The Open Championship (or British Open for those of us across the pond), July 15-18

[Red Dog]

The 133rd British Open

• When: Thursday-Sunday.

• Where: Royal Troon in AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND

• Length: 7,175 yards (par 71).

• Purse: 4 million pounds (winner's share 720,000 pounds).

• Defending champion: Ben Curtis.

[Red Dog]

Television coverage:

Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m., TNT
Saturday, 7 a.m., TNT, 9 a.m., ABC
Sunday, 6 a.m., TNT; 8 a.m., ABC.

[Red Dog]

Odds courtesy vegasinsider.com:

Name Open Current
TIGER WOODS 5/1 5/1
ERNIE ELS 6/1 6/1
PHIL MICKELSON 7/1 7/1
VIJAY SINGH 10/1 10/1
RETIEF GOOSEN 12/1 12/1
SERGIO GARCIA 15/1 15/1
DAVIS LOVE III 25/1 25/1
PADRAIG HARRINGTON 25/1 25/1
MIKE WEIR 25/1 25/1
ADAM SCOTT 25/1 25/1
DARREN CLARKE 30/1 30/1
DAVID TOMS 30/1 30/1
JIM FURYK 30/1 30/1
CHAD CAMPBELL 30/1 30/1
STUART APPLEBY 30/1 30/1
ROBERT ALLENBY 35/1 35/1
FREDRIK JACOBSON 35/1 35/1
KENNY PERRY 35/1 35/1
CHRIS DIMARCO 35/1 35/1
JUSTIN LEONARD 40/1 40/1
THOMAS BJORN 45/1 45/1
K.J. CHOI 45/1 45/1
SHIGEKI MARUYAMA 45/1 45/1
CHARLES HOWELL III 45/1 45/1
NICK PRICE 50/1 50/1
JERRY KELLY 50/1 50/1
STEVE FLESCH 50/1 50/1
SCOTT VERPLANK 50/1 50/1
JOHN DALY 60/1 60/1
COLIN MONTGOMERIE 75/1 75/1
FIELD 2/1 2/1

[Red Dog]

The Open is probably my favorite major in golf. The courses are just so different from anything we normally see - anything can happen.

My pick to win: I have to go with the same guy I picked to win the US Open - Ernie Els. Looked like a good pick before he collapsed on Sunday.


Oh and guess who is playing with a new driver this week? ;)
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2004-07-13-woods-club-switch_x.htm

[das Monkey]

"It's obvious when Tiger has been successful, his equipment is undervalued," Kelly said. "When he has struggled, his equipment is overvalued."
Can't really argue with that.

das

[mljones99]

Originally posted by Red Dog

Oh and guess who is playing with a new driver this week? ;)
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2004-07-13-woods-club-switch_x.htm

He used that same driver (Ignite 410 w/ what looks to be a Graffaloy Blue or a Fujikura Tour Blue shaft) in the alst tournement he was in. I can't remember how he did because my mind has been on the Tour de France and not golf for a change.

[Quake1028]

Tiger playing pretty well so far. I love this Championship.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by Quake1028
Tiger playing pretty well so far. I love this Championship.


I don't know how Tiger is doing, but Kenny Perry is on fire. -5 through 10. -eek- Not watching the coverage - they are playing this at Royal Troon, correct? ;) There must be zero wind today.

[Red Dog]

Apparently the front-9 is far easier than the back-9 at Troon, due to the winds. When Justin Leonard won here in '97, he shot -12 overall on the front-9 and even par overall on the back-9.

[brizz]

man....this is just so much fun to watch. The aerial shots of the course are amazing. I can't imagine how difficult and just plain different it must be to play a course like that. I'd probably just bring my five wood, five iron, sand wedge and putter....and just try to keep em straight and out of that tall stuff.

[Canadian Bacon]

ABC, crap their coverage sucks!!!!!!!! then again so does TNT's :yack:

[Red Dog]

Not a good day for the Americans. Not a single American in the top-10.

[brizz]

well there are 40 under par (-1 to -5) total though...and plent of Americans in the hunt....it'll shake out tomorrow for sure. I'd be surprised if the leader is below -5 after tomorrow.

[Red Dog]

Frenchie Thomas Levet has opened up a 3-shot lead, currently -7 after the 5th hole.

[brizz]

and yesterday's leader Paul Casey is now +6 through five holes on the back nine (was even on the front) to drop to +1. Levet is still -7, but only at the 10th. he should drop a shot or two by the end of the day.

[Red Dog]

Wow. American Skip Kendall fires a 2nd round 66, including an impressive -3 on the back-9, to take the lead at -7. Levet is at -6 through 14.

[Pharoh]

Saturday is shaping up to be moving day, at least for some of the early/mid groups.

Justin Leonard just went out @ -4. The weather is holding up nicely at the moment, a little rain but the winds aren't that bad. It will be interesting to see if the leaders will pay a price for their later starts or if it will hold. (It was terrible for the first groups who teed off.)

[Pharoh]

The relative lack of wind is really allowing the players to throw darts at the flags. Lefty has birdied the first two holes, getting to 5 under.

[Red Dog]

Wow. Tiger is on the prowl: -4 on the day and only 1 shot back. Took advantage of the easier front-9 and just made a very nice par save at 10. We'll see if he can keep up the momentum with solid play coming home on the tougher back-9.

[wildcatlh]

It's certainly tightening up at the top.

Lefty has moved into a tie with Kendall and Levet @ -6. Tiger, Els, Verplank, Goosen, Todd Hamilton, and KJ Choi are all one shot back @ -5...

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by WildcatLH
It's certainly tightening up at the top.

Lefty has moved into a tie with Kendall and Levet @ -6. Tiger, Els, Verplank, Goosen, Todd Hamilton, and KJ Choi are all one shot back @ -5...


The top-7 in the world are all -3 or better.

[Copenhagen]

Not that I'm suprised, but radio coverage of the open just isn't the same as watching it.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by Copenhagen
Not that I'm suprised, but radio coverage of the open just isn't the same as watching it.


:lol:

No, I would think not.

[Pharoh]

I can't see Levet holding on, but so far he is proving me wrong. He is playing solid error free golf.

[Copenhagen]

Hey you do what you gotta do when you are stuck at work.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by Copenhagen
Hey you do what you gotta do when you are stuck at work.

Yeah, I know how that is. I'm lucky that we have various sets in the office. Hopefully you get off early at least.

[Pharoh]

Tiger finishes off a round of 68 today. He sit at 4 under for the Championship.

[Pharoh]

Ouch!

Levet just gave back two shots. He is now tied for the lead at -7

[Red Dog]

That bunker shot by Monty is probably the best I have ever seen.

[Red Dog]

Meanwhile, the so-called master of bunker play, Manboobs, plays a poor one out of the bunker.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by Red Dog
That bunker shot by Monty is probably the best I have ever seen.


I can't stand the guy, but that was very impressive. His earlier up & down from the steep greenside bunker, hole 14 maybe, was also a top notch effort.

[Copenhagen]

Originally posted by Pharoh
Yeah, I know how that is. I'm lucky that we have various sets in the office. Hopefully you get off early at least.

I'll probably take off around 2 or 3 so I can catch the Peru Argentina match later today.

[brizz]

boy...this is good stuff.....things are really bunched up now - anybody's tourney for tomorrow.

And I like Monty....you gotta root for him in this Open at least - it's in his home town....

hopefully frenchie will puke out tomorrow...i'd like to see a good ole earnie/tiger showdown shake out tomorrow.

[Red Dog]

Leaderboard after 54:

1 HAMILTON, Todd -8
2 ELS, Ernie -7
T3 GOOSEN, Retief -6
T3 MICKELSON, Phil -6
T3 LEVET, Thomas -6
6 LANE, Barry -5
T7 VERPLANK, Scott -4
T7 WOODS, Tiger -4
T9 MONTGOMERIE, Colin -3
T9 WEIR, Mike -3
T9 KENDALL, Skip -3

[B.A.]

Will the leader from southern Illinois hold on to the lead tomorrow?

I think Els will take it.

[brizz]

I agree....ernie just seems to be the most "on" right now. skip certainly took a dive today. It will be interesting to see if Tiger can repeat his performance on the front 9 tomorrow though....and Phil is definately in the hunt too...but i predict another classic choke from him.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by brizz
I agree....ernie just seems to be the most "on" right now. skip certainly took a dive today. It will be interesting to see if Tiger can repeat his performance on the front 9 tomorrow though....and Phil is definately in the hunt too...but i predict another classic choke from him.


Until the end, Ernie wasn't making any putts that are going to be necessary to win this thing. Phil and Retief weren't either. I'll therefore go out on a small limb and pick Lefty Manboobs to win tomorrow. I think his pairing with Goosen in the second to last pair will aid him, weather willing. Mike Weir, whom I always like and pull for, is my darkhorse.


As an aside, this is a truly wonderful time in golf right now, and tomorrow should be a great finish. Too bad Vijay choked already.

[brizz]

Vijay eating it was just icing on the cake!! I really can't stand that guy.....

[mljones99]

my wife hopes that vijay falls (or gets pushed) in the water.....

[Pharoh]

Wow. Some amazing shotmaking going on this morning. Truly great stuff.

And we see Lefty, Els, and Levet sitting atop the leaderboard at 8 under par.

[Quake1028]

Wow, when was the last major where Els, Phil and Tiger were playing this well?

[Pharoh]

Mickelson finally gets a bogey, his first in about 50 holes, to fall back into second place at 8 under. Hamilton now sits alone in first, one stroke better than Phil.

[Pharoh]

Davis Love in the clubhouse with a -5. Good round for him.

[brizz]

wow....Hamilton chips in for birdie and is now -10....he's going to be tough to catch now.

[Pharoh]

:eek:

Amazing play by Hamilton. He deserves to win.

[brizz]

Moobs finishes at -9! here's hoping for Hamilton to bogey the 17th or 18th and forcing a playoff....

[classicman2]

'I'd rather be lucky than good.' Motto of Hamilton. ;)

Two years in a row - an average (at best) tour player wins the British Open.

A blind man can see what's wrong with Els today. He's coming out of his swing too early - ball to the right.

Mickelson, noted for his bold play, decides to get conservative on the back 9.

It's amazing what 8-10 miles per hour of wind can do to the best players in the world. They need to play more in Texas. ;)

[brizz]

oops....didn't realize he had birdied the 16th....but he just drove the 18th way into the rough.....and ernie birdied the 16th and 17th to come within 1. so Moobs is out unless they double and bogey this one....but if els can get in a playoff i'd put my money on him the way he's finishing...

[brizz]

:lol: Hamilton is imploding on the 18th :lol:

And ernie is primed for a birdie to leapfrog him and beat him outright barring a miracle from Hamilton.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by classicman2
'I'd rather be lucky than good.' Motto of Hamilton. ;)

Two years in a row - an average (at best) tour player wins the British Open.

A blind man can see what's wrong with Els today. He's coming out of his swing too early - ball to the right.

Mickelson, noted for his bold play, decides to get conservative on the back 9.

It's amazing what 8-10 miles per hour of wind can do to the best players in the world. They need to play more in Texas. ;)


But where were any of the Texas players?



And it looks like Els is going to come out on top. Hate to see Hamilton give it away on 18 like it appears he is. Here's hoping he can make a great up and down and force a playoff.

[wildcatlh]

Weirdly enough... SI.com seems to say it's over already (won't say who they say won in case they're right and its a spoiler)

[Pharoh]

I too don't get the decision by Mickelson. There is a leaderboard by every green on the back nine. Didn't he realise the others were making birdies?

[Pharoh]

Biggest putt of Hamilton's life right here.

[Pharoh]

Weak effort. He gets a bogey.
:(


Ernie with a very makeable putt for birdie and the win.


And he does not!
:eek:


Playoff!

[brizz]

well SI must have done what cman did and jumped the gun to give it to Hamilton


4 hole playoff....great stuff!!!

[classicman2]

Hamilton's putt at 18 was a better effort than Els made. Ernie committed the cardinal sin in putting - he didn't accelerate the putter through the ball. It's understandable - major championship on the line.

[Quake1028]

Great stuff here. Els really choked that last putt.

[Decker]

How's this for a headline:

Ernie Wins A Date With Todd Hamilton!

[wildcatlh]

Todd Hamilton's daughter brings the funny.

[Quake1028]

Originally posted by Decker
How's this for a headline:

Ernie Wins A Date With Todd Hamilton!

:lol::up:

[Quake1028]

Par for both to start.

[brizz]

Originally posted by Decker
How's this for a headline:

Ernie Wins A Date With Todd Hamilton!
5/5 :lol:


and the little girl saying els was "stupid" was hilarious....

[classicman2]

For 3 straight holes - Els hasn't putted well.

Maybe he's looking for sudden death. ;)

[Quake1028]

Els drops a shot on 17, Hamilton up by one heading to the 18th tee (does this sound familiar?).

[brizz]

:hscratch: talk about a conservative play off the tee at 18 for Hamilton.....wierd.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by brizz
:hscratch: talk about a conservative play off the tee at 18 for Hamilton.....wierd.


Not nearly as bad as his second shot though. Ouch.

[Pharoh]

Els make a nearly identical shot to his approach in regulation.

[Patman]

3 feet for history.... Yes!

[Quake1028]

Hamilton wins!!

[Pharoh]

:up:

Great tournament, and it's nice to see a new face win.

[Gallant Pig]

Damnit. Another no-name mediocre golfer wins. Was pulling for Ernie.

[brizz]

I like it when the underdogs win, but that was a tough 2nd place for Els....yet again. so does he pass Tiger now for the #1 ranking?

[classicman2]

No, it's not nice to see a new face win. ;)

However, Els didn't deserve to win. I could have putted better than he did over the last few holes. :)

[classicman2]

Originally posted by Gallant Pig
Damnit. Another no-name mediocre golfer wins. Was pulling for Ernie.

He's a mediocre (at best) tour player. He's not a mediocre golfer. ;)

It doesn't matter about the rankings - well it does for money, but Mickelson is the number 1 player in the world right now.

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by classicman2
No, it's not nice to see a new face win. ;)

However, Els didn't deserve to win. I could have putted better than he did over the last few holes. :)


Sure it is, I mean why Els instead?

I agree though, Els didn't deserve it the way he played the last 5 holes. Hamilton played the best tournament and got the win he rightfully deserved.



brizz,

No, Tiger had to finish below 17th to drop out of the top spot. He still is number 1 in the world rankings.

[Gallant Pig]

brizz: I believe he had to win it outright to pass him in the rankings.

Tiger did better here than I thought he would. He certainly bested Adam Scott (his swing of 2000).

Now the train-wreck known as the Michael Douglas Celebrity Classic is on.

[classicman2]

"Where in the hell are the 'drive-and-putt' courses?"

The lament of Tiger Woods.

:)

[Gallant Pig]

Originally posted by Pharoh
Sure it is, I mean why Els instead?

I agree though, Els didn't deserve it the way he played the last 5 holes. Hamilton played the best tournament and got the win he rightfully deserved.



brizz,

No, Tiger had to finish below 17th to drop out of the top spot. He still is number 1 in the world rankings.

The Open doesn't need more cinderella stories. It's filled with them. They all end up being unfufilled golfers who never come close to winning a major again. Golf doesn't need more of these guys. It needs its superstars to win.

Ernie didn't deserve it though.

[Gallant Pig]

Originally posted by classicman2
"Where in the hell are the 'drive-and-putt' courses?"

The lament of Tiger Woods.

:)

St. Andrews 2005

[brizz]

am i really watching haley joel osment and kenny g play golf right now?!??!!?!?!??! talk about a drop in quality :lol:

[brizz]

wait.....i take that back....Heather locklear is now teeing off....and hits it 15 feet into a pond rotfl

[Pharoh]

Originally posted by Gallant Pig
The Open doesn't need more cinderella stories. It's filled with them. They all end up being unfufilled golfers who never come close to winning a major again. Golf doesn't need more of these guys. It needs its superstars to win.

Ernie didn't deserve it though.


I think the fact that the superstars were mostly all in contention on the last day was good enough. It doesn't matter who won, it just matters that Phil and Ernie and Tiger and Davis Love were all playing for something on Sunday. The way the event finishes is perhaps even more important than who wins. We got both today.

[nchhabra]

Originally posted by Pharoh
I think the fact that the superstars were mostly all in contention on the last day was good enough. It doesn't matter who won, it just matters that Phil and Ernie and Tiger and Davis Love were all playing for something on Sunday. The way the event finishes is perhaps even more important than who wins. We got both today.

I wouldn't really say Love was contending. He was -3 going into 18, where he eagled to go -5 and made it look closer than it really was. Same with Tiger, he kind of fell off on the back 9. I think it would have been nice to have seen Tiger post a 66 or 67 and have Els and Mickelson battling down the stretch knowing that there was already a good score in the clubhouse. I do agree that this Sunday was one to watch in terms of all the big names having a decent shot going into Sunday, but I would have liked to seen Phil (but a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the first 3 majors sure is a pretty damn fine accomplishment) or Ernie pull it out.

[B.A.]

Congrats to the man from southern Illinois. I didn't think he would hold off Ernie, but he did.

:up:

[Autotelik]

Great finish. Too bad for Ernie though.... having come close in all 3 majors now. Phil did much better than I thought he would here, considering his track record. Perhaps his result at Shinnecock was an indicator of how he would do in Scotland. Wonder when Tiger will win a major again- my bet is St. Andrews 2005.

[Red Dog]

Very entertaining Sunday. Some big names in the mix with no-names. The playoff was disappointing however. I wish they went back to 15 instead of the 1st.

Oh and Todd Hamilton's win is not nearly the Cinderella story than Ben Curtis' was. Hamilton was around 50th in the world rankings. Curtis was in the 300s last year. Granted, from a gambling standpoint, at least at the Brit books (where I don't believe they have the field bet option), probably not much difference. ;)

[classicman2]

Hamilton has been on the tour for over 15 years.

I think the only tournament (prior to this one) he has one on the main tour is this years Honda Classic (I believe that's the one). He's made precious few cuts in the few majors that he has played in.

I have never seen Els so tenative as he was at 18 in the final round and the playoff. He played like he had never won a tournament, much less a major.

[classicman2]

Todd Hamilton Bio


Name: Todd Hamilton
Born: Oct. 18, 1965

Height: 6-1

Weight: 195

Birthplace: Galesburg, Ill.

Grew up: Oquawka, a town of about 1,500 in Illinois, about

30 minutes from Galesburg. Started playing on a nine-hole course about 15 minutes from his house.

Residence: McKinney, Texas; plays out of Vaquero Golf Club (Westlake, Texas)

Family: Wife Jaque, three children

Hobbies: Crossword puzzles, hockey, basketball

College: Oklahoma

Qualifying school: 2003

Earnings this year (before yesterday): $1,211,674

Earnings yesterday: $1,348,272

PGA career earnings before 2004: $47,594

Victory’s perks: Exempt for the next

5 years in the three U.S. majors and the PGA Tour. He can play the British Open until he’s 65.

Lucky 13:

This weekend was the 13th time he made the cut this year in 21 events.

Other win: Only other PGA Tour win came at the Honda Classic in March. There, he shot a 12-under 276.

Cuts: Made the cut at the Masters this year, finishing 40th; missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

2003: Played in two majors; tied for 29th at the PGA Championship and missed the cut at the British Open; won four times last year on the Japan Golf Tour and finished third on the JGT money list.

[brizz]

Hamilton has been on the tour for over 15 years.

Not quite...he's been on the Asian tour for 15 years...this is his first on the PGA Tour. That's a rather impressive internship and show's considerable dedication. He deserves his success.....

[classicman2]

• Ranks 9th on the Money List
• Ranks 115th in Birdies (Per Round) - 3.39
• Ranks 151st in Eagles (Holes Per) - 384.0
• Ranks 60th in Putting (Per Hole) - 1.771
• Ranks 132nd in Sand Saves (Pct.) - 45.5 • Ranks 120th in Driving Distance (Yards Per) - 283.7
• Ranks 153rd in Driving Accuracy (Pct.) - 58.9
• Ranks 176th in Total Driving - 273

And this guy wins a major tournament.

Hell, this is a Tin Cup story. ;)

[Red Dog]

He doesn't have to worry about getting on the PGA Tour now. He earned a 5-year exemption by winning The Open. He also earned exemptions for all the majors and The Players Championship for the next 5 years (including the British Open exemption until age 66).

If anything this simply shows that you don't necessarily need to be on the PGA or Euro Tours to win a major championship.

[classicman2]

He's obviously played on the PGA tour before 2004. He has earnings of about 48 thousand dollars.

If anything this simply shows that you don't necessarily need to be on the PGA or Euro Tours to win a major championship.

When the second best player in the world plays the final 5 holes the way he played them, I would agree. However, that rarely occurs. ;)

[brizz]

he probably got to play in a few paying tour events through Q school or in the fall after he qualified....and as we know it doesn't take much to win 48 grand on the PGA Tour...that could be two 58th place finishes in pro-ams for all we know...

[classicman2]

I'll have to read the Oklahoma paper. He's front page. ;)

[brizz]

I just read that his 1.3 million payday is the biggest ever on the Tour.....not a bad paycheck for a nobody :) I suppose I could spend a few years playing golf in Japan for a payday like that when i'm 39.....

[Gallant Pig]

Originally posted by Red Dog
He doesn't have to worry about getting on the PGA Tour now. He earned a 5-year exemption by winning The Open. He also earned exemptions for all the majors and The Players Championship for the next 5 years (including the British Open exemption until age 66).

If anything this simply shows that you don't necessarily need to be on the PGA or Euro Tours to win a major championship.

Hell I'm starting to think C-Man could win the British Open if he entered it.

[brizz]

He seems to think so :lol:

What's your handicap Cman? You still using those hickory shafts? ;)

http://users.argonet.co.uk/glencall/putter/pics/wooden/setsimage2.JPG

[classicman2]

Before arthritis got my knees, I know I wouldn't be lagging a 12-footer to win a major championship like Ernie Els did. ;)

Of course I wouldn't have been a position to do so. :)