Now that everyone has had a chance to wind down after one of the most memorable final days of any Major, Bag Chatter takes a look at the winners and losers at The Open. Those who will look back fondly on 4 days of demanding golf and those who were washed, blown or scoured away.
The Winners
Padraig Harrington
Obviously, the winner of any major championship is going to walk away a happy man but for one of golf’s genuinely nice guys, the transition from major-winner to multiple-major-winner seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Also possessor of the shot of the championship with that 5 wood on the 17th to wrap up the event and make the 18th nothing more than an easy stroll.
Greg Norman
The Great White Shark showed that he still has the teeth for the game. At 53 years old and not even playing on a regular basis, he bottled lightning and for 3 and a half days electrified the field. That he couldn’t complete with the younger men down the home straight can not be held against him.
Ian Poulter
Coming second to Harrington means that he can no longer be seen as being ‘more mouth than trousers’ – tough to believe given the type of trousers normally worn by the Englishman – and helped silence those critics who took his "it’s only me and Tiger" comments the wrong way.
Anthony Kim
Two PGA titles this year heralded the emergence of a real talent but the way he played a tough Links course in true Links weather showed that this kid has a complete game. A little more polish on a true gem.
Chris Wood
The winner of the Silver medal. Royal Birkdale has a habit of producing amateurs that go on to become multiple winners on Tour. The pain that he would have earned almost £170,000 (about $340,000) had he been a professional will be lessened by the sure knowledge that when he does, that amount will be a drop in the ocean compared to his likely earnings on Tour.
Royal Birkdale
A real links course played in real links weather, even with the contentious 17th green. Here was an example of a course that was in perfect harmony with the elements and remained playable despite heavy rain and howling winds, showing that a course does not have to be hugely long or have glassy fast greens to be a true test for the world’s best. It demanded the full variety of shot-making skills and if you didn’t have them in the bag, you should have stayed at home.
The Losers
KJ Choi
Mister Consistency the first 3 days, Mister Inconsistency on the last day. Starting the last day only 2 off the lead, this US PGA stalwart had a nightmare start with 6 bogeys in the first 8 holes. A quadruple-bogey 8 at the last summed up the disappointment.
Phil Mickelson
While he never seems to do himself justice at The Open, this was a chance for this multiple major winner to take advantage of Tiger Woods’ absence but an opening 79 meant that he was never in the mix.
Sergio Garcia
The pre-event favourite for many. He was in handily placed at the start of the last round but his Sunday play let him down yet again as he limped in 51st place. Will this hugely talented Spaniard ever shake of the most unwanted tag in golf – ‘most talented never to win a major’?
Justin Rose
Where he sparkled as an amateur in 1998, Rose was a damp squib as a second round 82 halted any chance of a similar magical performance. Finished 66 places further down the field than when he played here as an amateur and came in 4th.
John Daley
Missed the cut at tied last. Many had hoped for much more from a previous winner of this event but the demons seem to be back in full force.
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Tim Schoch
Jul 29, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Nice piece, Martin. Love the opinionated comments, such as “damp squib.” Wooohoo! Indeed! However. I think you…like so many others… are far too easy on Phil. 🙂 But good goin’, and keep ’em coming.