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2007 British Open Preview

Published

17 years ago

Jul 18, 2007

There is just something about the British Open, maybe it is the history, maybe it is the lore, maybe it is the golf courses, or maybe it is just because it is the greatest golf tournament in the world. Most Americans either love it, or they hate it, but the bottom line is that they all respect it.

The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world and it is also the most historic. It carries with it a sense of pride, which few tournaments have or will ever know. As you watch the British Open you are watching history right in front of your eyes, history that was started some 136 years ago, played on the same type of courses that they are playing on now. This year’s winner will not only be the British Open Champion for 2007, he will be internationally known as this year’s golf champion, a distinction that no other event will ever achieve.

The 136^th installment of The Open returns to Tayside and to the Carnoustie Golf Links. The third major of the year is sure to provide plenty of excitement for the fans, as well as plenty of agony for the golfers. Carnoustie is known as being a super difficult golf course, and showed it’s teeth at the last Open it hosted in 1999, when Jean Van de Velde basically lost the championship on the 72^nd hole with a triple bogey 7, and journeyed into infamy as the guy that lost the Open. Although, this year the weather has been more favorable than the last trip to Carnoustie, and the officials think it will be a much fairer test of golf. The weather has been producing less severe rough, and should play easier than 1999. "We are not seeking carnage," said Royal and Ancient Club Chief Executive Peter Dawson. "We are seeking an arena where the players can display their skills to the best effect."

There are some tremendous stories brewing for this years’ Open. Tiger, Phil, Monty, the course, and weather will all be stories at this years’ Open Championship. One of the biggest stories has to be that of Colin Montgomerie winning just a few short weeks back at the European Open. Ending a winless drought since last year, Monty is obviously in form despite missing the cut at the Scottish Open, and could be ready to claim that major that has eluded him for so long. But instead of considering himself a favorite this week, he has nodded his support in another direction. "We have more players capable of it than ever before but Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey would be my picks”, recently stated by Montgomerie when asked who he thought could win this week at Carnoustie.

Another big story will that everyone will be watching is that of Tiger Woods and is he ready to return to form after becoming a father for the first time. He has taken a little time off and seems to be a little off form. But knowing Tiger Woods and his amazing talent and ability, he will be there on Sunday. Ask Thomas Bjorn who will be playing a practice round with Tiger, "I have a feeling that this Open could be very open, but I have an ‘unless’," said Bjorn at the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. "That ‘unless’ is that it could be very open unless Tiger has spent the last couple of weeks how he normally does before a major," he added. "If he has, then he could blow everybody away again." With that being said he is looking to become only the fourth man to win the Open Championship three times in a row. He would be accompanied by Tom Morris Jr., Jamie Anderson, and Peter Thomson as the only people who have ever achieved that feat. And when Woods was asked about the Open, "I just love the history, tradition and atmosphere," Woods wrote. "You need patience and imagination to play well, plus the fans are great. I’m really looking forward to next week." So keep an eye on Tiger this week because when Tiger is “excited” about an event, it usually does not bode well for the rest of the field.

Phil Mickelson and his now healed wrist will be yet another story. His performance last week at the Scottish Open showed that he is back on form and possibly over the hurt wrist, and looks to be a contender this week at The Open. Mickelson, who finished second at the Scottish Open, looks ready to capture yet another major, and only several weeks after a wrist injury kept him from competing 100 percent during the U.S. Open. A fan of the Open Championship Mickelson said, "I’ve not played as well in the Open as I would have liked, so I still have to perfect some of the shot-making over here. That said – I love it. I think links golf is tremendous." Look for a big week out of Phil.

You might also keep and eye out for surging players Ernie Els, and Sergio Garcia. Both have been playing well as of late, and had strong finishes at the Scottish Open. Reteif Goosen, failed to make the cut at the Scottish Open, but should be a force to contend with at the Open. You may also want to look out for Jonathan Byrd, who won the John Deere Classic to earn a trip to Carnoustie. Most of the world’s top players will be in action this week at Carnoustie, so be prepared for another great Open Championship.

This year’s event will host 156 of the world’s elite, from which the top 70 and ties will go on to the weekend. The golf course will play to a yardage of 7112 and a par of 71. The Champion golfer for 2007 will receive 750,000 pounds ($1,508,925) for his efforts. This will be the seventh trip to Carnoustie for the Open, with past champions such as, Ben Hogan, Henry Cotton, Tommy Armour, Gary Player, Tom Watson, and Paul Lawrie. As you can see aside from Lawrie, the past winners at this historic venue are all hall of famers.

Official Websites

http://www.opengolf.com

http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

Television Times

Thursday, July 19 TNT 7am- 7pm ET

Friday, July 20 TNT 7am – 7pm ET

Saturday, July 21 TNT 7am-9am ET ABC 9am-2:30 ET

Sunday, July 22 TNT 6am-8am ET ABC 8am – 1:30 ET

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SuperStroke acquires Lamkin Grips

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

SuperStroke announced today its purchase of 100-year-old grip maker Lamkin Grips, citing the company’s “heritage of innovation and quality.”

“It is with pride and great gratitude that we announce Lamkin, a golf club grip brand with a 100-year history of breakthrough design and trusted products, is now a part of the SuperStroke brand,” says SuperStroke CEO Dean Dingman. “We have always had the utmost respect for how the Lamkin family has put the needs and benefits of the golfer first in their grip designs. If there is a grip company that is most aligned with SuperStroke’s commitment to uncompromised research, design, and development to put the most useful performance tools in the hands of golfers, Lamkin has been that brand. It is an honor to bring Lamkin’s wealth of product innovation into the SuperStroke family.”

Elver B. Lamkin founded the company in 1925 and produced golf’s first leather grips. The company had been family-owned and operated since that point, producing a wide array of styles, such as the iconic Crossline.

According to a press release, “The acquisition of Lamkin grows and diversifies SuperStroke’s proven and popular array of grip offerings with technology grounded in providing golfers optimal feel and performance through cutting-edge design and use of materials, surface texture and shape.”

CEO Bob Lamkin will stay on as a board member and will continue to be involved with the company.

“SuperStroke has become one of the most proven, well-operated, and pioneering brands in golf grips and we could not be more confident that the Lamkin legacy, brand, and technology is in the best of hands to continue to innovate and lead under the guidance of Dean Dingman and his remarkably capable team,” Lamkin said.

Related: Check out our 2014 conversation with Bob Lamkin, here: Bob Lamkin on the wrap grip reborn, 90 years of history

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Tour Rundown: Pendrith, Otaegui, Longbella, and Dunlap soar

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2024

Ronald Montesano

Take it from a fellow who coaches high school golf in metro Toronto: there’s plenty of great golf played in the land of the maple leaf. All the greats have designed courses over the USA border: Colt, Whitman, Ross, Coore, Mackenzie, Doak, as well as the greatest of the land, Stanley Thompson. I’m partial to him, because he wore my middle name with grandeur. Enough about the architecture, because this week’s Tour Rundown begins with a newly-minted, Canadian champion on the PGA Tour. Something else that the great white north is known for, is weather. It impacted play on three of the world’s tours, forcing final-round cancellations on two of them.

It was an odd week in the golf world. The LPGA and the Korn Ferry were on a break, and only 13/15 of the rounds slated, were played. In the end, we have four champions to recognize, so let’s not delay any longer with minutiae about the game that we love. Let’s run it all down with this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour: TP takes TS at Byron’s place

The 1980s was a decade when a Canadian emergence was anticipated on the PGA Tour. It failed to materialize, but a path was carved for the next generation. Mike Weir captured the Masters in 2003, but no other countrymen joined him in his quest for PGA Tour conquest. 2024 may herald the long-awaited arrival of a Canadian squad of tour winners. Over the past few years, we’ve seen Nick Taylor break the fifty-plus year dearth of homebred champions at the Canadian Open, and players like Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Adam Svennson, and Mackenzie Hughes have etched their names into the PGA Tour’s annals of winners.

This week, Taylor Pendrith joined his mates with a one-shot win at TPC Craig Ranch, the home of the Byron Nelson Classic. Pendrith took a lead into the final round and, while the USA’s Jake Knapp faltered, held on for the slimmest of victories. Sweden’s Alex Noren posted six-under 65 on Sunday to move into third position, at 21-under par. Ben Kohles, a Texan, looked to break through for his first win in his home state. He took the lead from Pendrith at the 71st hole, on the strength of a second-consecutive birdie.

With victory in site, Kohles found a way to make bogey at the last, without submerging in the fronting water. His second shot was greenside, but he could not move his third to the putting surface. His fourth was five feet from par and a playoff, but his fifth failed to drop. Meanwhile, Pendrith was on the froghair in two, and calmly took two putts from 40 feet, for birdie. When Kohles missed for par, Pendrith had, at last, a PGA Tour title.

360° and in!

A nervy par save by @TaylorPendrith to remain one back as he seeks his first PGA TOUR victory @CJByronNelson. pic.twitter.com/LVFXUSidSg

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024

DP World Tour: China Open in Otaegui’s hands after canceled day four

It wasn’t the fourth round that was canceled in Shenzhen, but the third. Rains came on Saturday to Hidden Grace Golf Club, ensuring that momentum would cease. Sunday would instead be akin to a motorsports restart, with no sense of who might claim victory. Sebastian Soderberg, the hottest golfer on the Asian Swing, held the lead, but he would slip to a 72 on Sunday, and tie for third with Paul Waring and Joel Girrbach. Italy’s Guido Migliozzi completed play in 67 strokes on day three, moving one shot past the triumvirate, to 17-under par.

It was Spain’s Adrian Otaegui who persevered the best and played the purest. Otaegui was clean on the day, with seven birdies for 65. Even when Migliozzi ceased the lead at the 10th, Otaegui remained calm. With everything on the line, Migliozzi made bogey at the par-five 17th, as his principal competitor finished in birdie. To the Italian’s credit, he bounced back with birdie at the last, to claim solo second. The victory was Otaegui’s fifth on the DP World Tour, and first since October of 2022.

.@adrianotaegui birdies the 16th to tie the lead at -17 ?#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/p4tfE5DRJa

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 5, 2024

PGA Tour Americas: Quito’s rains gift title to Longbella

Across the world, superintendents and their staffs will do anything to prepare a course for play. Even after fierce, nightime rains, the Quito TG Club greeted the first four groups on Sunday. The rains worsened after 7 am, however, and the tour was forced to abort the final round of play. With scores reverting to Saturday’s numbers, Thomas Longbella’s one-shot advantage over Gunn Yang turned into a Tour Americas victory.

64 held the opening-day lead, and Longbella was not far off, with 66. Yang jumped to the top on day two, following a67 with 66. He posted 68 on day three, and anticipated a fierce, final-round duel for the title. As for Longbella, he fought off a ninth-hole bogey on Saturday with six birdies and a 17th-hole eagle. That rare bird proved to be the winning stroke, allowing Longbella to edge past Yang, and secure ultimate victory.

.@TBalla21 eagles 17, shoots 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the KIA Open. pic.twitter.com/TTOL2LxSdh

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) May 4, 2024

PGA Tour Champions: Dunlap survives Saturday stumble for win

Scott Dunlap did not finish Saturday as well as he might have liked. After beginning play near Houston with 65, Dunlap made two bogeys in his final found holes on day two, to finish at nine-under par. Hot on his heels was Joe Durant, owner of a March 2024 win on PGA Tour Champions. Just behind Durant was Stuart Appleby, perhaps vibing from his Sunday 59 at Greenbrier on this day in 2010. Neither would have a chance to track Dunlap down.

The rains that have forced emergency responders into action, to save hundreds of lives in the metro Houston area, ended hopes for a third day of play at The Woodlands. Dunlap had won once previously on Tour Champions, in 2014 in Washington state. Ten years later, Dunlap was the fortunate recipient of a canceled final round, and his two days of play were enough to earn him TC victory number two.

Off the green? No worries for @ScottDu12500063

8-under solo leader @InsperityInvtnl pic.twitter.com/hoj5OujL5C

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 4, 2024

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News

Morning 9: Pendrith’s maiden Tour win | Morikawa back with former coach | Brooks victorious

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour gives us yet another breakthrough winner.

1. Pendrith wins first PGA Tour title

AP Report…”Taylor Pendrith took advantage of Ben Kohles’ final-hole meltdown to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.”

“Kohles overtook Pendrith with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 for a one-shot lead then bogeyed the 18th after hitting his second shot into greenside rough. After having to chip twice from the rough and already looking stunned, Kohles missed a 6-foot putt that would have forced a playoff.”

“Pendrith two-putted for birdie on the 18th, holing a 3-footer for a 4-under 67 and 23-under 261 total at the TPC Craig Ranch. The 32-year-old Canadian won in his 74th career PGA Tour start.”

Full piece.

2. Koepka takes LIV title in Singapore

S.I.’s Bob Harig…”Brooks Koepka became the first player to win four times as part of the LIV Golf League, shooting a final-round 68 at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Sunday to beat Cam Smith and Marc Leishman by two strokes.”

“His timing wasn’t bad, either.”

“A few days after offering concern about his game in light of a poor Masters performance, Koepka stepped up and won the LIV Golf Singapore even to give himself a boost heading into the defense of his PGA Championship title in two weeks.”

“The year’s second major begins on May 16.”

Full piece.

3. Otaegui wins Volvo China

AP report…”Adrian Otaegui overturned a five-shot deficit to win the Volvo China Open on Sunday, the Spaniard’s fifth tour title.”

“Otaegui had been trailing the in-form Sebastian Söderberg after Friday’s round – Saturday’s was cancelled because of thunder and lightning – and he shot 7-under 65 in his final round to win by one shot from Guido Migliozzi, who finished runner up with a 67.”

Full piece.

4. ICYMI: Teen Kim makes the cut

Guardian report…”English teenager Kris Kim became the youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour in 11 years after a birdie at the last saw him get through to the weekend of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas with a shot to spare.”

“Amateur Kim, the son of former LPGA player Ji-Hyun Suh, made a second-round four-under-par 67, which included a run of five birdies and one bogey over his front nine.”

“At 16 years and seven months he became the youngest player to make the cut on tour since 14-year-old Guan Tianlang at the 2013 Masters, and, according to the PGA Tour, the fifth youngest in history.”

Full piece.

5. Winner in a rainout

AP report…”Scott Dunlap was declared the 36-hole winner of the Insperity Invitational when rain washed the final round Sunday, giving Dunlap his first PGA Tour Champions title in nearly 10 years.”

“Devastating rain in the Houston area previously washed out the opening round Friday. Players managed to play 36 holes on Saturday, and Dunlap posted a 2-under 70 to take a one-shot lead over Joe Durant and Stuart Appleby.”

“That proved to be the winning score when rain soaked The Woodlands Country Club. It was the second 36-hole event in the last three weeks on the PGA Tour Champions because of weather. The other was in the Dallas area.”