Open Championship Final Thoughts 2011

Congratulations to Darren Clarke. He seems like a very likable and decent man, and his backstory is, to say the least, compelling.

Clarke’s Eagle at 7 turned out to be the game winner.

While Phil Mickelson didn’t manage to pull this one out, he seems to have a better grasp of Open golf. But there’s something wrong with his putting. For a guy who is perhaps the best ever around the greens, he chokes a lot of those short putts. He’s an equipment junkie. Maybe he needs to go to a belly putter (heresy!).

Dustin Johnson is taking a lot of criticism for “choking” in another Major. I disagree with the critics. The 2-iron was NOT a “huge blunder” as one headline suggests. He played well; he just hit a single bad shot. The only player who didn’t hit a bad shot in the final round was Darren Clarke. If this doesn’t go to his head, he’s going to win a pile of Majors.

I love the role that weather plays in the Open Championship.

I’m surprised at the poor showing of Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood. But I think this says less about them (anyone can have a bad week) than it does the World Golf Rankings. When half the top ten fail to make the cut at a Major, you have to wonder if it’s valid at all.

American professional golf is not on the decline. Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson finished in a T2; Chad Campbell, Anthony Kim and Rickie Fowler were in a T5; Davis Love was T9; Steve Stricker and Lucas Glover T12.

Tom Watson continues to amaze. He was in contention at the end of the day Saturday, and at age 61, finished T22. He has my vote as the greatest links player of all time.

Sergio Garcia continues to show a resurgence. He may yet shed that Major jink.

Rory McIlroy fell a new notches in my mind with his whinging about the weather: “I’m not a fan of golf tournaments that are predicted so much by the weather. It’s not my sort of golf.” Seriously?

Rickie Fowler isn’t far off from his first Major. For a guy who hasn’t had to play in those sort of conditions, he really seemed to be enjoying himself.

In all, this was another great Open Championship, and shows why it’s probably my favorite among the Majors.

 

 

 

 

 

1 thought on “Open Championship Final Thoughts 2011”

  1. I was pleasantly surprised to see Charles Howell III make it to the T-28 spot, especially since he was a last-minute qualifier (and did poorly in the last round).

    Reply

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