1. The Open not only gave us a new major champion in Henrik Stenson but also a new cult hero. Andrew “Beef” Johnston with his furry, wild looking beard, healthy appetite and likable personality was also a winner at Royal Troon. The fans and the media loved him. He was just fun to watch.
2. The par three Postage Stamp doesn’t need anymore publicity, it’s a legendary hole. And watching the best golfers in the world need all their skills and strategy to play it further proves that par threes don’t need to be 300 yards. Heck, that hole was just 100 yards and it was giving each player fits. Great Scot that’s a good hole.
3. I am all for the R&A’s practice of giving past Open Champions a place in the Open until they are sixty years old. One of the special things about the Open is seeing all those great (and not so great) past champs. But I can’t help but think that some anxious alternate got screwed by David Duval this year. Duval had practiced earlier in the week with a nagging elbow injury but elected to play. He shoots a first round 82 and withdraws citing his elbow. Come on, if he shoots 72 does he withdraw? At least Sandy Lyle who shot 85 has the guts to finish out the second round and take his missed cut like a pro. I like Duval but if his elbow was that bad don’t start and give that slot to an alternate. I know that he earned that exemption by winning this thing but that doesn’t me he can abuse it.
4. We all would like to do it but we pay for our equipment so most of us wouldn’t tomahawk their three-wood into the turf and break it like Rory McIlroy did. It was comical…to a point and Rory took some heat for it. At least he stills shows he has some fire left.
5. Rory earned plenty of points with me when he said that golf in the Olympics didn’t really matter to him and that he started in the game to win championships not to “grow the game.” Truer words were never spoken. No one gets in the game to grow it that’s a byproduct of their play and yes, golf in the Olympics doesn’t matter…to plenty of people.
6. We saw so many different and strange things at this Open: I watched Jason Day hit a shank. I saw Bubba Watson put one on the railroad tracks. We watched Brandt Snedeker bounce one off the TV tower. We watched dozen of golfers lose their ball in that nasty gorse.
7. And maybe most crazy of all we watched Henrik Stenson hit his atomic three-wood off the tee on eighteen. With a two shot lead maybe a more cautious play was in order as he pummeled it 308 yards and stopped a foot from rolling in a deep fairway bunker. Another few inches and it rolls in that bunker and maybe Phil Mickelson takes the Claret Jug.
8. I applaud the R&A for letting the players play and make some birdies. It was great golf on a great course that had opportunities for excellence and penalties for poor shots. And there were no rules controversies! Amen.
9. I know Nike and adidas have to be on the cutting edge to try and keep ahead of each other in the fashion market but can someone tell me what the hell were Rory McIlroy and Jason Day wearing as jackets. They looked like rejects from a SWAT Team or they had become lost on their way to their lifeboats. Man overboard!
10. A year ago Matthew Southgate was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After battling cancer and earning a spot in the Open he finished Sunday in a tie for twelfth place. There was more than one winner at Royal Troon. Absolutely amazing…good on ya Matthew.
11. So Phil Mickelson shoots a first round Open record 63 and a final round 65…and loses by three shots. Ouch. Phil’s total 267 score would have been good enough to win 141 of the previous 145 Open Championships. Talk about poor timing.
12. Jordan Spieth took the media to task during the Open for their “negative” reporting of his 2016 season. He only has himself to blame. 2015 was such an amazing season we have come to expect the same from Jordan. He’s right to a point, his season isn’t as bad as many would make out but let’s face it his game is still a bit off.
13. What the heck was Phil Mickelson doing with that binder clip on his hat? Couldn’t Callaway or KMPG or someone come up with a smaller hat or something. But than again Phil does have a big head so sizing that dome isn’t easy.
14. Stenson and Mickelson gave us a great weekend of golf and a Sunday to remember. This one ranks up there with the all time best finishes in the majors. Even Jack Nicklaus thought so. And that’s the highest praise anyone will ever receive in the game. The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon was one for the ages.
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Lot of laughs to #1 and #9.. so true 😀