We have just experienced 9 hours in the stands above the famous or infamous "Road Hole" of The Old Course at St. Andrews watching the entire field of The Open, all 77 players pass by. Mind you, these are the best golfers on earth and #17 made only about a handful look like professionals.
Waddya expect? 5 years ago in The Open at St. Andrews, #17 was the toughest on the course averaging better than a half shot over par. This year, the R&A decided to make it even harder by adding 40 yards to the hole now measuring 495 yards. They said the pros were not hitting drivers in '05 and laying up. Outraged! This time the R&A wanted to force the pros to hit a full driver over a shed to a 90 degree blind right turn patch of grass about 30 yards wide. Then hit a mid-iron to a green that is as wide as a surfboard and as slick as a slip and slide. Guess what? This year the hole was #1 in difficulty again and almost a full stroke harder. Captain Frankenstein of the R&A was beaming on the balcony.
We saw golf shots from everywhere today on 17. Out of deep rough, off a dirt path, off asphalt, against a stone wall, off a grassy bank, out of sand, over hill and dale and some even off the fairway. And all of that is in play...no drops, no foot wedges. The greatest shot of the day on this "waterboard of a hole" was by young American phenom and striding orange popsicle, Rickie Fowler, who putted his ball some 60plus yards from the fairway into the hole for one of only four birdies. Only 17 birdies all week on #17. How appropriate. Conversely, the worst shots and/or putts of the day were by Poulter, Garcia, Westwood, Kaymar, Phil, Graeme, Agent Orange, Ricky Barnes, Monty, DJ not a bunch of has beens by any measure.
Our victor, Louis "Shrek (check out the front teeth)" Oosthuizan surrendered to #17 with a bogey but he had plenty of strokes in reserve, if needed. He didn't need any. Beat the field by 7 shots.
So, The Open closes with a whimper. No one gave Shrek any heat. The field was stalled all week except for one amiable South African. He dominated. Happy for him and his young family. Seems like a nice man.
At the awards ceremony, first person he recognized was Nelson Mandella, his fellow countryman, who was celebrating his birthday at home in South Africa. Very classy gesture on Shrek's apart. Also classy was Shrek's victory walk with the Claret jug in hand for all the crowd to see.
But what wasn't so classy was Captain Frankenstein blowing a vuvuzela from the rooftop of the R&A signaling the end of the show. (Just kidding, Will)
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