# The Open {Golf tournament} **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 16, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229 "2009-07-16T16:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/41 "2009-07-19T00:13:23Z")
gonzo, where are you getting your info? There were 5 subpar rounds today. Goggin, Johnson, Jaidee, and Aiken shot 69. Molder shot 67. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/42 "2009-07-19T00:15:06Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Think Watson is gonna call Norman up and find out what NOT to do between rounds 3 and 4? 😛 Chances are Watson won’t be in the same bed as Martina Navratilova.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/43 "2009-07-19T01:10:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Chances are Watson won’t be in the same bed as Martina Navratilova.:dubious: Chris Evert? or did I miss some tabloid stuff? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/44 "2009-07-19T01:35:30Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > gonzo, where are you getting your info? There were 5 subpar rounds today. > > Goggin, Johnson, Jaidee, and Aiken shot 69. Molder shot 67. Thats what there were when I walked my dogs. I did not get new figures. Even 5 proves the course was the winner and the leaders could come back to the field rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/45 "2009-07-19T01:50:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Thats what there were when I walked my dogs. I did not get new figures. Even 5 proves the course was the winner and the leaders could come back to the field rapidly. No doubt,any player shooting under par will be in the top 10.Not gonna be very many.Hope Tom is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/46 "2009-07-19T02:25:14Z")
So many story lines in this Open. Tom watson’s bid to win #6 at 59,Tiger missing the cut,Marino the alternate,Padraig trying to win 3 straight,Fishers baby(will he really leave?),Daly’s outfits,Thongchai Jaidee…what els? Lotsa fun. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/47 "2009-07-19T04:10:27Z")
> [@KRM](#): > > If Watson were to win, would this be a bigger accomplishment than Nicklaus winning the Masters at 46? I’d have to say yes but to me, this won’t be as emotional since Jack was always my favorite golfer. Here’s The Golden Bear’s take (from [here](http://www.tsn.ca/golf/story/?id=284967)): \*Nicklaus, who rarely watches golf on television, saw most of the third round from his home in south Florida. “I had some tears in my eyes,” Nicklaus said. “I just really hope he wins.”\* I’m with Jack on this one, if the old duffer can pull it off I suspect my vision may get a little blurry for a bit. Go Tom! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/48 "2009-07-19T05:05:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Thats what there were when I walked my dogs. I did not get new figures. Even 5 proves the course was the winner and the leaders could come back to the field rapidly. It also proves he wasn’t “less bad” than others, other than in the general sense that anyone doing well is doing “less bad” than others. :rolleyes: He’s playing quite well. He is avoiding double-bogeys, which is the main issue. He apparently has an idea in his head how many bogeys he can afford for the tournament and still win. So far, he’s meeting his expectations, according to the sources I read. I still don’t expect him to win; I’d put more money on Goosen right now, just because 4 rounds in the wind at 59 is a lot of effort bound to wear you down, and because I’m not sure Watson’s ability to sink vital 4 footers will continue to hold up. But I would NOT want to bet against him. As Nicklaus said, he will do alright if he plays smart, and you don’t expect Watson not to play smart. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/49 "2009-07-19T11:06:16Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Does anyone know why Troon is the only course designated as “Royal” while all the English Courses in the Rota have the the “Royal” designation? The official name for St Andrews is in fact the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Otherwise, it’s not as if Scottish golf clubs have been totally ignored for royal patronage. The courses at Aberdeen, Dornoch, Montrose, Musselburgh, Perth, and Tarlair all carry the ‘Royal’ appellation, in addition to Troon. They just don’t happen to be on the Open rota. My first guess was that a club was granted this status if a member of the royal family had played there, or been a member there, but this is shot down by the fact of the Mayfair Golf & Country Club in Edmonton, Canada, which was granted Royal status by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005. I doubt the Queen has ever played that course, especially as late as 2005. Regarding the 4th round today, I am another viewer rooting for Watson. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/50 "2009-07-19T15:15:54Z")
I’m psyched for the Italian kid, Manassero. Recall during the 1976 how a 17 year old Seve exploded onto the scene and almost won the tournament before a final round 74 left him 6 shots behind Johnny Miller in 2nd place. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/51 "2009-07-19T15:20:18Z")
Well, it turns out its Westwood who is showing the chops. As I expected, sadly, Watson is struggling to keep it together. I think it is likely Westwood will win; he’s past most of the tough holes and all he has to do is just play for green centers. Of course, as I type this, he’s managing to make a hash of 10… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/52 "2009-07-19T16:55:07Z")
Watson’s hanging in there. It’s Westwood that’s getting the yips. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/53 "2009-07-19T17:13:24Z")
All Watson has to do is par the 18th. This is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/54 "2009-07-19T17:21:42Z")
If that 8 iron could have just held up a bit. It would be over. Now a gut wrenching up and down to win. I suppose he has made a few chips like that before in his career. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/55 "2009-07-19T17:23:45Z")
Chicken shot failed.Now the gut is still churning. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/56 "2009-07-19T17:28:22Z")
Never too old to choke. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/57 "2009-07-19T17:30:29Z")
This is going to be a downer if Watson loses this thing now. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/58 "2009-07-19T17:33:24Z")
Well, that’s the Tom Watson we’ve come to expect over a putt. Now, he has to outlast Cink. This reminds me so much of '89, when Norman lost to Calcavecchia. Cink has the momentum, Watson has the tired body. Who will win? Oh, and by the way, who in the WORLD lets Tom Weiskopf get near a microphone?? He’s been 100% incorrect in his assesments of which way putts would break today. It’s almost comical how bad he is. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/59 "2009-07-19T17:35:47Z")
You would have to back Cink. Poor Watson. Just a bit of luck with that iron shot and he would have been champion. He still had a makeable putt though. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229/60 "2009-07-19T17:36:34Z")
It’s hard to give a shit about Cink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-open-golf-tournament/503229.md?page=4)