The (British) Open Championship

[Buff]

Louis Oosthuizen!

[BroncoJoe]

Louis Oosthuizen!

When does it start?

[Buff]

When does it start?

Wednesday night/Thursday morning after midnight. I miss the days of being unemployed and staying up to watch. Don't think I'll be doing that this week.

[BroncoJoe]

Wednesday night/Thursday morning after midnight. I miss the days of being unemployed and staying up to watch. Don't think I'll be doing that this week.

yeah - me either. I am playing in a tournament on Thursday at Inverness. F'ing ribs better be OK by then. Played Arrowhead last week. What a great course.

[Jaws]

Here comes the one major of the year that's shark friendly and won't cost me any beauty sleep. :)

[MOtorboat]

It is Dustin's time.

[Buff]

It is Dustin's time.

I'd like to see him win - he handled that Chambers Bay debacle with a lot of class.

[MOtorboat]

I'd like to see him win - he handled that Chambers Bay debacle with a lot of class.

Speaking of class. Unless he does something crazy, Friday will likely be Tom Watson's final hurrah at the British. Him walking up 18 is going to be an awesome spectacle. Like Jack 10 years ago. YouTube that if you don't remember it. It was amazing.

[Buff]

Speaking of class. Unless he does something crazy, Friday will likely be Tom Watson's final hurrah at the British. Him walking up 18 is going to be an awesome spectacle. Like Jack 10 years ago. YouTube that if you don't remember it. It was amazing.

Yeah that will be cool.

He's playing with my boy Brandt Snedeker, who quietly finishes in the top 10 of every tournament it seems like. Sounds like weather on Friday is going to be a big factor. The guys teeing off late on Thursday will tee off early on Friday, so they might be screwed as there could be 40mph gusts.

[MOtorboat]

Every sports organization can only hope to have a man like Peter Dawson leading it.

[MOtorboat]

Yeah that will be cool.

He's playing with my boy Brandt Snedeker, who quietly finishes in the top 10 of every tournament it seems like. Sounds like weather on Friday is going to be a big factor. The guys teeing off late on Thursday will tee off early on Friday, so they might be screwed as there could be 40mph gusts.

It's been raining there for the better part of today, so it could be a factor Thursday, too.

[MOtorboat]

No birdies at the Road Hole and the weather hasn't even turned yet. Wind picking up now.

[BroncoJoe]

I'm heading out to the first tee. Wish me luck, gentleman.

[MOtorboat]

I'm heading out to the first tee. Wish me luck, gentleman.

I'm relatively sure you're not playing in the Open.

[BroncoJoe]

I'm relatively sure you're not playing in the Open.

I am absolutely playing in the Open. The Comcast Open, anyway. Thought it started at 10:30. Doesn't start until 1:30. Ug.

[MOtorboat]

I am absolutely playing in the Open. The Comcast Open, anyway. Thought it started at 10:30. Doesn't start until 1:30. Ug.

Lol. I bet you drove to the course and everything, didn't you?

[MOtorboat]

Look out for Zach Johnson. 66 in rough conditions this afternoon.

[MOtorboat]

That was poor wording on my part, Joe. You're not playing in The Open.

[BroncoJoe]

Lol. I bet you drove to the course and everything, didn't you?

No. Had a meeting at Mile High Stadium office first - that's when I found out. Came back to the home office for a bit. Thought I'd be heading straight to the course. I have an hour to kill. It was kind of fun showing up to the meeting in shorts though!

[OrangeHoof]

How U.S. Sports Media cover golf tournaments now....

Thursday: Tiger 24/7
Friday: OH NO! Tiger may miss the cut!!!!
Saturday: Tiger is 12 shots off the lead but he looks ready to make a comeback!
Sunday: Say, who are all these other lads that are leading the tournament? We've never heard of them.

[MOtorboat]

Dustin Johnson's drive on three was a monster.

And anyone who says the golf coverage is only Woods isn't watching.

[Buff]

Dustin Johnson's drive on three was a monster.

And anyone who says the golf coverage is only Woods isn't watching.

The coverage is fine - but the fact remains that the Tiger obsession is still overblown.

My fantasy teams are awful this week. I was sure Zach Johnson wouldn't keep up his pace, and here is he playing lights out.

[MOtorboat]

The coverage is fine - but the fact remains that the Tiger obsession is still overblown.

My fantasy teams are awful this week. I was sure Zach Johnson wouldn't keep up his pace, and here is he playing lights out.

The obsession isn't the media's. ESPN would get double the ratings on the weekend if Tiger is in contention.

[Buff]

The obsession isn't the media's. ESPN would get double the ratings on the weekend if Tiger is in contention.

Agreed - but when he's not in contention and still generating buzz that's where the criticism comes into play. Yesterday the evening news storyline was "Does golf need Tiger to return to dominance? What's wrong with Tiger? etc."

It's like when the Lakers are horrible but still command a disproportionate amount of the coverage.

[MOtorboat]

This is crazy.

[BroncoJoe]

I can't watch - you talking about the weather? Or how someone is playing?

[MOtorboat]

I can't watch - you talking about the weather? Or how someone is playing?

Weather. They restarted the second round at 1 am this morning (central), played for about 25 minutes and the guys on the 11th green couldn't place their ball and get it to stay, so they suspended play and it hasn't resumed. They are going to try to get the second round done in about an hour and then have third round Sunday, final round on Monday.

[OrangeHoof]

For someone who is used to 95 degrees and hot in summer, it is always amazing watching the British Open played in 60 degree weather with gusty winds and everyone in sweaters and jackets. Makes you wonder what the weather is like the rest of the year if this is "summer" for them.

[Ravage!!!]

Agreed - but when he's not in contention and still generating buzz that's where the criticism comes into play. Yesterday the evening news storyline was "Does golf need Tiger to return to dominance? What's wrong with Tiger? etc."



Shows you just how big his name is in golf. It's still huge. Until there is a player that can command that kind of attention, it will be this way. Right now, its... "so who are these guys?" Hard to have interest from the audience when they don't recognize the names.

[MOtorboat]

Shows you just how big his name is in golf. It's still huge. Until there is a player that can command that kind of attention, it will be this way. Right now, its... "so who are these guys?" Hard to have interest from the audience when they don't recognize the names.

I understand your point, and I agree, but at the same time it amazes me that Woods does that to ratings.

I recognize I'm a much bigger golf fan than the general public, but it seems to me people know who Dustin Johnson is, or Spieth now. Rory isn't American, so he's never going to command that huge audience here, but he has to be a draw. Bubba Watson is a fan favorite, and kind of polarizing. I think the young talent now maybe the best golf has ever had at one time, so I am surprised ratings haven't gone up even though Tiger is struggling.

[Ravage!!!]

I understand your point, and I agree, but at the same time it amazes me that Woods does that to ratings.

I recognize I'm a much bigger golf fan than the general public, but it seems to me people know who Dustin Johnson is, or Spieth now. Rory isn't American, so he's never going to command that huge audience here, but he has to be a draw. Bubba Watson is a fan favorite, and kind of polarizing. I think the young talent now maybe the best golf has ever had at one time, so I am surprised ratings haven't gone up even though Tiger is struggling.

I see your point. I know all those names. Spieth is the one that I think has the potential to just rocket.

But... the competition is spread out. There isn't a dominant player. No one "stand above" the rest. No one to really "root against" like you could with Tiger.

I mean.... The lines were "Tiger, or the entire field." Thats a love-hate that people jump onto. Right now its a ... who's going to have a good day, type of thing.

[OrangeHoof]

Of course, if the media inundates us with one or two guys, it's no wonder the public doesn't know who any of the others are.

If the baseball media gives us mostly Yankees and Red Sox, soon the audience only knows who the Yankees and Red Sox are and are seemingly uninterested in everyone else because the media is uninterested in them.

[MOtorboat]

Of course, if the media inundates us with one or two guys, it's no wonder the public doesn't know who any of the others are.

If the baseball media gives us mostly Yankees and Red Sox, soon the audience only knows who the Yankees and Red Sox are and are seemingly uninterested in everyone else because the media is uninterested in them.

Maybe you should pay more attention to the sports rather than ripping the media because you don't know who anyone else is. ESPN barely showed Tiger at all yesterday, but I bet you weren't watching because Tiger wasn't in contention.

[MOtorboat]

Paul Dunne, an amateur from Ireland, is leading The Open. Last amateur to win was Bobby Jones, I think.

[Bronco4ever]

Stuck at work, but it looks like Zach Johnson is playing a great round today. I'm sure it's going to be a great finish with so many guys in contention.

[MOtorboat]

Stuck at work, but it looks like Zach Johnson is playing a great round today. I'm sure it's going to be a great finish with so many guys in contention.

If Johnson can post at -15, he's probably in a playoff. It looks like it's going to be tough to birdie a lot of holes on the inward 9. Into the wind with rain. But there's a ton of big names in contention: Speith, Z. Johnson, Sergio, Oostheizen, Leishman, Day.

The rain just started to come down harder, though.

[Buff]

Painful having to tear myself away from the TV to come to work today.

[MOtorboat]

Painful having to tear myself away from the TV to come to work today.

Don't you have a cough?

[MOtorboat]

This a great finish. I think I'm rooting for Louis in the playoff.

[BroncoJoe]

This a great finish. I think I'm rooting for Louis in the playoff.

Pinko Commie.

Go Zach, GO!!

[MOtorboat]

Pinko Commie.

Go Zach, GO!!

I thought South Africa was a democracy.

:whoknows:

[BroncoJoe]

Take that, MO - you non-American player rooter.

[MOtorboat]

Take that, MO - you non-American player rooter.

Take what? The bogey he's about to make at 17?

[MOtorboat]

Dammit. Louis three putted.

[BroncoJoe]

Zach (the American) up by a stroke. Giving MO, the non-American player rooter, a "stroke".

[BroncoJoe]

On a serious note, after playing 18 I'm pretty wiped out. I can't imagine having to play another 4 holes. At that point, I'm ready for bed.

[BroncoJoe]

Bam!

Usa, usa, usa!!!

:)

[Buff]

Dammit Louis!

[Buff]

On a serious note, after playing 18 I'm pretty wiped out. I can't imagine having to play another 4 holes. At that point, I'm ready for bed.

Mark Leishman was thinking the same thing.

[BroncoJoe]

Mark Leishman was thinking the same thing.

He should really just retire. That was a pitiful performance.

Were you and MO rooting for Louis because of the tooth-gap?

[MOtorboat]

He should really just retire. That was a pitiful performance.

Were you and MO rooting for Louis because of the tooth-gap?

This only makes sense for Buff. I was rooting for Louie because I like Louie.

[BroncoJoe]

This only makes sense for Buff. I was rooting for Louie because I like Louie.

And, you LOVE Buff.

[MOtorboat]

And, you LOVE Buff.

Whoa. The chain events don't support that conclusion. I declared my rooting interests before Buff did. He just agreed with me.

Zach Johnson is a great story, BTW, so it's not like I was going to actively root against him until you had to draw a line, so ultimately I blame you.

[Buff]

Whoa. The chain events don't support that conclusion. I declared my rooting interests before Buff did. He just agreed with me.

Zach Johnson is a great story, BTW, so it's not like I was going to actively root against him until you had to draw a line, so ultimately I blame you.

Umm, check the OP of the thread, I think my rooting interest was declared first.

To answer Joe's questions, it was partially gapped-tooth driven, and partially the $$ I had riding on him.

[MOtorboat]

Umm, check the OP of the thread, I think my rooting interest was declared first.

To answer Joe's questions, it was partially gapped-tooth driven, and partially the $$ I had riding on him.

That's fair. I don't really read your posts, so...

[BroncoJoe]

My reference had nothing to do with Buff's prediction and/or money riding on the final outcome. It had to do with his gap, which reminded you of Buff. You love him.