The Open Championship

[OSBF]

Tom Watson in the clubhouse at -5 is the first round leader. Tiger in 59th @ +1.

[blueballs]

OLD FARTS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NHwildEcat]

John Daly -2 under for his opening round...recovering drunks rule too!!

[89Hen]

I'm in a pool again for this one. Same rules, pick 6, four have to make the cut. Good news is I have Jiminez, bad news is I only have 3 at #64 or lower. xoopsx


Jimenez -6
Furyk -3
Harrington -1
Appleby +1
Mahan +2
Pampling +4

[93henfan]

Watson is folding like a cheap suit today. Back to -1 as I post.

Tiger is making no headway in the early going. Still +1. Conditions are a bit tough. Cool and windy.


An observation from watching the 2nd round this morning:

Is it a requirement that every Japanese golfer in the PGA (and John Daly tooxnonono2x) dress like a complete ass-clown?

[89Hen]

I'm in a pool again for this one. Same rules, pick 6, four have to make the cut. Good news is I have Jiminez, bad news is I only have 3 at #64 or lower. xoopsx


Jimenez -6
Furyk -3
Harrington -1
Appleby +1
Mahan +2
Pampling +4
F'in Mahan is toast. Harrington, Pampling and Appleby are all +3. At least I should have 5 make the cut.

[tribe_pride]

Watson is folding like a cheap suit today. Back to -1 as I post.

Tiger is making no headway in the early going. Still +1. Conditions are a bit tough. Cool and windy.


An observation from watching the 2nd round this morning:

Is it a requirement that every Japanese golfer in the PGA (and John Daly tooxnonono2x) dress like a complete ass-clown?

Looks like Watson took your comments to heart with birdies on 9 and 11 to move into a tie for 4th at -3.

Calcavecchia with a good day just finishing 1 off the lead and -1 for the day. A 49 year old teeing off in the final group on Saturday. Wonder if he can keep it up. Old guys doing ok so far.

Woods with a birdie to move to even par 5 off the lead by Marino?

Is the cut Top 60 (70) plus within 10 of the lead?

[93henfan]

Looks like Watson took your comments to heart with birdies on 9 and 11 to move into a tie for 4th at -3.

Calcavecchia with a good day just finishing 1 off the lead and -1 for the day. A 49 year old teeing off in the final group on Saturday. Wonder if he can keep it up. Old guys doing ok so far.

Woods with a birdie to move to even par 5 off the lead by Marino?

Is the cut Top 60 (70) plus within 10 of the lead?

Woods is the one doing the folding now. Double bogeys 10 to go +4. Cut line is +3.

[OSBF]

When's the last time Tiger missed a cut at a major?

[93henfan]

When's the last time Tiger missed a cut at a major?

2006 U.S. Open

He's only missed the cut five times in his pro career.

[93henfan]

And another double bogey for Woods on 13 to go to +7.

Time to call ahead and get the jet warmed up for the flight home tonight.

[93henfan]

Cut line has increased two strokes to +5 and Woods just birdied 16 to go +6, so there's still life for Tiger if he can birdie 17 or 18.

[CrackerRiley]

Tiger is going home for the weekend. He gave me two loses on Streak for the cash the past two days. xmadx

[UNHWildCats]

Tiger is going home for the weekend. He gave me two loses on Streak for the cash the past two days. xmadx
ditto

[tribe_pride]

Just saw that he birdied 17 to go +5 and move in a tie for 75. Is that good enough (within 10 strokes) or does he need to get in to the top 70 and birdie the 18th?

[93henfan]

Just saw that he birdied 17 to go +5 and move in a tie for 75. Is that good enough (within 10 strokes) or does he need to get in to the top 70 and birdie the 18th?

He got par on 18 to stay at +5. The current cut line is +4. He is mathematically, but not realistically alive. He needs seven of nine players under the cut line that are still playing to drop to +5. Those nine are:

Fdez-Castano +1 (17)
Weekley +1 (12)
Howell +2 (16)
Molder +3 (12)
Mayfair +3 (11)
Baird +4 (15)
Edfors +4 (15)
Trahan +4 (14)
Rock +4 (11)

Tiger can go ahead and get on the plane.

[UNHWildCats]

He got par on 18 to stay at +5. The current cut line is +4. He is mathematically, but not realistically alive. He needs seven of nine players under the cut line that are still playing to drop to +5. Those nine are:

Fdez-Castano +1 (17)
Weekley +1 (12)
Howell +2 (16)
Molder +3 (12)
Mayfair +3 (11)
Baird +4 (15)
Edfors +4 (15)
Trahan +4 (14)
Rock +4 (11)

Tiger can go ahead and get on the plane.
those three have atleast temporarily dropped to +5 or worse

[NHwildEcat]

Woods is killing me in fantasy golf...

[NHwildEcat]

No more Tiger this weekend...

[OSBF]

No more Tiger this weekend...

there go the tv ratings

[blueballs]

there go the tv ratings

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

[proasu89]

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

It should certainly be one of the greatestxthumbsupx

[tribe_pride]

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

Watson won't bring back the majority of the tv fans that Woods would bring. A lot of people don't know who Watson is. Him being more competitive will get some more people to watch but not that many.

Miracle on Ice would still be a bigger upset but this would be a big one.

[AlphaSigMD]

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

It doesn't seem like an "upset" to me, because that's not something that I think of outside a match play. Since golf is a one vs. all in individual competition, there is no favorite that nears even a 50% chance of winning a tournament. Tiger Woods, for example, as dominant as he is, has won approx 25% of the major tournaments he has entered.

Also, it's tom watson, he already has 8 majors and 5 british opens to his credit.

I think accomplishment would be a better word for it. At 59, if Tom Watson were to win the British Open, it would be one of the greatest individual sporting accomplishment's in history. I'd say it's right up there with Francis Ouimet winning the 1913 U.S. Open.

[93henfan]

It's pretty clear to me that Watson is juicing. xsmiley_wix

[93henfan]

You don't go 26 years and then all of a sudden start winning majors again. There are rumors on the tour that Watson was seen this offseason in the company of some former BALCO associates. I mean, look at this guy. Something very fishy is going on. His chest and neck are enormous for a 59 year old:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/2008_Open_Championship_-_Tom_Watson.jpg

xsmiley_wix

[ngineer]

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

Would certainly rank up there as an 'amazin' feat, akin the Amazins of 1969..xnodx

[chantster]

I wouldn't be so sure about that, as long as Watson stays atop the leaderboard the ratings will be good... which brings me to this question:

If Watson somehow holds on and wins the Claret (not named for Maurice, thank you) Jug for the record tying sixth time just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, will that be considered the greatest upset in the history of sports?

Just like last year with Greg Norman at the age of 53. I was glued to the TV and cheered hard for the Shark.

Watson is a class act. He has always had a great swing. Just hope his putter makes it thru two more rounds. If the weather gets nasty, this will favor Watson. He is the best I have ever seen play in foul weather. Three of his 5 British Open titles were played in some of the worst conditions possible.

59 years old, two months shy of his 60th b'day, had hip replacement surgery only 9 months ago. I wouldn't call it an upset, but if Watson wins, it would be one of the biggest victories ever in pro sports.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Of all the tourney's, The Open is the easiest one to imagine an older winner. This course doesn't play that long and as long as the wind is manageable, <25, a crafty vet who's still a solid ball striker can compete. Watson knows how to play this style of golf better than any player in the field. If the weekend comes down to grinding i like his chances. However, if the conditions either ease up or just get too crazy then i don't see him holding on. I honestly don't care that Tiger missed the cut. I'm a golf fan in general and i think this tourney is shaping up to be more entertaining than the US Open. I'm usually not a British Open fan.

[89Hen]

Watson won't bring back the majority of the tv fans that Woods would bring. A lot of people don't know who Watson is.
Are you kidding? Maybe those under 30, but I really don't think there is a big under 30 crowd watching golf on TV. Anyone over 30 certainly knows who Watson is and would prefer seeing him win this week over Tiger 100x over. I am watching right now and will be glued if he stays at the top. If Tiger were leading, I'd probably not have the TV on. xnodx

[chantster]

Achievement of a Lifetime.

Tom Watson. 59 years, 317 days.

Leading THE OPEN heading into the final round.

Incredible.

Last year, I didn't think Greg Norman could hold it together. But, with Watson, I really feel he can win it.

Tomorrow calls for 15-20 mph winds again and afternoon rain. Perfect weather for Watson.

Last Major Won: 1983 British Open

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44825000/jpg/_44825063_watson.jpg

[tribe_pride]

Are you kidding? Maybe those under 30, but I really don't think there is a big under 30 crowd watching golf on TV. Anyone over 30 certainly knows who Watson is and would prefer seeing him win this week over Tiger 100x over. I am watching right now and will be glued if he stays at the top. If Tiger were leading, I'd probably not have the TV on. xnodx

That's what i mean (at least about the under 30 crowd). The average young sports fan doesn't know Watson (not talking about the golf fan who would watch anyways).

You may not watch if Woods were leading but the tv ratings would be better if Woods were in contention than if Watson were leading (and he is great news). That said, I like you will be watching hoping to see a Watson victory and will be more excited by that.

[DSUrocks07]

That's what i mean (at least about the under 30 crowd). The average young sports fan doesn't know Watson (not talking about the golf fan who would watch anyways).

You may not watch if Woods were leading but the tv ratings would be better if Woods were in contention than if Watson were leading (and he is great news). That said, I like you will be watching hoping to see a Watson victory and will be more excited by that.

This is how I know Watson

http://www.consoleclassix.com/info_img/PGA_Tour_96_SNES_ScreenShot1.jpg

xsmiley_wix

[AlphaSigMD]

I just think that the entire Open has been very interesting. For as much as Tirico has stated that there was not much going on, the final pairing today was quite a treat to watch.

Bogey's, Double's, Birdies and Eagles all in the same round between those two guys - all on a day where par was a very good score. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Plus, no tiger or lefty. Don't get me wrong, I think they are great players and great for the game, but it's nice to see some emphasis on other players as well.

[Gil Dobie]

I'll be watching tomorrow to see if the best links player ever can win another Open xthumbsupx

A local sports guy keeps saying Watson can't win, he's got a 75 left in him :(

[Gil Dobie]

1974 Sam Snead finished 3rd in the PGA at age 62, this would top Snead's performance if Watson were to win.

[tribe_pride]

Wow. This 5th hole for Fisher is painful to watch.

[93henfan]

Quad-bogey for Fisher. Watson just got a gift.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Wow. This 5th hole for Fisher is painful to watch.


Quad-bogey for Fisher. Watson just got a gift.

Don't hear the proverbial "snowman" mentioned often on a PGA broadcast! ;) :D

Westwood makes an eagle to take the lead at -4.

[tribe_pride]

Can he win it? 2 way tie for the lead with Westwood who has a long par putt and Watson just off the fairway.

[chantster]

Watson ahead by one.

Can he hang on?

[chantster]

CLUTCH putt on 16 to stay one ahead.

Can he really win it??


Westwood set for an eagle putt on 17......

Sink buries birdie putt on 18 to tie Watson. Leader in the clubhouse at -2.

[tribe_pride]

Watson should be able to birdie 17 by basically 2 putting. Westwood in a bunker on 18 and will have trouble getting to the green

Cink tied with those 2 in the clubhouse.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

If Tom had just a little luck, that approach shot would have stayed on the green and given him an excellent chance at eagle. Still, he made birdie and has a one shot lead going to the 18th tee.

[chantster]

Tap in Birdie for Watson on 17.

What a shot by Westwood on 18th to give himself a chance.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Westwood hit an incredible shot out of that bunker to give himself a good chance to par 18.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Should have also mentioned that Westwood has a long birdie putt to tie Watson.

[tribe_pride]

And Watson hits it in the fairway while Westwood has a long putt for par

Tom's to lose

[chantster]

Watson splits 18 fwy.

175 to pin.


Westwood runs it by....

Watson's championship for the taking.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Watson drives down the middle on 18, Westwood blows his birdie by the hole.

[tribe_pride]

And an American will win the title.

Watson on 18 at -3
Cink in at -2
Westwood and Wood in at -1

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

I recall the first time I stood on an 18th tee and needed a par for a 79. Proceeded to hook one deep into the woods. Made a par with the provisional for 81. xnodx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx Anyone who has played golf knows the internal pressure this fricken game generates!!

[chantster]

Dammit!

Goes off the back....he hit it pure

Need an up and down for the win.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Loved the comment about how he nuked an eight iron!! Did you see the interview with the young lanky Brit (sorry forgetting his name right now) about the 210 yard nine iron he hit on the same hole?

[chantster]

Gonna putt it...

Oh man..he runs it by, has a ten footer for the win...

Man, I am, so nervous...please make it

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Dammit!

Goes off the back....he hit it pure

Need an up and down for the win.

Just like 17, right on line and rolls off the back 1" into the rough.

[tribe_pride]

How would you like to be Cink right now. Watson makes it, you get second. Watson misses, you have everyone in the world rooting against you.

That said, would love to be in his position (love to be in Watson's more"

[chantster]

Straight putt...

For the win... 6th championship title..

*****!


Playoff.

Damitt!!!!!
Man, he stabbed that putt.

[UNHWildCats]

How does the playoff work for the open... hole by hole today or full round tomorrow?

[tribe_pride]

4 hole playoff 1, 16, 17, 18

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Is there a smilie for an Achilles Heel? Putting sure has been for Tom, but that's really nothing new, been that way for years now.

Regardless of how this turns out, an absolutely incredible performance by Watson.

[AlphaSigMD]

I've never rooted for anyone as hard as I am for Tom Watson right now. This has been an amazing tournament.

[bodoyle]

How does the playoff work for the open... hole by hole today or full round tomorrow?

4 holes and then if still tied in total score they keep playing 18.

[tribe_pride]

I was wrong on the holes. It's 5, 6, 17, 18

[ISUMatt]

Cink up after 1 hole

[AlphaSigMD]

Come on Tom, turn it around!

[AlphaSigMD]

That's what I'm talking about...spectacular par save on the 2nd playoff hole

[bulldog10jw]

Tom may have just lost the tournament on 17.

[93henfan]

OLD FARTS DROOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIFY.

But seriously, what a valiant effort by Watson in this tournament. It's a shame he misses the five-year exemption. It would have been fun to see him playing all the biggies again.

As the ESPN blogger said, Stewart Cink is about to be the most hated man in the Universe.

[UMass922]

Well, this is going to be an anticlimactic final hole. Congrats to Cink, but this is one of those sporting events that's going to be better remembered for who lost than for who won. What an incredible run Watson made at it this week.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Shouldn't be any hating on Cink. Tom just unraveled in the playoff. Almost like he knew he had to win it in regulation, didn't have enough left in the tank to go head to head in a playoff.

Dang golf gods, why couldn't have the Watson shots into the green on #17 or #18 (in regulation) have taken just a roll or two less. Especially on #18 when it would have given him an easy two putt rather than a challenging one.

BTW, the talk should also be about how well Cink played today on the back nine and the playoff. That was a great birdie putt he made on #18 to get to -2.

[CrackerRiley]

Looks like Tom's having trouble holding it together on the way to the 18th green. Brought a tear to my eye.

[AlphaSigMD]

It's a shame to see him play so well only to lose it by a foot on the approach shot on 72nd hole. He blew the putt to win straight out and completely self-deconstructed in the playoff, but wow...he has nothing to be ashamed of. It was history-making tournament regardless - anyone who was going to remember than he won the Open at 59 is also going to remember just what an accomplishment he had in this tournament.

[chantster]

Congrats to Stewart.

He deserved to win the Open. He made it happen on the back nine (-4) to get in the playoffs.

Even if Watson played well in the playoffs, I don't think he could of matched Stewart shot for shot. Stewart has been in been sharp all day.

[Gil Dobie]

Congrats to Cink, Watson blew his chance from his approach shot on the 72nd hole on.

[beauvighn]

Congrats to Stewart. I'm sure he would have rather it be anyone else but Watson in the playoff, but it is what it is. This is a definite career changing win for him. Congrats.