2010 Open Championship, Your Kneejerk Impressions

The Sunday scene at St. Andrews after play. Where else can fans do this? (click to enlarge)I'm at a loss for words and trying to file a 1000 words on a course that as usual, requires a book. Especially when I'm more convinced than ever that it's far superior to anything on the planet.

In the meantime, I want to share with you this transcript highlight from earlier in the week in case you were wondering about pronunciation.

Q. First of all, could you tell us exactly how you would like your name to be pronounced, please?

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN: Louis Oosthuizen.

Got that?

So it has to rank as one of the strangest majors ever. Throw in the odd finish at Pebble Beach and my head is spinning after the Pebble-Old Course combo.

Your impressions of Louis, The Old Course and the week?

Update on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 01:57 PM by Geoff

**Gene Wojciechowski didn't leave a lot of grey area in evaluating this one.

It wasn't boring. It was a par-5 beyond boring. It was so maddeningly dull that you wanted to stick the sharp end of barbecue tongs in your eyes.

If you think "The Decision" was awful, you should have been here for "The Oosthuizen." LeBron James' self-important TV nightmare lasted only 60-plus minutes. We were stuck with a whole Sunday afternoon -- and part of the night -- of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen anesthetizing the Open Championship.

Comments

[Pacduneslooper]

I enjoyed watching Louis's clinical driving display. But as usual the old course was the show. Who cares that there wasn't much drama in the outcome, mainly thanks to a gorse bush on #12 and Rory McIlroy's mind numbing 80 on Friday. The Old Course, in HD, was a sight to take in. Those of you who have been there are truly lucky and I hope you understand how jealous I am of any of you who have been there.

[pasaplayer]

Sorry, Gene, but I found nothing boring about watching Louis' mindful and conscious precision--what is the apparent mind exercise that precedes each of his tee shots?--in working his way around this amazing track. Can you imagine the pressure that, despite his apparent calm, had to be bearing on him? And how wonderful to see TOC in such HD detail, especially when the sun was angled low in the sky. But Louis' physical and mental skills aside, watching four days of expert golf on this hallowed ground convinces me more than ever that the governing bodies need to step up immediately--immediatiely 15 years ago?--to the worsening obsolescence (sp?) dictated by the game's technology.

[dbh]

'Q. First of all, could you tell us exactly how you would like your name to be pronounced, please? 

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN: Louis Oosthuizen.'
Lol, Geoff. Maybe you can request a phonetic transcript. You're giving me flashbacks of the old sit com Barney Miller:
"It's Wojciehowicz, just like it's spelled"

[pasaplayer]

Postscript: Isn't it time for Eldrick to put the notion of a "rusty" game behind him? He's been playing regularly for five months. Where is our scribes' focus on his mind rather than his putting? That's the problem, IMHO, and understandably so.

[adam Clayman]

Aren't the cries of boredom more an indictment of the television director/direction, than the course, or the way Oosthuizen played?

It's similar to the whines of those who thought the world cup was boring. A total lack of appreciation for the finer points.

[chico]

Shrek was brilliant.
Casey is suspect at this level.
Westwood could be a bit more aggressive
The Old Course is without compare,
Wish next years Open wasnt at that sh-t hole in Kent!

[Hawkeye]

God, I miss Greg Norman. The stars of today simply can't make a charge like he or Seve could back in the 80's (I'm too young to actually remember Palmer and Nicklaus). I think a lot of it is due to a too mechanical approach to the playing of the game - they play too much with their torsos and shoulders, and too little with their hands. It's great for driving the ball, especially with the modern driver, but you've got to have some FEEL to make things happen when you really need it. That's why they absolutely suck at lag putting too, by the way.
Anywho, congrats to Oosthuizen, the best swinger of the club to get his name on the Claret jug since Tom Weiskopf. In ten years time, we won't consider this win a fluke.

[Jock]

It pains me to say it, but I admit to turning over for the excitement of the Tour de Frances last climb of day .

Safe journey home Geoff .

[Tom]

Apologies in advance for the heresy but that course needs to be trimmed from the Rota or, in a nod to its historical significance, kept in the Rota but played only as often as the other 8 or 9 courses (which would ideally include R.Portrush and R.C.Down.

Geoff, assuming it's not going anywhere and the Open will keep coming back every 5 years (I like to think of it as the R&A's Valhalla), and assuming that ball technology isn't reined in, how do you feel about additional bunkers being added? I can't see too much difference between that and pushing back the tees. Also, any thoughts about bringing the tees up on 9 and playing it as a 250 yard par 3?

Chico, I just don't get your comment (or I'm missing your sarcasm; apologies if so). R.St.Georges is a great course, with a fine variety of holes; one of the best in Britain.

[d.b.cooper]

It just didn't feel like a major tournament to me, probably due to some of the reasons Hawkeye listed.

McIlroy very possibly has got the greatness quality, but Westwood (sorry) and Casey (not sorry)
just don't.

Oosthuizen very possibly will win more majors. I hope Westwood gets one.

TOC is wonderful and every five years is perfect.

[Old Hornet]

I'm sure the players and those that love the game will understand these words of wisdom:

"The Old links has been condemned as an anachronism and cursed as being unfair, but no course has commanded greater affection and respect from those who have learned to appreciate its subtleties and charms. It can be as tantalizing as a beautiful woman, whose smile at once is a temptation and a snare, concealing heartbreak and frustration for some, joy and fulfilment for others, but possession only for the very fortunate few. It does not yield its ancient secrets lightly or take kindly to contempt and impatience, but it does reward those who give their best in thought, temper and technique"

[Jeremy]

Taped it this morning (eastern time), then settled in for a lazy afternoon of Open Championship.
Ended up watching it in fast-forward. Saw the highlights, saved myself 3 hours.

[Jock]

Did anyone else hear dogs barking as the winner holed the final putt ?

[Chuck]

"How would you like your name to be pronounced?"

Who knew, that the R&A would follow the tradition of the Masters, with Hord Hardin doing the post-championship interview?

So Louis, how tall are you? And what is your weight?

[Sophist]

Tom, I'm sure Geoff loves the idea of changing a classic course for the alleged benefit of pros playing their one weekend every 5 years but to the detriment of - well - everyone else.

No drama, besides watching the fine play of the Champion, but how can you not enjoy this? The ESPN dude sounds petulant.

[pt]

what a douchey thing for that writer to write...Louis buries the field and thats all he can say...if Woods or Lefty had won like that his column would be dripping with superlatives

[jstiles]

Golf is usually boring on TV, save the Masters, USOpen, and the Open in my opinion.

It was a decent ESPN broadcast.

Casey chose to challenge Louis' driving at the 12th and lost.

No one else was competitive.

Still liked watching the shots bounce around and roll at almost every hole.

Pretty dull other than watching the shots bounce around, and seeing how everyone played and receovered at the 17th.

[jg]

Golf is always difficult to watch on TVnwithout a drama unfolding. Golf is meant to be played.

[mel]

I thought it was a great Open and a great win for Louis Oosthuizen. I streamed the coverage from Australia and it was terrific - very few commercials, no cutting up to the booth to listen (and watch) the commentators drone on, very few replays, just lots and lots of Open Championship golf. The TSN live@ coverage from holes 9, 10 and 11 was great as well.

On a less positive note I need to look up the last time Tiger finished as far back as T23 at a major. I think it must be at least five years.

[Tommy Naccarato]

Sorry Gene.

After a brilliant Seve Ballesteros piece, you come back with this trash.

This fellow outplayed the world's best and held a clinic while doing it! He had a smile on his face the entire time!

[MacDuff]

I thought it was over after Paul Casey missed birdie at the first and then bogeyed #2. The thing was won on Friday; yesterday seemed static and today tame with regard to the leaderboard, the movement of players and people charging and so forth. The wind blew away everyone but Louis Oosthuizen and a handful of others on the first two days. No one has to kick themselves here because the Champion Golfer of the year had no psychological baggage to play with in the wind; he breezed round while all the better known golfers tripped over their own expectations (and the ones placed on them by exposure to the media.) Whether Oosthuizen's candle be long or short, his win is another good one for the game. And it's pronounced "Double-O-Stoozen"
At least the winning score wasn't -26...but the healthy winning margin does denote the rightful winner.
Coverage blah blah blah...can advertisers please be required to show a different ad every day?
For one hour we had Alliss in Wonderland.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Watching a brilliant performance on the Old Course by an outstanding young golfer who comes from an atypical background, who obliterated the field with a smile on his face and a beautiful family awaiting him at the 18th, was in no way boring.

BTW, Gene: Wojciechowski? How would you like us to pronounce your name? Like it's spelled? That's what Wojo always said on "Barney Miller."

[Longy]

Yes...it was boring. Very happy for Louis (although for some reason my wife now wants to call our next child Louis ! ?)
Maybe TV just doesn't show the course well, or maybe the play was just so slow, but I really found it all so boring.
I think tv may have been part of the problem. The 11th just looked like a pretty straight forward par three, but I've seen photos of it that make it look terrifying.
I also don't get a big buzz from watching par fours getting driven all the time, expecially when there is no risk/reward.
I think the Old Course is turning into Prestwick.

[Sophist]

mel - Tiger missed the cut at the Open Championship last year. In 04 he finished 22nd at the Masters and 24th at the PGA.

[OWGR Fan]

@ Sophist .... Tiger also missed the cut at Winged Foot in 2006.

[Chuck]

The smaller the ball, the better the writing.

So, naturally, ESPN.com ( and Gene Wojciechowski) is the place to go to read about basketball and football.

[Keitht]

From the golf.com tour confidential:

"Can he play target golf on longer courses with hot, still conditions?"

This made me laugh out loud. Who gives a crap about target golf? He just won the Open by 7.

[vwgolfer]

I will never get bored watching golf from St. Andrews.

[MacDuff]

The Prestwick Hickory Open is the Fifth Major.

[Willie]

Did anyone miss Chris Berman?

[Tighthead]

I will admit to getting bored watching anyone lead and win by 7 or whatever. That goes for Tiger or Oosty or anyone not my blood relation. The only guy in position to make a run stumbled, and I like a little drama in my majors.

[sg]

For the record I did not think the final round today was boring and I am very happy that Oosthuizen won because I like the guy, but I am confused as to why it seems everyone is already coronating him as one of the next big stars. Yes he impressively blew away the field in windy conditions on The Old Course, but didn't they say during the telecast that his previous best finish in a major was 73rd and he missed the cut in all the others - maybe 9 of them or so? Also, I could be wrong, but I think he's only won maybe once before. I hope he breaks out as a result of this win, but his past record does not indicate that he's gonna be a stud.

Also, why so little Shot Tracker on the broadcasts? While Shot Tracker looks a little odd with the Old Course as the backdrop, I think it's really cool and it adds something different to the telecasts. Did anyone see when they showed the Shot Tracker on 17 not from behind the tee but from out in the fairway as the ball was coming towards the camera? That was pretty cool.

[Tom T.]

Where was Brandel C. on the GC this week?

[Smitter]

Yo, Wojo ... should Oosty have made a couple of double-bogeys down the stretch to make it more interesting? Maybe make more easy for you to craft a lead? Christ, what was the kid supposed to do? Make it easy on all the superstars who failed to show up?

[Willie]

Just tuned in to the Golf Channel. Wonder how long before Charlie Rymer picks Tiger to win the PGA.

[jjshaka]

Oosty did put the field to sleep- hardly his fault that he made it boring, that's what he was suppose to do.
I found it interesting that Casey, as usual, looks totally suspect in these moments. Lee's putting may never allow him to win a major and that Tiger appears to have lost the ability for sustained brilliance during a tournament.
Oh, and Phil is a whiny b**ch.

[Willie]

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! I was just JOKING about Rymer, but with God as my witness, at 10:37 p.m., on July 18, 2010, Charlie Rymer just picked Tiger as his favorite to win at Whistling Straits. Literally within minutes of my last post. I wonder if Tiger refers to Charlie as Kato.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

@Willie: Was he weeping when he said it?

[The Walking Golfer]

Just seeing the course on TV was enough from me - those aerial shots with the rumples and bunkers and massive greens. Incredible.

Bit unfortunate that there was no drama - but for someone who just loves looking at The Old Course and dreams of playing there one day, well, it was quite brilliant.

Watching the gong show that was the pros taking on the 17th was pretty awesome as well.

[vwgolfer]

The Golf Channel- Stop with the Tiger worship. I cannot watch you anymore. Goodbye.