Two countries divided by the same language
I rather thought that my post today would extol the Open winner as well as boasting about a few betting results. The Open, it is claimed, is the toughest of the four majors to win as you have to combat your peers, the course and the elements. However when the elenemts dominate and the tourney has to go to a fifths day and with the possibility of a p.ay off too there is something unsatisfactory that the winner is anointed today.
Betting wise , I cannot complain with three of my South Africans picks Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen well up the leader board and Adam Scott well positioned too. Not for the first time Dustin Johnson threw away a handsome position. His approach and putting game let him down as he moved down the Leaderbaord.
It was I believe Winston Churchill that made the remark in my title. Rust sports writers have written before of the use of word “THE” and no geographic identification in British Sport. Thus it is the Open. Ben Martin the talented young American golfer wrote in the calendar Open Week. His fiancée thinking that the week was free promptly organised their wedding for that week. Although the open is the most international of the majors it was not forever this. In the fifties Australians Kel Angle and Peter Thomson dominate dans Arnie Palmer who brought over the Yanks. Even in July St. Andrews had dodgy weather. The Americans in theory look less happy than the Sooth Africans who would also be unused to such inclement conditions. Like most British sporting institutions the Royal and Ancient has its quirks, for example if Paul Dunne does win as an amateur he cannot claim the cash winnings. Who does, I cannot speculate.
