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It’s Open Championship Week

by Jeff Skinner

As every major championship approaches there are those that would declare that “this is the best major” but each of the four majors all has their own special characteristics.  The Masters revels in its independent individuality and that nice little course they keep down there in Augusta.  The U.S. Open always insists on being “golf’s toughest test” and The PGA Championship always seems to draw the best fields.  This week’s Open Championship certainly has its own list of special qualities but the most important one right now is that it is here.  This is Open Championship Week.

For all of us American golf fans The Open offers us a special opportunity.  For those of us that can’t travel to Royal Lytham & St. Annes or that doesn’t have some magazine, paper, television network, website or rich uncle paying our way for a few weeks in Great Britain we get to watch the action early in the morning.

We should all be planning to first get out of work, second to watch all the action and then to go play a round of golf in the afternoon.  Is there anything better than an early morning major championship followed by eighteen holes of fun with your buddies?  I think not.

This is one of the reasons I truly love the Open Championship.  Since no one is willing to foot the bill for my overseas jaunt I’ll be content with some scones and tea while I watch those guys get frustrated by the bunkers and gorse.  Yes, I am absolutely having my scones at 5:00am when the ESPN coverage kicks in.  And then it’s out to the course for a little frustration of my own.

Here are a few links on The Open Championship that should keep us busy until tee off time.  And let’s get things straight:  It isn’t the British Open, it’s The Open Championship.  Our national championship is called the U.S. Open, the one that started in 1860 is The Open Championship.  They were here first, it’s the Open Championship, please.

Start with The Open.com, the official website of the Open.  Don’t miss the history section..it’s filled with great stuff.  Golf.com has a good preview, with Johnny Miller’s take on The Open.  Take a tour of Royal Lytham & St. Annes here.  Check out this Golf Digest link to little known facts about the Open Championship.  Brad Klein has an interesting piece on the over 200 bunkers that will drive the field crazy.  These Great Britain papers are sure to have plenty all week;  The GuardianThe Scotsman…and The Telegraph.

So it’s time to adjust your schedule and makes some tee times …and don’t forget the scones.

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