Tuesday, July 19, 2016
The Open
The Open, that golf
tournament played at various locations in the United Kingdom
The final pairing of Phil
Mickelson and Henrik Stenson was electrifying. Both had distanced themselves
from the rest of the pack after the end of the third round. And then it came
down to the final day, even down to the final holes. Stenson birdied 14, 15,
and 16 to move ahead of Mickelson.
Stenson played the round
of his life. He broke the record of Open Championship strokes below par of 19
under, held by Tiger Woods. He shot 63, tying a major championship scoring
record. He ran in long putts when required, obviously tough on Phil. As the day
wore on, Phil became increasingly frustrated. His complaints about cameras and
distractions came though loud and clear. Interestingly, they were ignored by
the announcers.
Stenson is the first Swede
to win a major championship. Another fellow countryman, Jesper Parnevik, (the
guy who turns up the front of his cap), came close to winning, but fell just
short. Parnevik sent Stenson a message: “Go out and finish what I didn’t manage
to finish.”
The Open, the Masters, the
U. S. Open, and the PGA Championship are the Majors. Of course there is a fair
amount of coin that goes with a win-more than a million dollars. The winner
also gets to keep the trophy, the Claret Jug, as it is called. But just for a
year. It is a replica, and the original rests on permanent display in the Royal
and Ancient Clubhouse.
It was just a fortnight
ago that we walked the course at Troon. The locale is wonderful, on the West
Coast of Scotland Clyde , off the Irish Sea . Freighters can be seen entering the channel leading
to Glasgow. Police on horseback casually patrol the beach area, keeping those
who might try to sneak into the grounds at bay. Across the water lie two
islands: Arran and the Ailsa Craig. I an sure you will be pleased to
know that most curling stones are quarried there!
Marco Dawson Padraig Harrington
I sat in the stands at the
first hole, watching players tee off in the practice round. It is a casual day,
when players will toss four or five balls into traps, or along the greens, to
try to learn the lay of the land. I watched Padraig Harrington and Marco Dawson tee off. Harrington is a former Open champ, and Dawson is always in the running for victories on the Champions Tour.
The first fairway, beside the beach
Bubba Watson did not have his finest hour. But he did take the time to scratch his name on the peak of Joanne's Open cap. Nice gesture.
Naturally, weather plays a
factor in The Open. Tee times are critical, because wind and rain are always
expected in links golf in Scotland
In the Pot Bunker
At the Swilcan Bridge
We went across the country
to tour St. Andrews as well. It has been the site of many Opens, and has
a fine history. The British Golf Museum Swilcan Bridge
The media Area
It is a tournament that captures world-wide attention. The media room is enormous, perhaps ten times the size of the media area at the Canadian Open.
It is a tournament that captures world-wide attention. The media room is enormous, perhaps ten times the size of the media area at the Canadian Open.
Allan and Leeanne Stitt
It was a pleasure to be
accompanied by local golf expert Al Stitt on the excursions. He had played several
of the Scottish courses, and shared his knowledge with us. “Stay out of the
fescue,” he warned. That is a nasty bit of tall grass just off the fairways.
Many of the golfers who
played The Open are now in Toronto Oakville
James Hurst
# posted by James Hurst @ 10:42 AM 
