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The 150th Anniversary British Open Championship: Preview (The Old Course at St Andrews)
The Open Championship ^ | 7/14/10

Posted on 07/14/2010 7:38:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

The golf course created by nature and little changed by man, where the game has been played continuously for more than 600 years, is ready to face the latest challenge to its integrity by the game’s leading players armed with the very finest technological advances. The Old Course at St Andrews is about to host its 28th Open exactly 150 years since the Championship was first played at Prestwick in 1860 and it poses just as stern a test now as it did when hickory shafts and balls of solid gutta percha were the latest must-buy golf gear.

No lesser an authority on the subject than Tiger Woods, winner of the last two Opens at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, endorses that view. “Players have gotten longer, equipment has changed but this golf course is still relevant and it can be very difficult,” he said after an early practice round. “It is because of the angles and the wind. There is so much movement out there on the fairways and greens that you have really got to hit the ball well and lag putt well. That’s where its brilliance lies.”

And if wind is the catalyst that awakes the ancient links there is likely to be no shortage of drama this week. As players headed out in final practice the north-easterly wind was gusting off the grey waters of the North Sea to 30 miles and hour. If the forecasts are to be believed, it will continue to blow from the same direction until the conclusion of the Championship, slowly reducing in strength by Sunday afternoon.

Despite his absence from the game in the early part of the year and his uncertain form since, Tiger Woods remains favourite to become the first player to win three in a row over the Old Course. But a highly motivated field of international players from more than 20 countries will be pressing their own claims to golfing nirvana by winning the game’s oldest Championship at the Home of Golf.

The nine-strong Japanese group in The Open starting field is led by 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa who startled the golfing world when he won a Japan Golf Tour event while still a 15-year-old amateur. The other Japanese contenders are Hiroyuki Fujita; Yuta Ikeda; Katsumasa Miyamoto; Hirofumi Miyasi; Ryuici Oda; Koumei Oda; Toru Taniguchi; and Shunsuke Sonada, the high-scool golf team-mate and close friend of Ishikawa.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: britishopen; golf; standrews
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Wet and windy today and tomorrow..

Coverage on Espn starts at 5am ET Thursday morn

1 posted on 07/14/2010 7:38:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Despite his absence from the game in the early part of the year and his uncertain form since, Tiger Woods remains favorite to become the first player to win three in a row over the Old Course.

why???

2 posted on 07/14/2010 7:56:08 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: NormsRevenge

My local fishwrapper (owned by the NY Slimes) had an article today by AP National Writer Paul Newberry. The title is “’People’s champ’ eyes an Open title.” It’s about Phil Mickelson.

From the title, I guess Newberry is saying that Michelson is the white people’s champion since he casts aspersions on Tiger Woods in the article.


3 posted on 07/14/2010 7:58:48 PM PDT by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Chode

He has won it the last two times it was played at this course.

The weather looks to blow all the players around so were he to do it again, it would be quite the feat.


4 posted on 07/14/2010 7:59:12 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: Chode

Rooting for Big John, but would bet “Field”.


5 posted on 07/14/2010 7:59:59 PM PDT by steve8714 (Our long national nightmare is over. We can resume our proper disdain for soccer.)
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To: Chode

“why???”

Since you have apparently been in Saturn or Uranus for the past decade, Tiger Woods is the active leader in career wins and closing on the all-time lead though he’s not even 35 yet.


6 posted on 07/14/2010 8:01:28 PM PDT by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Rembrandt

I saw the title , didn’t read the piece, anything to grab readers attention I guess..

Phil has his work cut out for him, no matter who is pulling for him. This course equalizes the field. ya either hit good shots or.. ya don’t make the cut.


7 posted on 07/14/2010 8:02:09 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: Rembrandt

Yeah and in almost every tourney last year against Phil - Phil shot lower scores. Tiger is still a POS.


8 posted on 07/14/2010 8:17:46 PM PDT by Frantzie (Democrats = Party of I*lam)
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To: NormsRevenge
“Players have gotten longer, equipment has changed but this golf course is still relevant and it can be very difficult,...”


Some of the latest in Japanese golf technology will be featured.

9 posted on 07/14/2010 8:21:34 PM PDT by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus)
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To: Frantzie

“Yeah and in almost every tourney last year against Phil - Phil shot lower scores. Tiger is still a POS.”

Oh, that must explain why Tiger is ranked behind Phil. Thanks for the explanation.


10 posted on 07/14/2010 8:28:48 PM PDT by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: NormsRevenge; Rembrandt
past performance is no guarantee of future earnings, or something like...

seems it's been a rough year for him to still be the favorite to me

if he does win, i think i'd be the game of his life

11 posted on 07/14/2010 8:36:51 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: steve8714
Go-John
12 posted on 07/14/2010 8:42:24 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Chode

“..if he does win, i think i’d be the game of his life..”

I agree that if Phil wins, it’d be the game of his life. After all, he missed the cut badly in the Scot Open last week. What a duffer.


13 posted on 07/14/2010 8:50:30 PM PDT by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: NormsRevenge

awesome...I looked everywhere for this thread and found it in the oil spill thread.......logical......but not really....lol


14 posted on 07/15/2010 12:33:23 AM PDT by advertising guy (FUDD FAN called me a prince, not you !)
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To: Frantzie

you sure revel in callin Tiger a POS....to me you get plum assinine doin it too......actually you make me sick to my stomach


15 posted on 07/15/2010 12:36:06 AM PDT by advertising guy (FUDD FAN called me a prince, not you !)
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To: advertising guy

Good. You must be some stooge who does ad campaigns for Nike. Their gold stuff is also a POS. Hit one of their 50 compression golf balls and whole out a pitch from 40 yards and hit an approach iron from 140 yards within a foot of the pin. Not bad but the rest of their stuff is junk.


16 posted on 07/15/2010 5:04:15 AM PDT by Frantzie (Democrats = Party of I*lam)
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To: Rembrandt

Go look at the scores Tiger fan boy. Is Eldrick gonna throw clubs and swear like he did last year at The Open then miss the cut?


17 posted on 07/15/2010 5:10:42 AM PDT by Frantzie (Democrats = Party of I*lam)
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Well the chase is on...ESPN coverage has been going since 1am with live TV.

McIlroy at -9 and a gaggle T -6...Tiger too. Phil goes off at 0920Eastern.

It’s wide open depending on weather and who’s got the best mental attitude.

I’d love to see Tiger and Phil in the final pairing...


18 posted on 07/15/2010 5:53:47 AM PDT by GRRRRR (He'll NEVER be my President, FUBO!)
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To: GRRRRR

Yep, woke up early flipping through the channels. Forgot the first round is today. McIlroy nearly shot a record 62! How ‘bout Daly’s round of 66? Hope he does well. Should be a great Open!


19 posted on 07/15/2010 6:00:05 AM PDT by poobear
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To: poobear

Oh yeah, Daly would be a ton of fun to see do well. Tiger drops a stroke on 17 by missing a three footer and pars 18 after misreading the break...

Luckily I have light work schedule today and tomorrow so I can “work” and watch at the same time.


20 posted on 07/15/2010 6:03:51 AM PDT by GRRRRR (He'll NEVER be my President, FUBO!)
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