It's all about the course

As I tap this out, the first groups are off in the Open Championship and, predictably, the wind is blowing and there are a few drops of rain falling. It's expected to be a steady diet of 30 kph gusts all day.

This Open will be all about the elements. If the wind blows as is has for the past few days of practice rounds, then you can throw all the names up in the air and guess at the winner.

Royal St. George's is a course that can reward good play but it can also hand out healthy doses of good and bad breaks. Nothing wrong with that; it's links golf.

But it does tend to frustrate the players and that makes this low on their list of favourite Open courses. When asked once where he would rank this in the list of eight courses on the rota, Steve Elkington once famously answered: "10th."

This year, the R&A has tried to take steps to make the course more palatable. It has wisely taken out a lot of heavy rough just off the fairway that was there in 2003. That's allowed the players to get a bit more creative on second shots. Or perhaps it's better to say forced them to be more creative. Whatever the thinking, it's drawn lots of praise from the players.

But even the R&A won't be able maintain Mother Nature. If the winds come in off the English coast as expected, anything can happen. While watching Phil Mickelson play a practice round this week, I saw him come up short hitting a driver full-out on a par 3, the 243-yard 11th. And not just a little short, but a good 15 yards. On the next hole, Jeff Overton couldn't even get the ball to the fairway off the tee. That's the kind of stuff you see here which makes it fun for the fans and not so much fun for the players. Of course the No. 1 goal for any player is to stay out of those fairway bunkers which are so, so penal.

On the putting surfaces, it won't get any easier. The greens at Royal St. George's have more humps and rolls on them than any of the other Open sites and with the strong winds, it becomes a challenge to stay still and keep the putts on line. Martin Kaymer told me yesterday that when the wind is up, a four-footer can be blown off line six to eight inches.

That's why I think it's going to be tough to pick a winner here. You'll need good play and good breaks and, more than anything, patience. You might end up with a golfer who has a great short game to master recovery shots (Luke Donald) or one with lots of Open and links experience (Lee Westwood) or it might be any one of about 120 other players who get a break and couple it with some strong shot-making. Yes, even John Daly. Remember last time around here it was Ben Curtis who shocked the world with his win.

So good luck to all; the fun is already underway.

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It is all about the course

As I tap, the first groups are disabled in the Open Championship and, as expected, the wind and there are a few drops of rain falling. Expected to be a steady diet of 30 kph ripple throughout the day. This opening will be all about. For the last few days of practice rounds, if the wind blows, as it is, then you can discard all the names in the atmosphere and guess the winner.

The Royal St George's is a process which can reward you good game, but it can also deal with healthy doses of good and bad breaks. Nothing wrong with this-of links golf. But this tends to discourage players and that makes this low on the list of favorites, open courses. When asked once, when he will rank it in the list of eight courses in Rota, Steve Elkington once is famous answer: "tenth."This year, the R and A tried to take measures to make it more palatable in the process.

Wisely took several heavy rough just off the fairway that was there in 2003. That allowed him to become a little more creative for second shots and the players. Or, it might be best to say forced to be more creative. Whatever the thinking that has designed lots of praise from players. But even the R and A mother nature will not be maintained. If the winds coming off the coast of the English, as expected, anything can happen. While watching Phil Mickelson play a practice round this week, I saw him end up short by hitting a driver full-out, at the same level 3, 243-yard 11th. And not just a little short, but a good 15 yards. On the next hole, Jeff Overton and still couldn't get the ball in the fairway off the tee. This is the kind of things you can see here that makes it fun for the fans and not so fun for players. Course objective. 1 for each player is to stay away from these locations are both watercourses Penal Code. On surfaces, it won't get easier.

The Greens at Royal St. George's are more enabled mechanisms and rolls than any of the other sites openly and with strong winds, it becomes a challenge to remain still and to keep the putts on the line. Martin Kaymer told me yesterday that when the wind is a four-footer can move away from the line six to eight inches. for this reason I think it would be difficult to pick a winner here. You will need a good game and a good holiday and, more than anything, patience.

You may end up with an Iraq that is a great short game that main recovery shots (Luke Donald) or with lots of links and restricted experience (Lee Westwood) or can be any of around 120 other players who can take a break and the couple with some strong shot-making. Yes, even John Daly. Remember the last time around here was Ben Curtis who shocked the world with the victory. So good luck to all the fun is already in progress.
View the original article here