Opening Round Open Championship Open Thread

I see it's the middle of the night on the west coast and past 5 a.m EDT, so ESPN is off and running. I'm trying to get a flavor of the BBC here, but no luck so far with their online radio. Wherever you are, all telecast and course observations welcomed.

Comments

[M]

Once again, espns coverage is BRUTAL compared to BBC.

And Curtis Strange needs to go.. NOW. Starting birdie-birdie is just fine? yeah whatever Strange.

[Great Dane]

It's a pleasure watching and listening to BBC even though they're mainly showing Tiger's group.
Van de Velde is also nice as co-commentator.

[och]

I must disagree with Great Dane. The BBC announcers (esp Van de Velde) are constantly talking over shots. The camera work is suspect. As well they don't have the correct information. Van de Velde insisted that Villegas' putter was a B-52 from Ping when in fact it is a Cameron! Shots on tape being played live. If this were a USA telecast, you folks would be ripping it.

[Stan Ferguson]

With all the recent fuss about the changes at the 17th, how come the BBC haven't bothered to show us any of the first groups playing it?

Too much Tiger, Dan Walker, and irrelevant nonsense from that eejit Mark James.

[Old Hornet]

Listening to Azinger comment on Tiger removed any doubt in my mind.....guaranteed he's on the rehab mistress list.

[Lip Out]

I agree...Curtis Strange is awful. But, is it me, or is Monty actually a good addition to the booth?

[d.b.cooper]

Monty has always been articulate.

Not surprising that he is interesting in the booth.

[Media driven]

Missed most of Monty but he was fun the bit I caught saying the Euro RC captain was the "weakest link.'' He'll add a lot the next three days. No Peter Alliss (yet).

[d.b.cooper]

Glad to hear the voice of Weiskopf.

Excellent announcer and missed at Augusta.

[Jeff Smith]

I turned on the TV this morning and what do I get but the Bob Hope Desert Classic; everyone's under par. I have no interest watching everyone shoot 66.

[Hawkeye]

That's the point with links golf, Jeff; Make sure to take advantage when the conditions are benign. Just wait until the wind gets up.

[M]

Does ESPN have fact checkers? There was a birdie on 17 before Rory.

And as ESPN shows figjam warming up, BBC shows 3 golf shots.

BBC>ESPN

[Used to be former S & T Convert]

Afternoon players have to be praying the weather holds. And I would be surprised if it does.

[d.b.cooper]

Between quadrants and pods I simply can't stand Azinger.

[Jordan]

Daly at -6 in the clubhouse. Has to be his attire.

[adam Clayman]

The Americanization of TOC is what Mr. Dawson should be embarrassed by.

Bunkers shrouded in rough. Arbitrary fairway to rough mow lines, disappoints those who feel the Open Championship, especially at the TOC, It is the very best opportunity to watch tournament golf has to offer the more sophisticated, albeit less skilled.

Wonderful irony Tiger driveing into the Valley of Sin, today.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

No TeeVee here, but if the scoreboard is any indication, Tiger better hurry if he is gonna pass Jack.

Old Hornet, that's funny; I don't care who you are.

[Jojohn]

BBC by virtue of no commercials is much better than ESPN. Yes, the camera work on the ball flight is suspect and lots of Brit player coverage, which is to be expected, but the announcers are better than Strange. You can play a drinking game on the phrase well done. Zinger is good, but everyone else is terrible.

If US golf coverage were more like BBC, especially with no ads or fewer ads, golf would be so much more watchable. ABC, NBC, CBS - replace the whole lot. They need new blood to freshen up the golfcasts.

[dsl]

I bet you didn't know that Rory McIlroy is 21 and shot 63. That's 3 times his age!

Ugh...

That stretch where they showed Figjam warming up and then went to other fluff was amazing. It made me glad that I woke up to tune in. I felt so informed afterward.

The other great moment was when they teased all kinds of fluff before going to commercial - Tiger Speaks! Phil Chronicles! Leader Reaction!...It's like they need to carry this on ESPN and ESPN2. The mother station can churn out all the produced garbage and the Deuce can just pick up the BBC feed and show some golf.

[Scott]

So now Americans are to blame for mow lines? Hahahahaha. The British have reached self-parody.

[adam Clayman]

Did anyone think Tiger's interview showed a change in his attitude, more relaxed, less arrogant?

[Tighthead]

Adam - I think Tiger's attitude is often a function of his score.

I hope the weather holds today to keep the field bunched, and unleashes tomorrow.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

What Tighthead said, both of them. No wind, no rain, no golf.

[Tighthead]

I hate to pile on the broadcasters, but show more goddamned golf shots.

[Del the Funk]

The Open Championship official site has a link to see holes 9, 10 an 11...and another link to listen to full coverage on radio. Just an option if you want to check it out.

Helluva start we're off to huh?!?!?!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Live streaming just told me that Curtis Strange and Terry Gannon (? that's how much I listen) will appear at the top of the hour for an update. Time to do some work.

[Del the Funk]

Looks like the morning rotation getting the better draw...wind starting to kick up.

[Rab Scot]

Adam, i do kind of agree that the mow lines are a bit suspect but i would go as far as to say americanised...if you look at the Supers maintenance for the old course you will see that the road hole bunker was re-built no longer than 10-14 days ago so theres no way they would be able to mow the turf around some of the bunkers that short after that amount of time. And the old course is always more greener than most links course because of the amount of play they get through the year.
And i dont understand why this cant be a good open if the scores are low, all it would take is a couple of days with the wind and watch some of the scores start to fall back the way.

[jjshaka]

Allis and Weiskopf are great to listen to. Van Pelt is OK when Tigers not on camera.
Agree with the others that ESPN really has to stop catering to the casual viewer- these puff pieces are aggravating.

[The O]

There was a nice moment on ESPN after Tiger missed the par putt on 17, and they asked Rossie (I think, maybe Weiskopf), what it was like to miss like that (very badly from 4 feet), and he just kind of gave a big sigh. Missing short putts sucks. Missing short putts in front of 20,000 people is worse.

[Chuck]

Wow. Norman, then Watson, and now Daly. What a great championship

Re: the BBC. Did anybody watch Golf Channel's broadcast of the Scottish Open last week, with Renton Laidlaw & Co. doing the commentary over the video feed of the BBC? Renton and the guys were magnificent, as usual. The video feed was pathetic. Looked like bad video from a corporate golf outing.

[Bob]

Interesting that of the 23 players who have shot 63 in a major, only 5 of them went on to win the tournament. Did you know that Johnny Miller once shot 63 at Oakmont?

[Press Agent]

Scott,

I believe the person who made the comment you are referring to is American. No Brit would say something quite so stupid.

[jason]

Miller shot a 63 at Oakmont? Why doesn't he ever bring that up?

[Used to be former S&T Convert]

Never heard about Miller's 63 at Oakmont, what tournament and how'd he do? You would think he would talk about it sometimes.

[Willie]

Miller? 63? Get outta here!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

On my computer, from Curtis Strange: "Gifted players like Oosthuizen who are naturally gifted." Back to the mute mode.

[The O]

It is too bad that NBC isn't doing this broadcast. Then we might finally be able to hear Johnny talk about his 63 at Oakmont. I can't believe he doesn't talk about it more. Maybe Curtis will talk about it when he's done talking about his 62.

[Willie]

Why would the bleachers be so empty? I thought I'd tuned into a Marlins game.

[Chuck]

"Best Commentator" award today goes to Sir Nick Faldo. Didn't broadcast a single word, and shot an even-par 72.