British Open

[Mik 0]

Tiger already shot a 66 on the first day of the British Open to move to -6.

 

Who wins:

 

1) Tiger in a tight competition

2) The Field

3) Tiger via complete and total domination

 

I'm going with 3.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I'd give you the fact that Tiger has a big advantage when he's in the lead, but his round wasn't stellar on the back nine. He's showed that he doesn't have the kind of shot control he wants as he's ended up in two bunkers (significant since he missed them all in 2000) and was +1 I believe on the back side.

 

Also, Retief Goosen and other quality players like Luke Donald (who is VERY underrated worldwide) lurk in the background. I hate how everyone is saying this tournament is over already, but I don't think we'll make that judgement until at least tomorrow. Predicting how golf tournaments are going to end up after the first round is rather crazy, especially considering how the weather could start doing crazy stuff (wind, rain, etc.) which might help the European players more than the Americans, but who knows.

 

Anyway, I think it's time to RETIRE St. Andrews as a British Open venue. I know that would be unpopular, but everytime it's played at this course I absolutley hate it. It's almost like half of these players are playing a mini golf course with the holes being about 350 yards long (which most can drive to or hit wedges on their second shots). The best venue for an Open in recent memory was Carnoustie where the fairways were only about 15 yards wide, the rough was up to players knees, and there were burns and bunkers everywhere. Sure the winning score was somewhere near +8 after the Van de Velde screw up, but it made for a fun weekend of golf for serious golf fans. I just started watching coverage, though, of the Open this morning (since it's my favorite major) and I'm already bored with this crappy course. Eh!

[CanadianChris 0]

Carnoustie wasn't fun, it was horrible to watch. It was completely unfair. Some of the fairways were virtually unhittable. The R&A did a very poor job setting the course up. Why would I want to watch the best golfers in the world playing golf the way I normally would?

 

As for St. Andrews, if you don't enjoy watching golf played there, you have no soul. If the wind ever picks up, this golf course is a devil.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Maybe, but considering the wind hasn't been around in force for the last year + today's round it's been a total bore. Also, I don't see how Carnoustie was terrible to watch. Golfers don't have to be making tons of birdies for it to be fun.

 

Plus if we were playing Carnousite we'd be shooting like 120+ and not in the 80s.

[Guest Damn You Helmsley]

Mark Hensby is a good outside bet. He's performed well in both Majors this year and as of the 12th hole today he's -4.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, I've been impressed with Hensby's play recently. Also, you've got many major winners on Tiger's heels right now: Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Bob Tway, Fred Couples, etc.

 

However, if Tiger wins this thing by a mile it's not going to be the biggest story in the golf world BECAUSE Michelle Wie is winning her third round match in the US Public Links championship right now 2 up through 8. If she gets to the finals and WINS then she gets an invite to the Masters, which I'm sure the mainstream media will eat up as opposed to another Tiger victory.

[CanadianChris 0]

Yea, I've been impressed with Hensby's play recently.  Also, you've got many major winners on Tiger's heels right now:  Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Bob Tway, Fred Couples, etc.

 

However, if Tiger wins this thing by a mile it's not going to be the biggest story in the golf world BECAUSE Michelle Wie is winning her third round match in the US Public Links championship right now 2 up through 8.  If she gets to the finals and WINS then she gets an invite to the Masters, which I'm sure the mainstream media will eat up as opposed to another Tiger victory.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So much for that. Wie got PASTED in her QF match, 5 and 4.

 

Tiger leading by 2 approaching the turn in his 2nd round. Vijay, Phil and Ernie all had good days today, though.

[smh810 0]

Tiger at 11 under leading by four heading into the weekend...its over.

[Guest Damn You Helmsley]

Possibly the only thing left to determine is how and when Colin Montgomerie decides to completely wreck his chances of a good final placing. I'm still confident.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Haha, I never guaranteed a Wie victory above. The guy she was playing absolutley demolished her 5 & 4 b/c he did what I've been thinking any golfer needs to do to shut Wie down in the tournament: birdie a lot of holes out of the gate and then hold on. Wie didn't lose b/c she played poorly. She lost b/c her opponent played awesome in quieting the crowd right out of the gate and never letting up except for a bogey on #10 (which he got back with a birdie on #11). However, that's the nature of match play and that's why I love it as opposed to stroke play.

 

I'm still not going to give Tiger the victory even though at the moment he's four shots ahead. It's not like a four shot deficit is impossible to overcome ESPECIALLY at St. Andrews. Heck, Sports Illustrated even said four years ago that if anyone is going to shoot under 63 (or even 59) at a major championship it's likely to happen at St. Andrews. All that has to happen is for Tiger to stumble a bit on Saturday and have someone down by a few shots to make a comeback. Is that going to be hard? Yes, it's going to be VERY hard, but it's not like a four shot deficit is impossible to overcome, especially with 36 HOLES to go. Now, if Tiger still has a four shot lead going into Sunday then yes, I believe the tournament is over. All you need to remember, though, is that David Duval was down by like six shots to Tiger in the final round @ St. Andrews in 2000 and by the time they got to #10 he was only down by three. Thus, I'm not that quick to give Tiger the nudge to victory, although right now he's looking pretty awesome out there.

 

I'm still pulling for Montgomerie. I know that he always tends to implode when he's in contention down the stretch (and I'd guess that a meltdown will happen quickly after a few holes on Saturday) BUT I think if he gets his ass in gear this could be quite a showdown. Montgomerie has a lot more than Tiger to prove at this tournament (because people expect him to meltdown and fall apart), especially since he's playing near his hometown. The crowd hates the fact that the Americans have won EIGHT of the last ten British Open's and the European Tour wants to have a major brought back to it. Additionally, Montgomerie has admitted that time is running out for him to win a major. He said that if you asked him if he'd win one between 1994-1999 he'd have said yes, but now he's not sure. Therefore, with the crowd behind him and with him personally wanting a win Montgomerie has an outside shot against Tiger, although to win he's going to have to shoot about 66 or 67 on Saturday AND Sunday. Go Monty!

[CanadianChris 0]

Haha, I never guaranteed a Wie victory above.

No one ever said you did.

 

Heck, Sports Illustrated even said four years ago that if anyone is going to shoot under 63 (or even 59) at a major championship it's likely to happen at St. Andrews.

Whoever said this shows a complete lack of understanding of golf in general, and golf at St. Andrews in particular. You cannot possibly get lucky enough to shoot 60 or better on this course.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Athough Tiger probably has it locked, there's a lot of potential for a pheomenal Sunday, with Singh nearby, and Els and Philly Mick, while not in contention really 8 back, are in decent position at T25.

 

And how about Montgomerie? He's been written off since the 97 US, which he lost late to Els. Maybe he'll be more comfortable at the home of golf.

 

Of course, the last time he played with Tiger on a Saturday in a major was the 97 Masters, where he played the weekend 75-81.

[Damaramu 0]

Well I would like to also mention that Wie was eliminated yesterday from the Publinks so maybe they will finally shut the hell up about her. My boy Anthony Kim would've eaten her alive anyways.......oh wait he got eliminated too. He still would've eaten her alive.

[CanadianChris 0]

Well I would like to also mention that Wie was eliminated yesterday from the Publinks so maybe they will finally shut the hell up about her.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right, because getting eliminated in the quarters of a top men's amateur tournament means her career is over.

 

Stick to football.

[Damaramu 0]

Well I would like to also mention that Wie was eliminated yesterday from the Publinks so maybe they will finally shut the hell up about her.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right, because getting eliminated in the quarters of a top men's amateur tournament means her career is over.

 

Stick to football.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hey kiss my ass you condescending jackass. I never said her career was over. But I got tired of them talking about her and her ONLY when there were other golfers besides her in the tournament. Now that she's been eliminated I gurantee we never even hear who the winner is.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, I was looking out for Anthony Kim to kick some major ass in the Public Links. Unfortunate that he got eliminated.

 

I agree that Sunday is looking to be phenomenal. Tiger in the lead is going to be a tough obstacle, but I told everyone Thursday & Friday that he hadn't clinched the tournament yet even though he had a four shot lead. I really hope Montgomerie can kick it into gear and make a charge to win a major championship. In Scotland that would be like a Phil Mickelson triumph @ the Masters.

 

Sure, it may be crazy to expect a 59 @ St. Andrews but SI only said it was possible if the wind totally died down and some other weather factors played a part. I agree that you'd have to get VERY lucky to shoot a 59 @ St. Andrews and I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. Just mentioned it as an "off the wall/you never know what could happen" type of thing.

 

In my heart I believe Woods will win the tournament (although I'll be rooting against him like I always do) by a stroke over Goosen and a resurgent Jose Maria Olazabal. I want Montgomerie to win, but I fear another historic collapse tomorrow.

[Damaramu 0]

Yea, I was looking out for Anthony Kim to kick some major ass in the Public Links.  Unfortunate that he got eliminated.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know Anthony personally so that's another reason I am rooting for him really hard. That and the rampant homerism that infects my body.

[Red Baron 0]

If Olazabal wins would he be the first person in the Open championship to win the tournament without being invited in the first place? (Seve Ballastaros declined because of back problems.)

 

Although overshadowed, I was quite impressed by Nicklaus first two rounds of his last Open Championship a 75+72 is pretty good for his age.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Tiger just birdied and Olazabal and Monty made bogey.

 

4 shots with 6 to play. It's all Woods.

[Mik 0]

Another big win for Woods. Incredible.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, it's another big collapse by the field down the stretch when Tiger has the lead. Is anyone sick of watching that happen?

 

Good win, though, by Woods as he yet again triumphs @ Jack's final appearance at a particular major championship. PGA @ Baltusrol should favor him too b/c of his length, although he's never played that course before to my recollection.

 

Too bad for Monty. Seems that when he has a good placing in a major Tiger or someone else just has a terrific week to keep him out of it.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Yea, I was looking out for Anthony Kim to kick some major ass in the Public Links.  Unfortunate that he got eliminated.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know Anthony personally so that's another reason I am rooting for him really hard. That and the rampant homerism that infects my body.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I read that as "the rampant homoeroticsm that infects my body." Oops!

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Yea, it's another big collapse by the field down the stretch when Tiger has the lead.  Is anyone sick of watching that happen?

 

Good win, though, by Woods as he yet again triumphs @ Jack's final appearance at a particular major championship.  PGA @ Baltusrol should favor him too b/c of his length, although he's never played that course before to my recollection.

 

Too bad for Monty.  Seems that when he has a good placing in a major Tiger or someone else just has a terrific week to keep him out of it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That sounds about right, but to be fair for Tiger, his 71 yesterday really opened the door. Today the field beat themselves.

[Damaramu 0]

I remember last year when Tiger had that bad year and everyone was claiming that it was over and he was finished....

[Damaramu 0]

Yea, I was looking out for Anthony Kim to kick some major ass in the Public Links.  Unfortunate that he got eliminated.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know Anthony personally so that's another reason I am rooting for him really hard. That and the rampant homerism that infects my body.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I read that as "the rampant homoeroticsm that infects my body." Oops!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Somehow I don't think that was accidental.....you lie sir!

[Gert T 0]

I think the field does get intimidated when Tiger has a lead, but I think his ability to save par is what really makes him so dominant, he just doesn't give opponents many openings.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, I agree. Sorry, didn't mean for my previous post to take away from Tiger. While I don't root for him at tournaments I know he's a phenomenal golfer and if he's in the hunt on Sunday then you'd better watch out or have your running shoes on if he's in the lead.

 

Tiger saves pars when he has to in majors and while Montgomerie or Olazabal stumbled and hit their shots into deep rough or in coffin bunkers, he managed to get up and down to save par on numerous occassions. Also, he easily could've won today by eight shots b/c he missed two short birdie putts throughout the day.

 

However, I also think the field kinda gives up when he has the lead too b/c no one believes they can chase him down. After all, when you look @ the majors Woods has been in a toe-to-toe showdown for they aren't against well known players. After all, Bob May came within a stroke of beating him at the 2000 PGA, Rich Beem beat him in a showdown @ the 2002 PGA, Chris DiMarco rallied to fight him in this year's Masters, and Michael Campbell outdueled him @ the U.S. Open this year. Seems that if your a big name you can't hang with Tiger, but if you have the grit and determination of a journeyman you can handle him. Weird, eh?

[Red Baron 0]

Don't forget in 2000 when Duval came back from five down to implode on the road hole of 17 losing to Tiger.