British (or come to think of it European) players very rarely win The Open. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the lack of links championships on the regular European Tour?? Do you think that if the Scottish Open (for example) was played at a true links course every year that the Europeans would at least become a little bit familiar with how to play a links course and thus would have a better chance of winning the Big One. It seems to me that so little links golf is played throughout the year - except for a few rainy rounds of St Andrews in October - that The Open turns into a bit of a lottery and that's why we get these "strange" winners?? Augusta is Augusta but the US Open and the US PGA both use the same styles of courses that the Americans play week in week out - albeit set up a little bit harder. No wonder the Europeans find it hard to break through out there. Perhaps we should make it harder for everyone else to come over and win our major by at least giving our players a feel for the courses - also it would mean that fantastic courses like Troon would get an outing more than once every 6 years or whatever it is. Anyone know why so little links golf is played on tour???? Thoughts?
It's like the U.S. Baseball team not qualifying to play in the olympic games. And the U.S. Basketball team doing so terribly.
Although we invented the sports we * at them now.
The basketball team in the olympic games just didn't have the best players playing plain and simple. Still they are suppose to be some of the best in the world, but I feel if we had the top players it wouldnt' have been a question.
Last edited by JimSomebody : October 15th, 2004 at 10:53 PM.
Reason: inappropriate language
It is a strange situation. I can remember a few years ago sportswiters in Britain were calling for the Ryder Cup to be played over links style courses when in Europe. The thinking being that the Europeans, and Brits in particular, know how to play them and the Americans would struggle.
Now we find that the Americans seem to be able to master the links courses and this years Ryder Cup was played over a traditional U.S. Open course with the resulting European landslide win. Weird!
My own feeling is that there's not much between the world's top players nowadays and any of them are capable of coming up with the shots required to play well anywhere.
It´s true. Only Irish open is played in links courses
I think it´s sad but it´s true. European players should play more than twice a year in links courses. Why? It´s easy, golf in links is wonderful for espectators and of course it would be a good training for the Open. If european tour members played more in links courses I think they would have more chances in the Open.
Sorry for my english. I can have some mistakes. My english is not perfect.
There are rumours around over here that the Scottish Open will be moved from it's current home of Loch Lomond to the clubs sister course called Dundonald near Troon. Dundonald is a brand new, Kyle Phillips designed, links course which the Loch Lomond club bought up a few years ago to give the members a playable course during the winter months (Loch Lomond is closed from October through to March).
The arguments rage in Scotland that playing the "Scottish" at Loch Lomond the week before the Open Championship is not good preparation for tackling a links course and that "bigger names" (i.e. Tiger) would be bursting the door down to "prepare" for the Open Championship at Dundonald Links. (the fact that Tiger hardly ever plays the week before a major doesn't seem to concern our sportswriters).
Phil Mickelson and Thomas Levet put in great challenges for The Open at Royal Troon this year, despite playing at Loch Lomond the previous week. (Levet was the winner)
Ben Curtis's shock win in 2003 also flew in the face of logic, since he'd apparently never even played a true links course until the practice days at Royal St.George's.
I think there is a little bit of pressure on them to do well or even win. I think it is the opposite to the Ryder Cup where the Americans feel like they should have to win the cup.
More golf should be played on links.... why not I dont know, perhaps it is because links courses are not the sort of course the pros games are honed to, hence the organisers want to stick to places where the players are seen at their best?
It would certainly make sense to play more tournaments on links courses, especially since they can handle as much rain as you can throw at them. Which would mean less weather delays or cancellations, leading to happy players, fans and sponsors.
Well, most of the best players in the world are not from Europe. You have Tiger, Davis Love III, Phil, Earnie, Vijay, etc. Sure there are tons of great players who are Europeans, but it seems like there are more from other places.
But on the other hand, you have winners like Curtis and Hamilton, and you wonder what the world is coming to...
October 15th, 2004, 07:56 PM
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