Mickelson is about to win British Open (open thread)

yahoo ^ | July 20, 2013

[campaignPete R-CT]

looks like Mickelson birdied 18 ... nobody can catch him.

1 Phil Mickelson 69 74 72 66 -5 F -3 281
T2 Henrik Stenson 70 70 74 66 -1 17 E 280
T2 Lee Westwood 72 68 70 62 +3 15 E 272
4 Ian Poulter 72 71 75 67 -4 F +1 285
T5 Hideki Matsuyama 71 73 72 70 -1 F +2 286
T5 Zach Johnson 66 75 73 68 +1 17 +2 282
T5 Adam Scott 71 72 70 64 +2 16 +2 277
T5 Tiger Woods 69 71 72 65 +3 16 +2 277
T5 Hunter Mahan 72 72 68 62 +3 15 +2 274

[Wuli]

saw gradual self-undoing of Westwood today, after opening in the lead at the beginning of the last round today

poor Lee; 8 times in the top 3 of a major championship without winning

maybe number 9 will be a charm

but

good to see Michelson win - a really nice guy

while Tiger showed he still has not regained his control or confidence, though he began today only 2 strokes behind the starting leader

[NautiNurse]

As soon as the Pirates overtook them, it's all Pirates all the time.

Pirates winning games--that is DEFINITELY headline breaking news. I believe the Pirates hold the dubious honor of the most consecutive losing seasons in MLB history.

[Lmo56]

Tiger showed he still has not regained his control or confidence, though he began today only 2 strokes behind the starting leader

When he is not leading going into the final round, Tiger has NEVER had confidence or control. He has never won coming from behind on the final day [at least in Majors].

That has always been his weakness ...

[rabidralph]

ESPN and the other networks have been doing their best to keep that turd afloat.

[OrangeHoof]

I got out of Bible study last night and flipped to a sports radio channel on my way home and the radio host was telling us how certain he was that Tiger would win because he’s the greatest golfer of all time. Got sick of it after 10 minutes and flipped to another sports radio channel where they began talking about the British Open and how Tiger would win it because he was the greatest golfer of all time.

It’s like Tiger is the Obama of the sports world. None dare may speak ill of him. Let’s hand him the British Open the way Obama was handed the Nobel Peace Prize - just for showing up. I didn’t start out as an ABT (Anybody But Tiger) golf watcher but I certainly am now.

[rabidralph]

By the same token, Danica Patrick and Tim Tebow are the Sarah Palin of the sports world. Danica is treated poorly, just because she is a woman and Tebow is denigrated because of his commitment to being a Christian in word and deed. Palin is derided both for being a woman and for being a Christian. I never thought the sports world would be so political.

[Red_Devil 232]

Even after reading this thread and knowing Phill won the Open I had to watch the whole ESPN broadcast of this event! Phill was solid at the end on a very difficult course! Good for him!

[OrangeHoof]

Well, I agree except Danica really is not talented enough for NASCAR and Tebow isn’t mechanically a very good quarterback so the critics do have some legit reasons to criticize. It’s just that some of the criticism seems very mean-spirited and over-the-top which is, I think, partly due to politics. Danica was too great a marketing magnet not to go NASCAR eventually.

Anyway, congratulations to Mickelson. He’s a true gentleman and remember how he stood up for California taxpayers last year before the media shouted him down?

[nascarnation]

Danica really is not talented enough for NASCAR

Danica is 27th in points roughly half way through the season in her rookie year in Cup.

I'm not a fan of hers but I'd say she's good enough to be a "journeywoman" driver.....

[rabidralph]

That’s my whole point. Legitimate criticism of their talents is one thing, but all the criticism has a not-so-veiled meanness to it, that any conservative recognizes when reading media accounts of conservative politicians.

[Colonel_Flagg]

"Mike Tirico is one of the worst sports announcers, and the worst golf announcer of any Major Tournaments. "

In terms of golf coverage there's CBS and there's everybody else. No one else even comes close to matching them.

That said, congrats to the only "Lefty" I can root for!

[TruthWillWin]

Great win for Phil! Can someone explain to me why they play the Open on a golf course with so much dead grass?

[Moonman62]

Great win for Phil! Can someone explain to me why they play the Open on a golf course with so much dead grass?

I heard Tom Weiskopf give an explanation that links are an area near the ocean where crops won't grow. Apparently grass doesn't do so well either. Anyway that's where the local folks had an available area to invent and play the game.

[jwalsh07]

Because super fast fairways are the ultimate test for pro’s. Weekend golfers? Lol, forget it.
Michelson was magnificent today. He conquered his personal demon. The Open. Next is the US OPEN!

[SamAdams76]

I like the game where you get to whack at a ball with a club and try to get it in a small hole in the minimum number of attempts.

I like to play this game in my bare feet but one course made me put shoes on and my game suffered as a result. Something about feeling the grass between my toes makes me hit the ball into the hole quicker but I guess some people don't like that.

[ErnBatavia]

except Danica really is not talented enough for NASCAR

I don't follow circlecars, but get the definite impression that "Junior" is only in the game because he's the 'son-of-the-father', and there's nostalgic nepotism going on.....am I anywhere near close?

[LongWayHome]

Demons is right ! If Phil could have ever got control of the mental part of his game he would have had 10 or 11 majors to his name by now & not 5. Still, I’m happy for the guy. I hope he gets another major or two before he retires.