Thoughts on Tiger Woods's push, Turnberry's conditions, golden oldies going low and more
Random musings from an intriguing first round of the Open Championship...
• Tiger Woods's nasty push into the burn on 16 is one of the worst shots I've seen him hit in a major. Ever. He followed with a great up-and-down to save bogey, and I'm not saying he can't still win, but that skanky short-iron at 16 was a pretty ominous sign. Tiger's untidy 71 is of a piece with his play in the majors so far this year. There has been an uncharacteristic inability to convert opportunities, and we've seen more loose shots than what we're used to. It has always been assumed that Tiger is immune to the human emotions felt by mere mortals but perhaps he is pressing just a bit, eager to win his first major since knee surgery and prove to the world, and himself, that he is whole again. Whatever it is, he needs to play a clean round on Friday or this Open is going to slip away in a hurry.
• I'm surprised no one shot sixtynothing, especially given the perfect conditions and Turnberry's history of yielding very low scores. At a major you don't often hear guys grumbling about missed opportunities after a 68 or 69 but that was the sound track to the first round.
• What to make of all the golden oldies populating the leader board? Watson, Calc and O'Meara all produced some vintage highlights, proving again that there is golf and there is links golf, and they are not nearly the same thing. The reason there have been so many repeat winners at the British is because the quirky, sometimes maddening linksland is an acquired taste. Many good players never quite get comfortable with the turf and the weather and the crazy shots and blind shots (to say nothing of the bad food, weak water pressure in the showers and the mold smell that defines most hotels here). The trio of old-timers on the leader board have the know-how and patience to finesse their way around the auld sod. Turnberry is also a good venue for the infirm because it's a position course off the tee, unlike, say, the Old Course, where the longest of the long can blow their drives over all the trouble. This week likes of Angel Cabrera and T. Woods and other ball-bashers are laying up short of all the pot bunkers, meaning that on many holes they're playing from roughly the same spot as a short hitter like O'Meara. Can he or Calc or Watson hang on till Sunday afternoon? I doubt it, but it's sure fun to have them around for a while.
• Round of the day might have been Ryo Ishikawa's 68, accomplished playing in front of his hero Tiger Woods and his nemeses--the hundred or so Japanese reporters that obsessively chronicle his every twitch. For his first spin around a true links course, to say nothing of the holy Open, the kid displayed admirable imagination and tremendous poise. Take that, Rory!
• David Howell made a lot of noise with a front-nine 31, and I'll be quietly rooting for him over the next three days. The droll Englishman is one of my favorite people in golf, possessing both good humor and an admirable perspective, both of which were born in Swindon, the old railroad town where he grew up. While trying to get his playing career off the ground Howell spent his winters working menial jobs, beginning with two years of installing rain gutters for the princely wage of 10 pounds a day. "I wasn't much use because I didn't like heights," he once told me. "I'd get to top of the ladder and hold on for dear life." By sheer pluck he played his way onto the Euro tour, and Howell loves to tell the story of his first tournament. "I was as unprofessional as you could possibly imagine," he says. "Baggy shirt, clubs all knackered, wooden driver with a frayed grip…" Standing on the first tee for the first round he overheard the following conversation between grizzled veteran Roger Vessels and his leathery caddie John McLaren.
"What chance has he got?" McLaren asked, eyeing Howell.
"You never know, but it doesn't look good," said Vessels.
• Best development of the first round was Boo Weekley's surprise appearance on the leader board with a sweet 67. He's been a non-factor since the Ryder Cup but I've always felt the British is Boo's best chance to win a major, because of his head-high ball flight and the fact that the slower, flatter greens deemphasize the importance of putting. The Scottish fans and Euro reporters love Weekley's good ol' boy schtick, and if he happens to take this tournament he'll be one of the most popular winners ever. But I'm going to remain loyal to my pre-tournament pick, Steve Stricker. At least for another day.
Posted by: Scott | Jul 17, 2009 5:13:16 PM
Tiger should take his millions, go home, and push some more weights. It seems all he wants to do is to see how hard he can hit the ball. The finesse is gone. It went the same place as his sportsmanship... In the rough with is ball.
Posted by: Mark in NY | Jul 17, 2009 7:17:08 AM
I'd say David needs his mommy to change his nappies. The load he's carrying in there has made him downright cranky.
Posted by: lefty53 | Jul 17, 2009 1:13:24 AM
David...dude, we get it, you dont like Tiger. Which he legally changed his name to FYI. I think one of the old guys may hang.
Posted by: Tom | Jul 16, 2009 10:48:11 PM
What's with all the harsh criticisms? Yeah, he had a bad round. Don't you ever have a bad streak? Give him a break. I'm just waiting to watch an impressive round tomorrow so he makes the cut and then some spectacular gameplay (even if it's ugly) to get into the top 10 if not win. That's what he does. We all see him do it over and over, that's how he played all this year, that's how he'll continue to play.
Also, the harsh remarks on his physical appearance? That's just plain mean. I'm sure someone could pick you apart as well. He's no dummy either. You don't get into stanford with athletics alone. No, he did not complete 4 years, but with 3 dominant collegiate years, ti was probably time to move on.
Yeah, he's gonna comment about the wind or something like that. When you hit a bad shot, don't you know what you did wrong? or misjudged?
Fact is that Tiger is the most brilliant player golf has witnessed so far. All the greats recognize that. If you don't want him to be your hero, he doesn't need to be, but it doesn't deserve insulting criticisms.
Posted by: David | Jul 16, 2009 10:37:05 PM
His name is ELDRICK! I guess he is ashamed of the name his own parents gave him so now he is a mighty 'tiger.' Anyway, nothing is real about this muppet from his fake smile to his treatment of his 'fans.' The field is getting younger and Eldrick has had, what?, three knee operations? Woods is soooooo old now. AND, he is not the greatest golfer ever, not by a long shot. The greatest golfer, ever, was Bobby Jones, who retired at age 28 and opened a law practise. Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer were all better as well. I've been to a few PGA tournaments and I can tell you that the most skilled golfer TODAY isn't even Woods, it is Phil Mickelson (he's also the smartest and very pleasant with his fans.) However, I don't think Phil is a 'killer' meaning he just lacks that knockout punch ability. It's mental, of course, but I think the man has a few more major wins in him. Basically, what I am trying to tell you neanderthal yanks is that Eldrick is classless and that there is a new, young and upcoming field that will soon be talking about the mighty 'tiger' in the past tense, so get over him, there are much better and more pleasant golfers on the tour and more are coming soon.
Posted by: David | Jul 16, 2009 10:22:09 PM
Tiger, or Eldrick which is his real name (why doesn't he use the name he was born with? Is he ashamed of it? Anyway, Tiger is sooooo over now. He hits his drives all over the map, is a bad sport, is aloof to his fans and the media in general and hasn't done anything impressive since he came back from that serious knee operation (how many of those has he had now? This is not the first one.) What keeps him out of trouble is the fact he is one of the best players in recent memort with an iron. He is also a good putter under pressure, not the best, but quite good (Ben Crenshaw was the best.) Anyhoo, for the sake of the future of golf, it is time to forget the bland, classless Eldrick and look at some of the great, good natured pro's currently playing. Bottom line, Eldrick has made his trillions (basically because he is 1/4 black and, for you yanks, that makes him a hero?!?!? (It should be mentioned that Woods is also nearly 3/4 ASIAN (but that never seems to get mentioned in your weird American media? Woods has absolutely no class and most golfers around the world are perplexed by your strange fascination with the wanker. Loodie, Loodie, where are the Nick Faldo's and Arnold Palmer's of today??? P.S. Eldrick, keep that Nike hat on at all times, that receeding hairline is just plain ugly to look at! AND......Tiger is NOT the best ever, the best ever was Bobby Jones. He won as many majors as Woods has now at age 28! Then he retired and opened up a law practise. If you ever get the chance, read 'Bobby Jones on Golf' it is Shakespeare compared to the crappy 'How I play Golf' by Eldrick, (which he couldn't even write on his own.) He should have just called that one 'Golf for dummies but i guess that name was already taken. Also, bravo to Tom Watson for a brilliant first round at the age of 59!!!
Posted by: John | Jul 16, 2009 10:06:03 PM
It boggles the imagination that this douche bag is still writing for SI. What an egotistical blowhard. Who cares who your favorite person is? Enough with all of the snide remarks about hotels, countries, people, etc. Go work for TMZ, Sucknuck.
Posted by: HardDraw | Jul 16, 2009 9:56:51 PM
I didn't see any of the action today but I have noticed Tiger whinning about the wind when he last played in Maryland.His shot was way off,the guy he was playing with Rod Pampling no complaints just hitting shots.But I remember when Mike Tyson couldn't handle an opponent he would complain to the ref.Something Tyson never did when he was a man among boys.Tiger seems to be showing the same whinny attitude.When he hits abad shot he is perplexed by the wind or some other excuse.I remember saying Woods ought to just hit shots & forget about the wind pattern.How much more sciencetific Woods wants to get his to his detriment.
Posted by: Mike | Jul 16, 2009 7:37:20 PM
I've got an idea for Tiger - play some golf. The guy plays what - a dozen tournaments a year and is very selective about those. He approaches majors like a boxer approaches a fight - 12 weeks of training for 4 rounds. And, I agree with Tim - when he isn't crushing the field, he's a whiny beeotch. I don't recall Arnie or Jack yelling GD in front of a gallery full of kids after they yank a drive.
Posted by: Doug | Jul 16, 2009 4:23:53 PM
Having heard MANY people say the same thing about the food in Scotland, including players-broadcasters-print media-friends (Scott Van Pelt said the same this week on ESPN radio), it's not so much a 'idiot musing' as it is an honest observation from an American point of view. I am sure that any Scot worth his kilt would be very disappointed to not find haggis or bangers and mash on menus over here.
Posted by: Ben | Jul 16, 2009 3:51:20 PM
Why send someone who obviously dislikes Scotland to cover a tournament most would give their left ear to go to?
Idiotic musings from an idiot.
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 16, 2009 2:15:30 PM
Perhaps the poor food will do the obese septics some good?
Posted by: Tim Herrera | Jul 16, 2009 12:51:39 PM
Give me a break with Tigers knee----he's proven he can with it now--his sportsmanship on the course when he is losing leaves much to be desired.