The online editors got creative minutes after Louis Oosthuizen's dominating performance at the Open Championship. As always, click to enlarge each image. First up, PGA.com.
British Open
July 18, 2010
July 20, 2009
After Watson's spectacular performance, should R&A reconsider age restriction?
Let's be honest. This was an anomaly. It's doubtful that there will be anyone over the age of 55 with the lead heading into a Sunday at the British Open in the near future.
Even so, we are in a new age of golf where players are fitter than ever before. Tom Watson is a prime example of one of the Champions Tour players--Jay Haas included--who has continued to keep himself in shape. Who knows...Vijay Singh or Kenny Perry--both of whom have played their best golf over the age of 40--might be playing this well in 10 years.
And how about Camilo Villegas when he gets to the 50-and-over club? He might lose some distance, but a lot of that muscle won't be going anywhere. Just ask Gary Player, who can still do push-ups at his age.
Taking into consideration advances in technology, wouldn't it make sense for the R&A to bump the age back up to 65? Hopefully Tom Watson makes the cut next year at St. Andrews and that will send the message home. He'll be a young 60.
July 19, 2009
No Tiger, still lots of drama
ABC/ESPN must be grateful that Tom Watson stepped up this weekend. Imagine if it was only Lee Westwood, Ross Fisher, Matthew Goggin, and Stewart Cink battling it out for the Claret Jug. It might have been a ratings catastrophe.
But with Watson on top for most of the tournament, it was a dream come true for American and European journalists.
Brandel Chamblee was spot on when he said the game of golf gives us good stories, even when Tiger is not in sight.
British Open headlines
As it has become our custom here, below are today's headlines from a myriad of sports sites. Enjoy.
Cink fights off sentimental favorite Watson, wins Claret jug
It may not have been the ending most people wanted, but
Stewart Cink lifted the Claret Jug at day's end. And as much as some of you might hate to read this, he deserved it.
Cink nailed a testy birdie putt on the last hole to give him the clubhouse lead at 2-under-par. As for Tom Watson, he missed his 8-footer for par on 18 to win the championship.
As well as Watson played--especially with the title in his grasp--there was nothing unfair about this ending. Cink outplayed the field on Sunday, and outplayed Watson in the playoff.
Congratulations to a player who has been waiting patiently for this moment ever since he missed that short one at Southern Hills in 2001.
July 17, 2009
Tom Watson and the pride of Fairfax County
Other than both sharing the second-round lead at 5-under-par, there's not much that Tom Watson and Steve Marino have in common.
But that's what makes this third round so interesting. Watson, at 59, is one of the greatest Open champions, and Marino, an inexperienced links player, is trying to do what Watson did over 30 years ago and win on his first try.
Then you've got John Daly, Calc, Sergio Garcia and even Padraig Harrington that could make a run at the title this weekend. Excited yet?
July 16, 2009
They're off at Turnberry
As a working man now, I appreciate having the opportunity to watch major championship golf before heading in to work. And what a group of golfers at the top of the leaderboard...
Although he's likely to fade off as the tournament progresses, 59-year-old Tom Watson continues to get people excited with his first round magic.
No wind today, so expect more low scoring. Enjoy the action.
November 13, 2008
ESPN slowly taking over all major championship coverage
More to come on this development over the weekend, but ESPN.com is reporting that the network will host all four rounds of the British Open starting in 2010.
July 21, 2008
"Tour broadcasts feel the pain"
Thomas Bonk of the LA Times catches us up on how badly television ratings have been hit the last three weeks without Tiger...
It's all a matter of perspective. The PGA Tour and its truckload of sponsors aren't even asking you not to touch that dial on your television; they're asking you to make sure the set is turned on in the first place.
The Absent Tiger Factor is here and it's awful to behold.
Case 1: Buick Open. The first event of three events so far that Woods would have played but missed because of his knee surgery. The overnight rating on CBS for the fourth round was down 12%, from a 1.7 to a 1.5.
Case 2: AT&T National. Worse. The overnight ratings for the fourth round on CBS were down 48%, from a 2.9 to a 1.5. Third-round ratings dipped 35%, from a 2.0 to a 1.3.
Case 3: British Open. Not good. The overnight ratings for ABC's final round coverage Sunday fell 14.6%, from a 4.1 to a 3.5.
