The R&A ensures The OPEN is the most accessible of the four major championships by using thirty nine separate qualification criteria in setting the field of one hundred fifty players. First of these many roads to The OPEN is status as a past champion with an age limit up to sixty.
Sixteen players are in the field by way of at least once hoisting the Claret Jug. Some have acquitted themselves well while most have struggled, with eight missing the cut and one withdrawal after a first round 82.
That WD belongs to David Duval, champ back in 2001, who lost his desire and golf swing shortly after achieving his one and only major triumph.
Four of the past champs who missed the cut were members of the post 50 over the hill gang. Todd Hamilton, Mark Calcavecchia, John Daly and Sandy Lyle were all unable to recapture some major magic that they each had earlier in their careers.
Also missing the weekend play were couple of big name players that still command respect and certainly possess the skills to contend in major championships, especially The Open. The Big Easy Ernie Els was one shot over the cut line at +5. Els had the luck of the draw on his side and posted an even par 71 on Thursday but couldn’t keep the momentum going on Friday as he fell to a 76 in round two. He did have the best seat in the house to watch Philly Mick wield his magic as he was paired with Phil and Lee Westwood for the first to rounds.
Sweet swinging Louis Oosthuizen who smoked the filed by 7 shots at St. Andrews in 2010 ballooned to a +12 on Friday, during the worst of the fine Scottish weather, after an opening 71.
Other missed cut past champs were ’97 champ, Justin Leonard, ’03 champ Ben Curtis and Sandy Lyle , who was champion golfer of the year way back in 1985.
The oldest gent in the field made the cut at +2 but Mark O’Meara blew up with a 78 today and sits out of contention at tie 73rd with a +8.
In reality, of the six remaining past champs still playing, only one has a chance to claim the gold medal and Claret Jug.
Phil the Thrill sits one shot off the lead of Henrik Stenson at -11 after leading the championship after 36 holes.
Defending champion, Zach Johnson, is the only other of this group in red numbers at -1. Defending this title is a rare and difficult feat, last accomplished by Tiger in 2005-2006.
Rory McIlroy, Paddy Harrington (a two time winner), Darren Clarke and Paul Lawrie are still playing but have no chance at a victory.
So only one of sixteen past champions is in the mix for this most coveted of golf’s major championships. But I bet they’re all happy to have made the trip and have already booked accommodations for The OPEN in 2017.
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