BRITISH OPEN WEEK

On a weekend in which Gallup will host two 18 hole fundraisers (Firefighters on Saturday and GHS Dance Team on Sunday), we will also be watching the 137th Open Championship, more commonly known to all of us as the "British Open". It will be hosted at Royal Birkdale (hole #17 pictured below right). This year marks the 25th anniversary of the last of five wins of Tom Watson, one of the greatest stretches of golf played by anyone in the late 20th Century. He won five times from 1975 to 1983 and lost to Seve Ballesteros a close one in 1984, when he tied for second, two strokes back at the Old Course in St. Andrews. His last win came at this year's venue. While there are three other golfers who won the Open Championship five times and one that won 6 times, Tom Watson is the only who won at five different courses.

While in his prime, Tom was not people's "1st" favorite -he beat Jack Nicklaus in four close majors, which did not go well with many-, but I always admired his courage and great play. And, as he became older, he also became one of everyone's favorites and we cheered for him often, though he did not win as often because of a questionable putter. And of course, in the 2003 U.S. Open, when at age 50 he shot an opening round of 65 while using his favorite caddy and friend, Bruce Edwards, who died later that year, Tom solidified his place in many people's hearts (that is another story, but you should read a book called "Caddy for Life", it is a great story).

Tom, now on the Seniors Tour, where he has also won the Senior British Open, was known as a "chocker" in his early days, even after winning the 1974 Western Open. Two years, including 1974, Tom Watson blew a weekend lead in the U.S. Open and there was no relief in sight, at least from the demanding press. That is, until he followed the next several years with championship play. He won his first major in 1975, when he defeated Jack Newton in a playoff at Carnoustie (for many, the toughest of all "open" courses); but most important for his career, confidence and place in history, he defeated Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Masters and then later in 1977 British Open in two of the most epic golf battles of all time... of Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal proportions, particularly the 1977 British Open, in which Jack Nicklaus shot 68, 70, 65, 66, beat his next competitor by 10 shots but lost to Tom Watson, who shot identical scores the first three days but bettered Jack by one on Sunday!

This year, while everyone is talking about "you know who's" absence, no one is talking about who might win, and, that this is truly "an open championship". I don't buy that, but "you know who" is not this year's defending champion, so let's give Padraig Harrington his due as defending champion, and perhaps even Sergio Garcia, who blew a three stroke lead last year. As well, we wish Phil Mickelson, who has not played well in this event, a good tournament and maybe he can redeem himslef from the criticism he received in the U.S. Open for not challenging "you know who". A fourth major would go a long way in redeeming himself. Many have said that this year's open winner should have an "asterisk" besides his name...

Why?, because I am not in the field? It's OK, no asterisk needed.