Thinking Out Loud at The Open Championship

by Jeff Skinner

For awhile there I thought we had a battle of The Young Guns brewing. It turned into an exhibition of The One Gun. Rory was magnificent.

Dustin Johnson was true to his major championship form again today. But instead of one big blow up hole he spread it over three straight birdies to take him out of the mix. 

Rory’s buddy Darren Clarke shoots low round of the day with Jordan Spieth both with a five under 67. See what losing fifty pounds can do for a golfer.

The Open Championship has succumbed to technology. Cell phones have been there for awhile but now they have those digital scoreboards all around the course. It’s a great move. Maybe the USGA will take notice.

I, like many were disappointed by the two tee start. It was the first time ever at the Open and the right thing to do. Safety of the fans and the golfers had to be considered. And an additional benefit is I can get on the course a few hours earlier.

The line of the day. Judy Rankin calling notoriously slow Jim Furyk’s putt, “He wasted little time with this one.” Curtis Strange shot back, “That’ so unlike Jim Furyk.”

Is Royal Liverpool near Sherwood Forest? I thought I saw Robin Hood out there…or was that Rickie Fowler.

Fowler will be in the final group of a major for the second straight time. Tied for second at Pinehurst and tied for fifth at Augusta. Butch Harmon is the god of swing coaches.

One side effect of the early start is that I couldn’t get my Guinness on so early. Oh well, I’ll make up for it later.

With no wind at Liverpool the old girl has been defenseless, except for those “vacuum cleaner bunkers.” Vacuum cleaner because they seem to just suck the ball right in.

Someone at ESPN or the BBC or Skysports, whoever was calling the shots deserves some credit for actually not showing Tiger Woods all morning.

Tom Watson isn’t threatening for the lead but the 64 year old icon has amazed us by being around for the weekend. It’s not links golf or the Open without Watson. Maybe there’s still a bit of magic left in him for next year at St. Andrews.