TURNBERRY, Scotland -- Caddie Steve Williams, golf's barking sergeant at arms of golf, might have a feisty field day.
If not days, plural.
Officials at the Royal & Ancient, which runs the British Open, issued the British Open pairings on Monday and seemingly didn't do any favors to world No. 1 and runaway tournament favorite Tiger Woods by pairing him in the first two rounds with two people who figure to draw plenty of cameras themselves, Englishman Lee Westwood and Japanese wunderkind Ryo Ishikawa.
Ishikawa, only 17, has already been anointed as the next Japanese player likely to make a global splash. Given his role as the golf-crazed country's chosen one, the media presence when he plays is suffocating, which ensures that dozens of additional cameramen will be stalking the trio over the first two days.
Westwood, mind you, is a huge star in his own right and played alongside Woods in the final round at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last year, missing the playoff by a stroke.
It's hard to envision how the pairing will help the chances of any of the three, frankly. Woods has had several verbal run-ins with cameramen over the years at the British Open, repeatedly admonishing them for firing shutters during his downswing.
For Woods, three's a crowd
Posted on: July 13, 2009 7:24 am
Edited on: July 13, 2009 7:25 am
Category: Golf
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gwbram |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 2:50 pm
For Woods, three's a crowdThat's the standard wisdom and perhaps it will come true. Just think how many really fine golfers never won multiple
Majors much less 4. The field is much better now that it was when Tiger was piling up those early victories. They all have strenghth coaches and swing doctors and even the prediction from Tin Cup of psychologists. That plus the new technology levels the playing field quite a bit. Four is a really big number and it will get even bigger with each Major that comes and goes without a Tiger victory, and if a new young Tiger comes along and starts taking over golf the way TW did, he'll be lucky to win any more majors. This British Open is key in my mind. If not this, then it's the Masters next where he hasn't done that well recently, and then the demons start closing in, and the swing or the putting stroke starts to break down. I'm sure he wishes he had the record behind him like his friend Federer just did. I would not bet the house on this record being broken, 5 is a really big number! |
TheBlueDolphin
Since: Dec 10, 2008 |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 2:06 pm
This is a story???Tiger Woods is going to be bothered by media attention because he's going to be paired with Westwood and Ishikawa?
Good grief. You think we're talking about Joe Blow playing his first tournament on TV. Must be a slow news day.... |
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Rocky
Since: Sep 11, 2006 |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 1:21 pm
For Woods, three's a crowdAgree with the comment above. Unless Tiger has a major injury, he will blow by Jack's record in the next 2-3 years and will probably go on to win between 22-27 majors before he is done. Not winning the British Open this year, does not mean Jack's record is safe by any means.
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davepro14
Since: Mar 17, 2007 |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 12:45 pm
For Woods, three's a crowdI don't know anyone thinking that Jack's record is safe based upon the upcoming British Open. If Tiger was 45 years old, maybe. He's 33! Tiger has played in 54 majors and won 14. Let's say for the sake of argument, he's competitive for the next 54. I would bet my house that - assuming good health - Tiger wins enough to pass Jack. He's only 4 back!
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DodgerBrad99 |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 12:40 pm
For Woods, three's a crowddo you think this more intense media coverage will affect Tiger? doubtful.
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alwaysgimme |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 12:34 pm
For Woods, three's a crowdIf he doesn't win this one, you can bet he'll be re-thinking his pre-major routine. That'd be 3 wins, each followed by a week off, followed by a lost major. I really think he's been losing some "muscle memory" during that week off, I wish he'd play the week before. (And that way, we'd get to see him play more often against his ol' pal, Phyllis.)
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gwbram |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 12:01 pm
For Woods, three's a crowdThe burden is entirely on Tiger in this tournament. If he doesn't win this one we'll start thinking again how Jack's record in the Majors is safe. The course should be to his liking, if the weather is not too brutal even a problematical pairing should not hold him back. Another top 10 without a Major win will be a huge disappointment. PS: What a treat watching the repeat of the 1963 Shell WWofG match between Jack and Sam Snead on CBS this weekend! It's their ghosts Tiger's chasing and there they were, the young Bear and the Old Pro Sammy. It was amazing to see the clubs they were using and the balls bouncing across the greens that couldn't have been any faster than what we play on at a local Muni. course! Imagine two of the 3 par 5's were less that 500 yards and they still couldn't reach them in two with the real fairway woods they used at that time. It really makes you think how far the game has changed since then, but still, they could really play the game! |
HeyBoMan
Since: Apr 24, 2009 |
Posted on: July 13, 2009 11:18 am
For Woods, three's a crowdThat's an exciting group to watch the first two days...from the comfort of home!
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