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.
My dad won a fair few quid backing Tom when he won his 5 opens, it would have been fantastic if Tom could have won it last year.
Interesting that they blew the horn as TiHgHer was on the first hole. I guess his caddy whined about playing conditions. I’m surprised they were allowed to finish. Usually rain/wind and TiHgHer on the course means automatic weather delay as Sergio Garcia has indicated in the past. A few other pros made mention of it today as well
“R&A is very reluctant to suspend play because of the winds.”
Yeah, that suspension of play struck me as really unusual. I saw a PGA event where a player hit into the teeth of the wind on a par 3 with a driver on a 150 yard hole - the ball fell short! Probably 30 years ago.
Some day 2 thoughts.....
In a perfect world they probably should have pulled the players off the course maybe half an hour earlier than they did. There were others who had issues on 7 and 11 before Dufner(local guy)did. And maybe they could have waited a little longer before continuing.
That being said the last half hour of play was pretty special, and we would have never seen it had there been a longer delay. With Tiger almost acing 18 and the emotional walk of Tom brought the proper end to a loooooong day!!
So what do we have in store for tomorrow. Leaders are going to back up no matter how much the wind blows or doesn’t blow. We’re apt to see more 76’s than 68’s on scorecards from the last few groups. So anyyone who sits within 6-9 shots of Louie has a legit chance to do this without lighting up the course.
Tiger certainly is in position to win but will the new putter let him down?
Graeme McDowell is validating his US Open and has to be a serious contender to win also.
Imagine where John Daly is if instead of nearly 70 putts through 2 rounds it was closer to 60.
We shall see.....
Saturday...Daly wearing the Begal Tiger pants with a hot ciggy in his hand and a hot girl on his arm...it would be nice to see him do well.
Mick’s on the green and misses a putt again.
I was up really early, 4AM, and FORGOT golf was on...DUH.
Plenty of coverage on ESPN today and then tape later...
I cant believe I’m flying tomorrow for business and will MISS the final day...
Doesn’t look SO windy thus far...
I got up to watch it on ABC. Then I found out that it's not being shown live on ABC, but ESPN instead. Boy, was I POd. We're on our boat - which clearly doesn't have cable. We have internet access but it's barely at 1mbps, so the ESPN internet feed looks crappy.
I can't understand why in the world would they not show a major golf championship on a broadcast network.
maybe you can watch on the in-flight entertainment system.
And I think Ocho Cinco set him up with them pants. Sunny and nice then 5 minutes later everyone’s running for cover....
Is it me or are most having problems with makeable putts?
I’m still trying to figure that one out too. Maybe TOTUS demanded more kids shows to help Moochelle out with the kiddies.....
Garcia just made an eagle but couldn't see the ball go in from his angle. Looked at the crowd reaction and said wow to go 3 under.
Had some good history on this course earlier.
Originally was a two 11 hold course. Total 22 holes.
Thus the reason for so many double greens.
Time for the cream to rise to the top.
But Henrick might have something to say about that. I still can’t imagine scores holding up this low, then again the weather isn’t bad.
Boy Phil had a great chance to stick his nose in this thing, until 16.....
I’m hoping Lehman makes a charge.. Old man, my foot,, he’s only 51 .. Calcavecchia is still there too.. he has 2 open titles.. glad to see the sun shining, now if the wind would ease up a bit..
http://golf.fanhouse.com/leaderboard/
Can someone tell me why Graeme McDowell is not listed with a country?
Don’t know why. Sounds pretty stupid though. Graeme accepted the 5 year invite to the PGA Tour so we’ll be seeing plenty of him. And why haven’t we seen any shots from him yet.
Great leaderbord indeed. The am Jin looking impressive. Calc, not so much though. OUCH!!!
Louis hasn’t blinked, yet. Still rock solid.
And Tiger blows up again after a 3 putt. Complete with 4 letter beauties...
They just showed the leaderboard with the Irish flag next to Graeme..
still havn’t seen a shot from him tthough
They just showed the leaderboard with the Irish flag next to Graeme..
still havn’t seen a shot from him tthough
YELLING FAN: Go in the hole!!!
PETER ALLISS: OH SHUT UP!!!
FREAKING CLASSIC!
No rain again. Windy but not real bad.
Beautiful TV coverage.
But of course! I see Tiger’s experiment with the method putter lasted exactly 3 days. Sometimes it’s best to leave things the way they are....
Yep, beautiful day. Windy so they have think their way around.
And John Daly’s pants score a 10/10
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