estimate. As the tables show, the morning wave on Friday scored 3.54 strokes higher than the afternoon wave. If golf were fair, they would have picked up those shots on Friday, but they gained only 1.37 shots back because the Thursday afternoon group faced less severe conditions on Friday morning.
In short, the Thursday morning wave got the worst of the weather, but was still able to place seven players in the top 15. During the final round these battle tested players outscored the Thursday afternoon group by an average of 2.75 shots! After surviving the rains and winds of the first day, 30-35mph winds in largely cloudless skies must have seemed like the proverbial walk in the park.
Padraig Harrington won the Open with his closing charge on the back nine on Sunday. But another key to his victory was not shooting himself out of the event on Thursday when so many like Els and Phil Mickelson (79) took themselves out of the running. Harrington’s 74 was the second best score among the top 15 who played their opening round in the morning.
Thursday Morning Wave (7 players in the Top 15)
1 - 7:58 Padraig Harrington (74-68-72-69)
2 - 9:09 Ian Poulter (72-71-75-69)
3 - 8:09 Henrik Stenson (76-72-70-71)
7 - 8:42 David Howell (76-71-78-67)
7 - 9:20 Paul Casey (78-71-73-70)
7 - 8:58 Ben Curtis (78-69-70-75)
7 - 8:31 Ernie Els (80-69-74-69)
Thursday Afternoon Wave (8 players in the Top 15)
3 - 12:58 Greg Norman (70-70-72-77)
5 - 12:47 Jim Furyk (71-71-77-71)
5 - 3:26 Chris Wood (a) (75-70-73-72)
7 - 12:58 Robert Karlsson (75-73-75-69)
7 - 1:09 Steve Stricker (77-71-71-73)
7 - 1:09 Robert Allenby (69-73-76-74)
7 - 1:53 Anthony Kim (72-74-71-75)
7 - 2:09 Stephen Ames (73-70-78-71)
The Top 15 – Average by Round
——————Rd. 1—Rd. 2—-Rd. 3—-Rd. 4
Thur. AM—76.29—70.13—73.14—70.00
Thur. PM—72.75—71.50—74.13—72.75
Notes on the Leaderboard
Ian Poulter shot a super round of 72 in the morning rains on Thursday, then closed strongly with a 69 for a much deserved solo second. The 32 year old Englishman recorded his second top 10 and his best finish by far in a major.
David Howell’s 67 in the fourth round is one of those best-of the-day scores that you often see from players who are out of contention on Sunday. He leaped from 57t into a tie for seventh.
Robert Karlsson, 38, notched his one and only top 10 in a major (a 5t) 16 years ago. Now in 2008 he’s got a chance for the top 10 slam. Should he do it, his will author what could be one of the most unheralded success stories of the year.
Robert Allenby took advantage of an afternoon tee time on Thursday to open with a 69, tying for first. On Sunday, however, a triple bogey on the dastardly sixth hole kept Allenby (7t) from tying for third.
Ben Curtis’ victory at the 2003 Open was considered a fluke, but darned if he isn’t still trying his hardest to validate his win. He very quietly won two tour events in 2006 and has finished in the top 10 in the last two Opens. He’s only 31 and he has the luxury of playing the rest of his career minus that never-won-a-major pressure that seems to be suffocating so many players.
Pat Perez was the best player to miss the cut. He was stuck in Match 2 with a horrific 6:41am tee time on Thursday. The result was an 82 in the downpour. Perez rebounded like a champ with a 68 in the second round, earning him the distinction of being the only player to break 70 and miss the cut. His 82-68-150 was a shot over the cut line.
British Open Coverage
The WGR Top 10 (at the start of play)
Tiger Woods’ absence was supposed to be a boon to the long suffering members of the top 10 who have been toiling in his shadow for so long. It didn’t work out that way as three of the group missed the cut and the others failed to contend over the weekend. The group’s poor play shows that their problems run deeper than their lack of success in dealing with Woods’ name on the leaderboard.
1 Woods—DNP
2 Mickelson—19t—continues a tradition of poor play in the Open
3 Ogilvy—MC—missed cut by two shots was a surprise
4 Scott—16t—Harmon’s prize pupil is still looking for the majors magic
5 Els—7t—sneaks into 7t with closing 69
6 Cink—MC—no surprise, he’s not a major player
7 Garcia—51t—what a difference a year makes – closed weakly with a 78
8 Stricker—7t—was 9 over after 16, 3 over for last 56 holes once pressure lifted
9 Rose—70t—from 4t as a 17 year old to this
10 Singh—MC—sadly exits the top 10 – now #15
The New Top 10
1 Woods—No change
2 Mickelson—no change
3 Padraig Harrington—rockets from 14th to third with victory
4 Scott—16t—no change
5 Els—7t—no change
6 Ogilvy—MC leads to a drop from third
7 Garcia—no change
8 Cink—MC leads to a drop from sixth
9 Stricker—drops a notch despite 7t
10 Jim Furyk – enters the top 10 on strength of 5t
Leaving the Top 10
12 Rose—70t causes drop from number nine
15 Singh—MC and he tumbles from tenth position
K.J. Choi, number 13, would have been the ninth ranked player in the world if he’s just parred the 72nd hole. A bogey would have put him in the tenth position ahead of Furyk.
Greg Norman is now the 168th ranked player in the world! He was about 650th before the Open!
The Top 10 Slam
Richard Karlsson is the hottest golfer on the planet, which is golf’s best kept secret. His 7t at the Open makes him the sole remaining candidate this year for a top 10 slam in the majors. His line for his last 10 starts (majors in bold):
8t, 3, 3t, 3t, 2, 4t, 13t, 6t, 7t
Henrik Stenson’s First Top 10
Stenson was scarcely seen on Sunday as ABC concentrated its attention on the last group and a few favorites. But at the end of the day the 32 year old Swede scored his first top 10 in a major, tying for third with Greg Norman. His previous best was a tie for 14th at the 2006 PGA. Stenson, 32, who had missed the cut in four of his last five majors, moved him into the top 15 in the WGR. Anthony Kim also recorded his first top 10 (7t) in his first British Open.
15 Players Make the Top 10!
A list of the top 10 shows on TV has – well it has 10 shows. Golf works a bit differently. Ties are the rule rather than the exception in golf and they effectively elevate a player’s stature. For example, at this year’s Open nine players have bragging rights to seventh place, and 15 players made the top 10 in golf’s new math. Solo seventh is worth 9 WGR points while a nine way tie is worth 6.58 points to each player.
Ernie Els Sneaks into the Top 10
Ernie Els made the cut with a shot to spare, then parlayed his good fortune into a 7t with closing rounds of 74-69. In his battle for second best player of the Woods Era the 7t moved him two top 10s ahead of Mickelson at 28-26. Mickelson closed with at 71, but missed the top 10 by two shots. He finished 19t.
Steady Jim Furyk’s Costly Wait
Jim Furyk shot rounds of 71-71-77-71. The 77 might have been a 71 as well if not for the bad patch Saturday on holes 10-14. Furyk played those holes in even par (in aggregate) for rounds 1, 2, and 4. But in round 3 he was six over (24) after suffering through a 30 minute wait on the 10th tee. This disastrous stretch could have easily cost him his second major.
P.-44343—18
1—44342—17
2—45253—19
3—65445—24
4—44343—18
British Open Coverage
Padraig Harrington reminded me on Sunday of a great thoroughbred charging home to victory. He hung with the pack, trailing Greg Norman by a shot at turn. Then as the race turned towards the homestretch, he went into another gear, playing a series of four long distance approach shots the likes of which the game has never seen.
It all started on the long 13th where his 215 yard long iron pulled to a stop 15’ left of the cup. He drained the putt to go to +6. On the par 5 15th he reached the green in two with another long iron and two putted for a birdie. Then, at the 17th, his five wood shot from 249 yards landed short of the green, then began a long distance roll. As his ball traveled across the green it started breaking right to left on the severely contoured surface.
By the time his ball reached hole high it was a foot right of the cup. It died four feet past. The Ice Man from Ireland ran it home for an eagle to drop back to plus three, four better than Ian Poulter, the leader in the clubhouse. On 18 Harrington striped his tee shot, then hit the best approach to 18 all day, a pin seeking long iron that stopped 15’ beyond the cup. Two commercial putts later and he’d joined Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods as the only repeat winner in the Modern Era (1958+).
Bob Rotella has Created a Monster
Not long ago Harrington thought of himself as a journeyman who would be lucky to ever win a major. But his work with noted mental game guru and author Dr. Bob Rotella is paying off big time. From no majors and lots of questions about his inner self to two major titles in 53 weeks is pretty heady stuff. With his game and the closing skills he’s displayed in winning two Opens, more majors will almost certainly be coming his way.
Harrington Enters the Top 3 in the World
Padraig Harrington entered the week in the 14th position in the World Golf Rankings, have just slipped below Anthony Kim, the new #13. Thanks to his resounding win on Sunday and the 100 WGR points that he earned, Harrington’s average jumped from 4.62 to 6.37, sending him into the third position, or three slots higher than after his Open victory last year.
No Asterisk for Harrington
Golf was looking for someone to step up and fill the void created by Woods’ absence, but the game was probably thinking of a win by the triple major winners or a fresh new face. Instead it got Harrington, who already proved he can win with Tiger in the field at last year’s Open where Woods finished 12t, five back. As a result, there is no reason to believe that his convincing four shot win in torrential rains and gusty winds wouldn’t have held up against Tiger, who’s never won in these conditions.
In less than a year Harrington’s done two things Woods never has: 1) He’s come from behind to win a major – twice actually, 2) He’s won a bad weather British Open, which is the classic test. In contrast, Woods’ three Opens wins were all birdie fests.
Harrington Runs Hot and Cold
Consistency enables players like Jack Nicklaus and Woods to contend and to put themselves into position to win so often. Their ability to play at such a super high level sets them apart from the rest. For mere mortals like Harrington, it is much better to run very hot or icy cold. This won’t earn a long string of top 10s, but is does lead to more Ws. As proof, here’s Harrington’s line in the last seven majors: 7t, MC, W, 42t, 5t, 35t, W.
Harrington’s resume in taking on major proportions.
2 wins
8 top fives
11 top 10s (3 Masters, 4 US Open, 4 British Open)
He missed a top 10 slam in the majors 2002 by a single shot at the PGA!
Making Up for a Late Start
Unless a player wished to make a run at Nicklaus’ 18 majors, they can delay winning major until their thirties and still have plenty of time to carve out a Hall of Fame type career. Here are some prominent players who won their first major in their 30s.
1st–Total
34—9—Ben Hogan
30—6—Nick Faldo
35—3—Nick Price
33—3—Phil Mickelson
35—3—Vijay Singh
35—2—Padraig Harrington
Harrington on a Roll
In Tiger’s absence golf wondered who might step up, claim a major, and assert themselves as a force to be reckoned with upon his return. Turns out that player already exists, we just didn’t know it. By winning Harrington has reinforced the notion that he’s a big time player and added to his career momentum. Going forward, “This one will give me more confidence,” said Harrington. It’s also possible that he’s entered that time in a great player’s career when they feel free to add to their legacy, knowing that their reputation as a great champion has been secured.
The Thinking of a Champion
Harrington won this championship by outthinking Norman on the final round. Prior to the event he shared his thinking on how he would play Birkdale in this article.
British Open Coverage
Greg Norman Leaves a Winner
Norman really didn’t have anything to lose this week, his goal merely to enjoy another leg on his extended honeymoon with Chris Evert and to prepare for next week’s Senior British Open. But then his game fell into place, he became the Shark of old, and his opening rounds of 70-70-72 staked him to a two shot lead over Padraig Harrington going into the final round.
Were it not for the loss of his legs on Sunday, an affliction the 53 year old attributed to age, he might have pulled off the Norman’s Miracle at Birkdale. But, alas, Norman came back down to earth, closing with a 77 that threw him back into a tie for third, six back of Harrington. Still, his golf was great theatre and it showed us that there is indeed life at the majors without Woods.
Third place earned Norman an invite to next spring’s Masters and a moving tribute from Harrington, his playing partner, at the ceremonies:
“He was a true gentleman to play golf with today. His sportsmanship on the golf course is second to none. His response to all of my good shots was just tremendous. He’s somebody you can only look up to.”
So maybe, like Rocco Mediate at the US Open, Norman didn’t lose after all. He entertained us with his aggressive approach and overall brilliant play, he took a good many of us back in time to when names like Nicklaus, Faldo, and Price were atop the leaderboard, and he reminded us of the style with which the great champions conducted themselves in the pre fist pump era.
Norman in the Majors
His 30th top 10
His 17th top 4
His first top 10 since 1999
Anthony Kim’s First British Open
One of the season’s big stories has been the meteoric rise of 23 year old Anthony Kim. His tee-to-green game was living up to the hype at his first British Open where, according to the announcers, he led the field in greens in regulation. His problem was putting, a malady which makes you wonder if he’s missing a critical part of the major winning package. Kim was within a shot of the lead at the turn, but missed several short putts and closed with a 40 on the back nine to Harrington’s 32. He eventually lost by nine shots.
The Disappearing Players
ABC (Always Broadcasting Commercials) all but ignored Kim until the end of his round as the producers continued with their practice of over showing some players and under showing others.
K.J. Choi’s Closing Disaster
Choi started the day tied with Harrington at four over par. A win would have given two South Korean born players a win in a men’s and women’s major this year, Yani Tseng having won the LPGA. After playing the first three in one over, Choi took a five hole trip on the bogey train before paring number nine for an outgoing 40, six over. He righted his ship on the back nine, playing the first eight holes in one under. A par on 18 would have earned him a tie for third (his second in a major), but the dreaded snowman caused him to plummet into a tie for 16th.
Quote Book
“It’s always amazing the confidence the spectators have in these players.” Terry Gannon on the narrow corridor offered by the spectators as Norman played from the rough.
“He’s golf’s great victim.” Paul Azinger on Norman.
“I’ve always felt that putting is the measure of your heart.” Azinger
“It’s really mindboggling that he’s (Norman) taking this aggressive approach.” Azinger on Norman’s course management. “He’s a nose to the grindstone kind of player.” Azinger on Harrington
“The toughest putts are the cross wind putts.” Tom Watson
“Here is what that roar was about.” Mike Tirico telegraphs the results of Norman sinking a 30’ putt we haven’t seen. Won’t these guys ever learn not to ruin the suspense?!!
“The warmth and the glow doesn’t leave you for a long long time.” Watson on the feeling a winner has walking up the final hole.
Murphy’s Law and the British Open
Final round coverage of the British Open starts at 5am on the West Coast, so that means I had to get to sleep early and get a good nights sleep or be bleary eyed at the start of play. I slipped into bed at 11pm, figuring that six good hours and a cup of Starbucks would get me though the early morning telecast.
Then one of Murphy’s Laws kicked in: just when you really want a good night’s sleep you won’t get it. Sure enough I got attacked by a mosquito at 12:15am (yes, we have them in California). At 1:00am a neighbor’s car alarm, which take 80 honks to complete its cycle (I’ve counted them) goes off. I get back to sleep. Then at 2:10 am group of drunk and very loud ladies returning home wakes me up for the third and last time. I missed the start of play by 79 minutes.
NOTE: A story on Padraig Harrington will run tomorrow.
British Open Coverage
Greg Norman Turns Back the Clock
In winds that blew from 30-37mph all day long, Greg Norman carved out a masterful 72 to assume the 54 hole lead at the British Open. Norman, who spent 331 weeks as the number one ranked player in the world pre-Tiger era, showed that a fit and motivated 53 year old is a match for the best golfers in the world on any given week.
Norman will take a two shot lead into the final round over K.J. Choi (75), his playing partner on Saturday, and defending champion Padraig Harrington (72), with whom he will be paired on Sunday. If Norman wins he will tie Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh with three majors apiece.
He will also replace Julius Boros, the 1968 PGA champion at 48, as the oldest winner of a major by a whopping 5 years and 19 days. And he will give the comparatively young Singh (45) a reason to believe that he could keep winning for years to come.
Norman’s Game
All week Norman has been showing off the upright and super aggressive swing that made him one of the longest and most accurate drivers in the game’s history. As he sets up over a drive Norman goes into his Fred Astaire dance routine as he shuffles himself into position. Norman’s iron game, which includes knock down shots that old masters used to use, has been superb. Lastly, he’s been deadly on the greens using a conventional putting technique similar to Tiger Woods’. This is big plus because if he wins, there will be no asterisk for a long putter aided victory.
The Chris Evert Factor
Norman’s revival coincides with his recent marriage to Chris Evert, an 18 times major champion in tennis (from 1974-86), the same number won by Jack Nicklaus. In an on-the-course interview she said her mental strength enabled her to beat physically superior talents such Martina Navratilova, her primary rival. Now imagine if Norman had married Evert 15-20 years ago. He would have had her coaching on the mental game for the bulk of his prime. Considering his lack of closing skills, there is little doubt that his major’s count would have benefitted from her advice.
K.J. Choi’s in the Slot
K.J. Choi’s game reminds me of three times major champion Larry Nelson. Both have smooth and simple swings with an unorthodox move on the backswing. They quietly go about their business with little fanfare, but when their swings fall into the slot and their fade is dialed in, they can compete with anyone.
Anthony Kim is Lurking
Anthony Kim was on the periphery of the Open when he drained a15 footer for an eagle at the 17th to go to seven over. He finished with a par on 18 for a 71, one off the day’s low. Going into Sunday there are only four players between him and the lead, so he is in excellent position to win his first major should the leaders falter.
Jim Furyk’s Demise
Furyk has just birdied eight and nine to tie for the lead at +2. Then, after a 30 minute wait on the 10th tee, he pulled his tee shot into the left rough, made double bogey, lost his momentum, and butchered the first five holes of the back nine, playing them in six over. He’s now tied for 15th, seven back of Norman.
Par is Arbitrary
The announcers reminded us that the par 4 sixth hole is such a brute – and it was as shown by Saturday’s average score of 4.80. Now if the hole was a par five, as it should be, they would be saying that it is the one birdie hole on the difficult front nine. The hole and the player’s scores would be exactly the same, but the conversation surrounding the hole would do a 180.
On the other hand, the average on the par 5 17th hole was .13 strokes lower at 4.67. Now if this hole was a par 4, the TV people would be saying what a super difficult hole that it was. Instead, Tom Watson said that the players were “licking their chops” on the 17th tee.
Quote Book
At 11am ET the eminently quotable Peter Allis retired to the BBC, their gain, our loss. In his place was the workmanlike Terry Gannon. Viewers did get a break when Watson missed the cut because he spent the day in the booth and added much to the proceedings. Paul Azinger as usual did a superlative job.
“You know its bad when they (the seagulls) are walking.” Watson
“Even the best pros underplay the wind.” Watson
“Jack Nicklaus was the best out of rough I ever say.” Watson
“I know he (Tiger) would have been loving these conditions.” Azinger
“Nicklaus never grounded his putterhead in his career.” Azinger
Azinger on the Open: “It’s part of his (Norman’s) honeymoon itinerary.”
“He’s (Norman) clearly outplayed the field and he’s being rewarded for it.” Azinger
Golf’s Worst Rule
The USGA and R&A have had better than a century to clean up the rule book, but it is still packed with archaic and ridiculously unfair rules. Today’s play in the heavy winds exposed perhaps the worst, what could be called the Wind Rule. If a player soles their putter blade behind the ball the wind causes it to move even though they haven’t touched it, it’s a one stroke penalty!
In other words, the ball can move a fraction of an inch due to Mother Nature and the player is penalized though they gained no appreciable advantage, and did nothing to intentionally violate the rules.
Now get this: if the player walks away from the ball after soling his putter and the ball moves, he’s still penalized. But if he takes the time to mark the ball (in a sport that’s supposedly worried about slow play), replace it, and it then moves, he incurs no penalty!
34 Fantastic Scores
Phil Mickelson said that a 74 would be a fantastic score on Saturday. If so, then there were 34 fantastic scores today, which shows that his assessment of the difficulty of the situation was off by several shots. Yes, the course was playing tough but was not impossible. Mickelson had a golden opportunity to show what the number two or three player of the Woods Era could do in high winds. Instead, he ballooned to a 76 when a 70, the day’s low, would have put him in a tie for fifth with the four players at +7, five back of Norman.
British Open Coverage
The Surprise Leaderboard
The names at the top of the British Open include three players that were such long shots that any wager on them on Wednesday would have been considered a total waste of money.
Take 36-hole leader K.J. Choi. In his last six outings his best is 41st and he’s missed three cuts. Now he’s in the position to join fellow South Korean born In-Bee Park as a major winner in ’08.
Greg Norman has played in three events on the PGA Tour this year including the AT&T and missed the cut in each one.
David Duval, who is three back in a tie for fourth, has 10 missed cuts, a WD, and a 60t on his 2008 resume. “I’m ready to play again,” said Duval. Perhaps he’s not kidding.
And now all three apparently have a shot at winning the Wide Open.
Watch Out for the Quiet Man
Jim Furyk snuck his way onto the leaderboard at last year’s US Open, then nearly walked away with the top prize before finishing a stroke back in a tie for second with Tiger Woods. Now he’s at it again. After matching 71s he’s only three back going into the weekend. His accurate driving should keep him out of the hay and pot bunkers and in contention until the end.
Norman vs. Nicklaus
At the 1996 British Open a 56-year old Jack Nicklaus trailed by a shot after 36 holes before fading to tie for 44th. Now we have 53-year old Greg Norman, who is also within a shot going into the weekend. So is the Shark teasing his fans as Nicklaus’ did, or will he stand his ground and contend until the end?
Par is Not Just a Number
Peter Dawson of the R&A was busy defending the outdated concept that par is just a number, an idea even the staid R&A gave up in the early 1960s when they started assigning pars to each hole. Then, a while later Peter Alliss commented that par does matter, and that the R&A made a mistake by lowering par on holes like the monstrously difficult par 4 sixth. Over the first two days the average on this par 4 is 4.73 compared to 4.78 at the par 5 17th. According to Allis, par has a psychological effect on the players. “You think you are playing badly,” says Allis when you make a bogey on a par 4 even though it is super difficult.
After watching Watson yank another short putt, Allis said, “That was sad,” then added that, “The only thing that keeps him going is his indomitable spirit.”
Camilo Villegas’ Birdie Barrage
Par on the last five holes would have left Villegas in a tie for 27th going into the weekend. He birdied all five instead, turning an even par round into a tournament low of 65, two better than the next best score. While the field was averaging 21.63 on these five holes, Villegas used only 14 16 shots, picking up 5.63 strokes on the field. He’s now two back in solo third.
Mickelson and Els Rebound – And All Hope is Not Lost
Just when it looked like Phil Mickelson (68) and Ernie Els (69) would be headed out of town, both rebounded to make the cut. Mickelson is eight back while Els is 10 behind. There position would seem hopeless, but remember that Paul Lawrie came from 10 back in the final round to win the 1999 British Open.
It’s possible the three leaders will back up because they include a player who’s never won a major and has been in a slump (Choi), a 53 year old (Norman), and a player who’s competing in his first Open (Villegas). Plus there is the weather. Mickelson will tee off over two hours ahead of the leaders, so if he catches the best of what is supposed to be a bad weather day, he could make up some big ground, as could the others who are well back in the pack.
Ian Baker Finch on the Gallery
When a player hit a shot wide of the green, Finch commented on the galley’s possible assistance. “You don’t want a parting of the red sea’s when you’ve hit out towards the big stuff (high rough),” said Finch.
Ernie Johnson on the Starter
Ivor Robson is known for never leaving his post through 10 hours of tee times. He’s able to do this says TNT’s Ernie Johnson because, “There is no input or output.”
Azinger’s Zingers
“When you have 10 hours of tee times sometimes your going to get the bad end of the deal.”
“If you don’t embrace the conditions you’re in for a long day.”
Commenting on the use of ball flight stats in the modern game, he said that, “It’s information you can’t live without.”
Sergio Garcia’s Putting Woes
Garcia with a putter in his hands is as scary bad as Watson was in the mid to late 1980s. After missing a gimme earlier in the round he took his regular stance (no backhanded swipe) and missed a 14” putt on 18 that never hit the cup! Tiger would go 50 years without missing one this short. The pretournament favorite now trails by six at five over, but is still in the hunt.
The Cut Falls at 150
Eighty three players finished at 149 or better, earning the privilege of playing in what the weather man say’s will be 40mph winds tomorrow. Miguel Angel Jimenez and Brandt Snedeker missed the cut, ending their chances for a top 10 slam in 2008. Richard Karlsson made the cut, so his top 10 slam chances are still alive though he’s currently six back of the top 10.
Jim Huber is the New Worst Interviewer
Interviewer extraordinaire Jim Huber asked Garcia about his chances if the high winds blow over the weekend. “Are you strong enough mentally to handle that kind of thing?” queried Huber. Garcia amazingly kept his cool despite Huber’s ridiculous inquiry.
Huber was back at it later with Tom Watson, who missed the cut by a single shot due to wretched putting. “Can you tell us what happened over those putts?” asked Huber. Then after Watson gave us a rundown of a half dozen miscues with the flat stick, Huber said, “Have a good weekend.” To a man who desperately wanted to be playing on the weekend but won’t!
Huber had a chance to score some editorial point with his essay on Birkdale’s clubhouse, but he wimped out by saying, “It stands still as one of the most unusual looks in golf.” Let’s face it, the white monstrosity is a Blight on Birkdale’s Hallowed Grounds.
British Open Coverage
Mickelson vs. Els Fails to Materialize
I wrote yesterday that the battle for number two in the Woods Era between Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson could be settled at the British Open – or possibly at the PGA thanks in part to Tiger’s absence. According to the old saying, a player can’t win a major the first day, but he can lose it. So, if history is any guide, both Els (80) and Mickelson (79) blew their chance in the first round.
Since 1958, only five players have opened with a 75 and gone on to win a major, and none have won with an opening score of 76 or greater. If history holds true, other big names who shot themselves out of the tournament include Geoff Ogilvy (77), Justin Leonard (77), Steve Stricker (77), and Vijay Singh (80).
Watson and Norman Shine
Five times British Open winner Tom Watson, age 58, drew the worst of the cold, windy, and rainy weather, teeing off in the seventh group. Still, he managed to carve out a 74 even though he couldn’t reach three of the par 4s. Then along comes 53 year old Greg Norman with an even par 70, which leaves him at 4t, one back of a trio at 69. Apparently Norman’s recent marriage to Chris Evert and her words of encouragement have breathed life into his dormant game.
Their scores and the wretched play of Els and Mickelson underscore what Nicklaus and others have been saying for so long: that the next best players of the Woods Era don’t come close to comparing with those of the Nicklaus Era.
Why Tiger Wouldn’t Have Won or
Why there is No Need for an Asterisk
Prior to this week’s British Open the pundits have argued that an asterisk must go next to the winner’s name because Tiger’s not playing. After the first round, we can dismiss such talk. Here’s why: Tiger Woods is lousy in bad weather. In the 1998 Open at Birkdale he shot a 77 in the third round in rainy weather similar to today’s. Then, at the 2002 Open at Muirfield, he carded an 82 in the third round in nasty weather to blow his chances of winning the third leg of the slam.
Woods, with his customary early-for-TV tee time on Thursday would have caught the worst of the weather, leading to a repeat of these disasters. He would have had to use his driver thanks to the moist and windy conditions. And because of the narrower fairways than in 1998, and to the brutal cross winds, it is easy to imagine that a number of his drives would have ended up deep in double bogey territory.
The Golf Gods Owe Rocco Mediate One
Rocco Mediate gives the distinct impression that he left Torrey Pines as a winner in his eyes and those of the fans and the media despite losing the playoff. With better health and a shot of confidence from the Open, his continuing to play the best of his life. In the first round he opened 69, tying him for first with Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby. That means that over the last 90 holes of regulation play in major championship competition he’s tied for the best score.
Rocco’s head looks like a bobble head doll when he talks and at times he seems like a space cadet, but it’s impossible not to like the guy. The fans do, and maybe the golf gods will too this week. In a championship that rewards luck like no other, after the US Open he’s due for a bit more than his share.
How Good is Graeme McDowell?
McDowell won the Barclays Scottish Open last week, the Ballantine’s Championship in March, has a third and a two fifths to his credit this season. He’s ranked 29th in the world, he’s second on the European Order of Merit, his GIR is 71%, and he’s young enough (28) to be a member of the under 30 breakout club. Oh, and he’s tied for first with a 69 in the Open. So why is he completely off the radar screen? Is he golf’s best kept secret?
Look for a Second Round Flip Flop
In the morning the winds blew, it was in the mid 50s, and the rain was coming down sideways into the player’s faces. No wonder so many imploded. According to the announcers the course played 3-4 shots easier in the afternoon. The same weather conditions are expected for tomorrow. If so, then it’s going to take another 18 holes before we know for sure who the real leaders are.
Graphic of the Day: Most Consecutive Majors
I enjoyed this graphic, which spoke volumes about Jack Nicklaus love and devotion to the majors. I’ve added a couple of names just for some perspective.
Most Consecutive Majors
146 Jack Nicklaus
87 Tom Watson
70 Davis Love III
65 Nick Faldo
46 Tiger Woods
13 Kenny Perry
British Open Coverage
We know Tiger Woods is going to win majors at the rate of 1+ per year. At the next level down we have Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, who are fully capable of winning majors, but don’t exactly make a habit of it.
Each has played in all but one major since 1994 and won three, or one in every 19 over that span. But given their lengthy dry spells, it is reasonable to conclude that neither may win another major.
Both are now 38 and showing the effects of over a dozen years in the limelight. Phil has not done well in the majors since his disaster at Winged Foot nine majors ago. In addition, Phil has serious issues with two of the big four, (both Opens) which limits his chances of capturing number four. As for Els, he has never been himself since hurting his knee in 2005 though he did put up a good fight at last year’s PGA, finishing three back of Woods.
Without Tiger in the Open, it’s could be now or never for Phil and Ernie. Tiger’s won six of the last 14, so that means the field won 57%. Now the field’s chances are 100%. And the Tiger Factor, which causes players to slide down the leaderboard even when he doesn’t win, is not in effect. Players like Stuart Appleby (75 in the 4th round of the 2007 Masters) and Aaron Baddeley (80 in the 4th round of the 2007 US Open), who both melted when paired with him, will not be subjected to the Tiger Factor on Sunday at the Open.
Unencumbered by the Tiger’s aura, both players have a great shot at bagging their fourth major, breaking the deadlock, and moving into the driver’s seat as the Second Best of the Woods Era. The two couldn’t be much closer, their records in the majors being nearly identical. (Note: though Vijay Singh has also won three majors, his overall record in them is nowhere close to Phil and Ernie’s).
Phil vs. Ernie
38—38 age (Ernie is 8 months older)
3—3 Major titles
5—6 Seconds in majors
15—15 Top 4s in majors
26—27 Top 10s in majors
34—15 PGA Tour wins (no double counting)
0—20 European Tour wins (no double counting)
If Phil wins he will have proven he can master links golf. A win will also give him three different major titles to Els’ two. Ernie will validate his US and British Open titles by winning both twice. A fourth major by either player would break that deadlock in convincing fashion. More importantly, since neither player is a lock to win another, a win at the Open could settle the question of who is better once and for all.
On the eve of the 137th edition of British Open, the Tigerless wide open Open is filled with story lines galore. Will pretourney favorite Sergio Garcia breakthrough and win his first major? Will the winner come from the talented youngsters, the veterans, or the old guard? Will longer and tougher rough and strengthening winds lead to the Disaster in the Dunes of Birkdale or to the Shipwreck of Southport?
Lost in the shuffle is the most compelling story of all – will Phil or Ernie hoist the Claret Jug come Sunday and stake their claim as the Second Best Player of the Woods Era?
British Open Coverage
Big names like Nick Faldo (39) and Greg Norman (41) were aging rapidly as the 1996 season was drawing to a close, so golf was in need of a fresh new face to pump some life into the game. With Hollywood like timing Tiger Woods appeared on the scene. Now that he’s sidelined till next season and a temporary void exists again, the press was in need for a big story.
With perfect timing, Anthony Kim responded with his second win, validating his first at the Wachovia and stamping himself as golf’s young phenom in the making. And, as if on cue, the media has jumped all over this personable young lad who has a penchant for interacting with the gallery and slapping hands with his fans.
Kim’s Season
Kim’s season is clearly divided into two parts. The first half was a disaster while the second half has been good enough to earn him some comparisons with the younger Tiger Woods.
Kim vs. Kim - First Seven vs. Second Seven (PGA Tour)
First Seven: 3t, 67t, 30t, MC, 49t, MC, MC
Second Seven: 2t, 19t, W, 42t, 40t, 26t, W
At the beginning of the year Kim was #75 in the World Golf Rankings (WGR). After winning the Wachovia on May 4th he broke into the top 20 at #16. After slipping back to #20, he won again at the AT&T and is now #13 in the world. His goal at this week’s British Open is to win because that’s the kind of player he is – like Tiger he covets those Ws, especially now that he’s had a taste of the winner’s circle. Still, as a consolation prize, should he finish in the top five this week, he might just enter the top 10.
Young phenoms and those super elite players tend to win their first major at an early age. Gary Player (23), Jack Nicklaus (22), Tom Watson (25), and Tiger Woods (21) were all 25 or under. With Tiger absent, the British Open and PGA offer Kim an opportunity to join this select group and to develop the kind of career momentum that could turn him into the great spoiler and great rival that golf has been hungering for.
So just how good is this youngster? His mentor Mark O’Meara sees him as the next best talent to Tiger of the Woods Era. Kim uses the interlocking grip like Jack Nicklaus and Woods, which history’s two best believe is a far superior way to hold the club. In describing Kim’s swing, noted instructor Peter Kostis remarked that it is “a simple, powerful, and effective swing.” Indeed, Kim’s foot action is far better than Woods’ as he rolls his right foot through impact (like Nicklaus) rather than going up on his toes as Tiger has throughout his career.
Kim is also one of the 10 longest hitters on tour even though he chokes up more on his Nike SQ Sumo 5000 driver than perhaps any touring pro in the Modern Era ever has. This makes you wonder how much distance he might have in reserve if he were to consider letting out the shaft.
Kim vs. Woods in the Stats
Kim may have a better swing at the same age than Woods, but the stats may tell a different story. Over the course of their first two seasons (Kim’s second includes 14 starts) Woods has the advantage in greens in regulation (GIR) and fairways hit. Using today’s numbers for Tiger, he would still hold the edge in GIR, but not in driving accuracy.
Anthony vs. Tiger – The First Two Years
Greens in Regulation
First—Second
70.35—67.55 Tiger Woods
65.35—65.53 Anthony Kim
Driving Accuracy
First–Second
68.62—67.88 Tiger Woods
60.79—59.27 Anthony Kim
GIR reflects ball striking and course management skills. Except for the years when he was remaking his swing, Woods’ GIR has almost always exceeded 70%. Kim’s GIR is about 65%, which translates into 3-4 less greens hit per 72 holes. This discrepancy equals about 2-3 shots (bogeys + lost birdie attempts) per tournament – an advantage that Kim can ill afford to give to Woods.
Woods was arguably a more mature player in his early twenties than Kim, who had to overcome a slacker phase towards the end of last season. As a result, Woods’ advantage in GIR may be more a result of his decision making prowess than from having a better swing at that age.
Kim’s Chances at the British Open
This will be Kim’s first British Open, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a non-winning learning experiences. Tony Lema won his first Open in 1964. More recently, Ben Curtis won his first British Open in 2003, and Todd Hamilton, who played in the 1996 Open (45t), won his next start in it eight years later in 2004.
Expecting Kim to win the Open this soon may be asking a bit much. Certainly the oddsmakers think so because Ladbrokes has him at 50/1. But who knows for sure – golf is golf when you’re an elite player, and the best learn to adapt very quickly to foreign conditions.
We know that Kim hits it long. This will help on Birkdale’s six longest par 4s, which average 471.5 yards. And, because Birkdale is a long tough par 70, even the players who are hitting it great will have to scramble for a good many pars. Scrambling happens to be another of Kim’s strengths. Like Woods, he uses the new high spin Nike One Platinum ball which is ideally suited for the short game. As proof, Kim missed 40 greens during his two wins, but made only 14 bogeys.
And the Winner is…
These are exciting times even though Woods isn’t playing, or perhaps because he’s not playing. Without the Woods’ mystique clouding their psyches, we can see get a better glimpse of the potential of the list of players under major championship conditions.
It will be fascinating to see who steps up in the absence of the great man. Will it be the old guard of Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els? A long time prospect such as Adam Scott or Sergio Garcia? Or will Kim walk away with a career defining and momentum building victory that will grab even Woods’ attention as he watches the festivities unfold from his home in Florida.
British Open Coverage
When asked about stock prices, the late and great financier J.P. Morgan once said, “They will fluctuate.” And so it is with odds on the golfers at this week’s British Open.
The action at British gambling house Ladbrokes in the days leading up to the Open is fast and furious as the punters (gamblers in Britain) are placing wagers on their favorites and hunches. When their bets lean towards a player the odds drop, and vice versa, as you would expect.
So do these British based fans, amateurs and experts know something that we Americans an ocean away don’t? Who knows, but the odds are fluctuating. Four players who were at 66/1 have seen their odds drop, joining the 50/1 (or less) club. These include Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell who won the Scottish Open and climbed into the WGR top 30 at #29, and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (WGR #20), who tied for third at the same event. Hunter Mahan has been hot lately with finishes of 2t and 12t in his last two starts, earning him odds of 50/1. Justin Leonard has played poorly his last two outings but was upgraded anyway.
A number of big names have become more attractive (meaning you can make more money on them) or less attractive (if the downgrades are warranted). Those now available at longer odds over the last four days include former Open champion Ernie Els, defending champion Padraig Harrington, and Justin Rose, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his 4t in the Open at age 17.
Anthony Kim continues to receive rave reviews from a variety of experts including his mentor, Mark O’Meara, who says, “This kid is the best young player I’ve ever seen except Tiger Woods.” Evidently the gamblers aren’t buying into the hype because he’s still available at 50/1 even though he’s won two of his last five starts, drives it long and relatively straight, and has a killer short game, which will come in handy on this difficult par 70 layout.
Apparently the fans have cooled on Masters champion Trevor Immelman, but if his driver gets hot as it was at Augusta, he could be in the thick of it come Sunday. “The main thing this week is you had better drive the ball straight. If you don’t, there’s no way you are going to contend. Once you have hit the fairway, it’s fair from there,” said Immelman.
There are 23 players in the field of 156 at listed at odds of 50/1 or less.
Those who’s odds have dropped are in red, while those who are at longer odd are in blue. Example: 20 equals 20/1.
British Open Odds – Changes from July 10 to July 14 – 50/1 or Lower
14—10 July
10—10 Sergio Garcia
14—12 Ernie Els
16—16 Phil Mickelson
16—16 Lee Westwood
20—16 Padraig Harrington
20—20 Geoff Ogilvy
25—20 Vijay Singh
25—25 Jim Furyk
33—20 Justin Rose
33—25 Adam Scott
33—25 Retief Goosen
33—33 Richard Karlsson
33—40 Stewart Cink
40—66 Graeme McDowell
40—66 Miguel Angel Jimenez
50—33 Andres Romero
50—40 Paul Casey
50—50 Angel Cabrera
50—50 Anthony Kim
50—50 Henrik Stenson
50—50 Robert Allenby
50—66 Justin Leonard
50—66 Hunter Mahan
Bounced from the 50/1 Club
14–10 July
66—40 Trevor Immelman
66—40 Martin Kaymer