Conference 7.286::golf

    
    
     The weather on the West Coast of Scotland has been very dry and humid
    for the past few weeks. I play maybe 3 or 4 times a week just now and
    honestly cannot remember when I last had waterproofs out. 
    
     Turnberry will be very hard unless we get some heavy rain over the
    next couple of weeks, which in turn would see the rough grow very
    quickly.
    
     Many of the top players are at the Irish Open this week (finishes
    today) and the Scottish Open next week at Gleneagles.
    
     Danny.

Well given the quality of the field who played in the Irish Open over the 
weekend it has to be some indication of who's going to do well at the Open.
the Results were

-13 Langer (final round of 67)

-12 John Daly ( final round of 65)
-12 Robert Allenby ((final round of 72)

-10 Olazabal (final round of 71) 
-10 Greg Turner 

Selected Scores

-8 Nick Faldo
-8 Ernie Els
-2 Seve Ballesteros

    John Daly is worth a bet his odds will be quite good, is Turnberry a
    tough course ?
    
    
    Joe

	If the rough is thin and dry, John Daly could make a good run
	at the title.  If the rough is heavy, I think Tom Watson may
	challenge.  He was near the top before folding on the final day
	of the US Open and has been near the top a couple of other times
	this year.  His record in the (British) Open is remarkable.

	Who are the hot golfers in Europe at the moment ?  With Langer
	winning the Irish Open, is he the best at the moment ?  Has Faldo
	shown any signs of ending his slump ?

    Look for Corey Pavin to have a 'good' showing at The Open.  I'm not
    predicting win here, but Corey is one of those few U.S. players who
    really enjoys playing 'British Open type' courses.
    
    Didn't he finish about 4th last year?

    Yes he did joint 4th, i had an each way bet on him at 33/1 as some chap
    shot the lights to catch him the bookies only paid half the odds.
    
    Norman and Daly, dont waste your money on Monty he cant putt, on TV
    last nite they showed Doug Sanders miss that putt in 1970 that was sad
    but as we all know golf is a sad game.
    
    Joe

    	I'd love to see Tom Watson win the Open again.  He's been real
    close to winning several times this year on the PGA tour.  Also, I
    understand he's very well liked in the UK.  He's extremely good from
    tee to green but even *my* hands start to shake we he stands over a
    four or five foot putt!!    

    
    
     Don't know if Watson will make a challenge this week but he would
    be a popular "non-euro" winner. The first Open I attended was his
    duel in the sun with Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977. In 1983 he won
    his 5th Open title at Troon. He's certainly very popular in Scotland
    where he won 5 of his 6 Open titles. We don't get a great deal of
    coverage of the US TOUR (unless you've got SKY TV) but from what
    I've seen of Watson over the past few years, he's as good as ever 
    from tee to green but as you suggest in .7, he's very dodgy on the
    green.
    
     On an aside, John Daly is involved in a Wilson exhibition at Troon
    today, I'll be taking a half-day to watch him boom a few drives away.
    The Ayr manufacturing facility is situated 15 minutes drive from
    Royal Troon, 25 minutes from Turnberry, 75 minutes from Muirfield
    and @2 hours from St. Andrews!! 
    
     Danny.

    Tom Watson has lost his putting as we know, what is so strange is at
    the height of his powers he was the best holer out in the world.
    
    What has changed ?
    
    Note. 8  You are in for a shock watching Daly hit a ball it is the most
    incredible thing i have seen in the world, the TV does not do it
    justice.
    
    Tell us tommorrow what you thought and what the crowd reaction was
    
    Joe

    	re: Daly
    
    	A couple of weeks ago he was giving an exhibition down on Cape Cod
    Massachusetts.  I talked with a couple of guys who were amazed at what
    he could do with a driver.  They told me that he took out a putter and
    proceeded to hit some balls 250 yards out of the driving range with it!
    I know it's hard to believe but more than one person said they saw it.
    I have no idea what kind of putter (maybe a Warbird!!), but watch for
    this stunt when he's pleasing the crowd.
    						JT

    
    
    re Daly
    
    
     He attended Troon as part of his contract with Wilson and looked
    decidely pissed off as he stood around watching local players in
    a long driving competition. The winning distance was 300 yards. 
    Daly then went through a short exhibition, starting with his putter.
    He hit half a dozen shots over 200 yards!!! He then through his bag
    knocking shots down the fairway.
    
     Good day yesterday at Turnberry for the final practise round. Watson,
    Norman, Price and Nicklaus teamed up with the "older" 2 winning the
    match. Watson looked really good, very steady and consistent. He's
    in with a great chance this week. Also had my first look at Phil
    Mickleson, very impressive. 
    
     Today is the first day proper of the tourney, the weather just now
    is very hot with little wind. Expect a lot of low scores. If the wind
    picks up and blows in off the sea, players will struggle to stay in
    control. It'll be very hard to pick a winner if conditions stay calm
    over the four days.
    
     Danny.
    
     

    
    We're running between 2 notes...lets make this one the only OPEN note.
    
    Here's some notable scores..
    
    
     -5 Greg Turner  (65)
     -4 Jon Lomas     
     -3 Andrew McGhee  
     -2 Tom Watson
        Loren Roberts
        John Daly
        David Feherty
        Wayne Grady
     -1 Ernie Els
        Nick Price
    
    Others...
    
    level Ballesterous,Crenshaw
       +1 Norman
       +2 Monty,Langer,Olazabal
       +5 Faldo (hit the wrong ball which cost him triple bogey)
       +8 Woosnam
    
    Del

    	Faldo hitting the wrong ball is really incredible!  Where is the
    man's brain?  Shouldn't one of the jobs of the caddie be to prevent
    such a disastrous occurance?  At +5, it seems he's already out of the
    competition even if he does make the cut.  Pulling a brainless stunt
    like this will mentally destroy him.
    
    	On another note - Daly commented on the drug thing saying that you
    have to keep in mind who was quoting him (notorious scandal rag) but on
    the other hand, Big John has quite a notorious reputation himself.  He
    also commented that he has plenty to do just to take care of himself.
    I assume he was talking about his own attitude and volatility.
    
    	I saw Turner hole out from 180 yards (forget which hole) just after
    the commentator said what a difficult shot he had.  Did I also hear
    that he holed out for another eagle earlier in the round?  If that's
    the case, I'd consider his score a bit lucky.
    
    	Very happy to see Watson at -2.  Too bad he played early and we
    didn't get to see him on the replay last night.
    
    	One last comment, is the TV coverage somewhat lacking compared to
    what we are used to seeing in the US?  Are the American broadcasters at
    the mercy of the UK cameras (blurry pictures due to wet lenses, shots
    of the spectators while the commentators talk about someone else)?
    
    					JT

    
    
    re last
    
    Latest updates
    
     Faldo shot 66 today to finish at 1 over, should make the cut
    
     Watson up to 4 under after 2 birdies in first 3 holes
    
     Turner eagled par 5 7th hole yesterday and holed his 2 iron at the
    17th. He's back to minus 4 today after 5 birdies and 6 bogeys!! in his
    round so far.
    
     Thats all for just now!!

    The BBC Coverage is much better than the putting comps we see on Sky
    and the ABC breaks every 2 mins.
    
    You guys accross the pond must be getting second rate pictures from
    some cheapskate network.
    
    In England the is is the best weeks golf coverage of the year bar none,
    
    Joe

    	re: Faldo and Turner
    
    	I suppose I should know better than to say anyone's finished after
    the first round OR just plain lucky.  It's amazing how a little luck or
    a little adversity can change your attitude.  Maybe it was a good
    wake-up call for Faldo!  Thanks for the updates and you're right about
    the commercialism of American TV.  It really sucks.  Maybe that's why
    we don't see more soccer, 45 minutes at a time with no ads.
    
    						JT

    Commercial tv is just that.  You get it for free so expect to have to
    bear watching commercials.  Got to get cable to avoid those nastys.
    
    Commercials are limited to mere minutes an hour during the Masters,
    thanks to Cadillac and Travelors.
    
    I do agree that many golf match coverages are absolutely horrible due
    to commercials.  I've shut a couple of them off because there was so
    little play in between commercials.  The last U.S. Open was not too
    bad.
    
    The Gold Cup matches are being shown commercial free ON commercial tv!
    
    A number of years ago I spent 5 weeks working in Kent.  Just my luck
    that all British tv stations, except BBC1 & 2, were on strike at that
    time.  I've made a few trips over the pond, so I do know that was an
    exception, but was no fun at the time being limited to only those two.
    
    BTW - What are the odds on the Gold Cup finals this coming Sunday?

    
    Will Faldo feel better after shooting 66 or worse knowing deep down he
    is responsible for identifying his ball, had he done that he would
    be within a couple of shots of the pace ? I suspect he will be fired up
    either way and unless someone gets away 5 shots is not impossible to
    make up.
    
    I just listened to Feherty on the radio, he is -3 when asked if he
    could win he simply replied yes, then asked what his plans were for
    tomorrow he said hit the fairway, hit the green and hope i make some
    putts ! simple, thats nice.
                               

    It is a simple game made hard by idiots who have poor basics and align
    wrong.
    
    Feherty has got that chap Alan Fine in his camp he wrote 'The inner
    game of Golf' its about attitude and approach.
    
    Faldo was tight and trying to hard on the first day he got annoyed thats
    why he never identified his ball, today he had nought to lose he just
    played golf under no pressure and shot a 66, its a harder game the
    harder you try.
    
    I have played the wrong ball on a few occasions, but on every time i
    had a bad score and would not have done it had i been playing well.
    
    I have seen it a few times and every time the player was having a
    thrash.
    
    Faldo is worth a bet at 33/1

    So Golf is a simple game? And if you don't have good basics and align
    incorrectly you are an idiot? Interseting. I play with a person who
    doesn't have very good basics and quite often alighs himself
    incorrectly. He also plays the course in 4 hours, replaces his divots,
    fixes his bakkmarkes and evryone elses for that matter and has a great
    respect for the game and it's History. He's no Idiot. 
    
    Pete

    
    	Any updates??  It's almost 8:00 pm over there, isn't it?
    
    	Al Linement
    

    	re: .20
    
    	Thanks, Pete.  I had the same feelings but didn't bother to
    chastise the individual.  Anyone who thinks golf is simple must really
    be an.............never mind.
    					JT

    
    
      133    -    Tom Watson        68,65 
    
      134    -    Jesper Parnevick  68,66
                  Brad Faxon        69,65
    
      135    -    Nick Price        69,66
    
      
                  Others
    
      137    -    Fuzzy Zoeller     71,66
    
      138    -    Ernie Els         69,69
                  Greg Norman       71,67
    
      140    -    John Daly         68,72
                  S. Ballesteros    70,70
    
      141    -    Nick Faldo        75,66
                  M. Calcavecchia   71,70
                  C. Montgomerie    72,69
    
      142    -    Larry Mize        73,69
                  Wayne Grady       68,74
                  Bernhard Langer   72,70
    
      143    -    Lee Janzen        74,69
                  JM Olazabal       72,71
                  Ben Crenshaw      70,73
    
      The cut was 143. Those who missed included Nicklaus, Player on 145,
      Scott Simpson on 146, Andrew Magee (67,80!!), Lee Trevino on 147,
      Payne Stewart on 148, Baker-Finch on 150, Beck and Pavin on 151,
      Woosnam and Mickleson on 152.
    
      Conditions for the weekend are expected to be very good with plenty
      of sun and very little wind. Could well turn into a putting contest
      if the wind stays away, can Tom Watson keep holing those 6 footers?
    
       Danny.

    
    
      John Daly reached the turn in 32 to go to 5 under par, one off the
     lead. He then hooked his tee-shot onto the beach at the 10th, lost 
     the ball and finished with a 7. His tee-shot at the short 11th hole
     finished 20 feet away, he then 4 putted for a double bogey 5. He then
     played the final 7 holes in 1 under par to finish with a level par
     total of 140, seven behind Watson.
    
      Fuzzy Zoeller birdied all 4 of the par 3 holes in his 2nd round score
     of 66 to finish with a total of 137, 4 behind Watson.
    
      Andrew Magee followed his opening round of 67 with an 11-bogey score
     of 80 to miss the cut by 4 shots.
    
      Lee Trevino birdied 4 of the last 5 holes but was still 4 shots off
     the cut.
    
      Gary Player birdied the last 3 holes but missed out by 2 shots.
    
      Brad Faxon and Mark Brooks both slammed fellow American players who
     do not try to play in the Open. Brooks - "I consider it an obligation.
     We have players who would not understand golf here. We have 'air-to
     air' combat over there and these players would not adapt too well over
     here". Faxon also commented on those who didn't make the effort and
     said they are missing out in the greatest competition in golf. He also
     said that many would enjoy it and stand a chance of winning if they
     played it regularly.
    
      Danny.

    .20
    
    By idiot i meant , tee your ball up hit it find it hit it putt into the
    hole and walk to the next tee.
    
    Do that 18 times that is a simple game, now if you want to hi the wring
    persons ball, hit it into a ditch,ground your club in the ditch, aim
    at the wrong target you ae making it very hard for yourself.
    
    It was not meant to be an insult, just  a facecoius (SP) remark.
    
    So Nick Price won the 3rd Major us English and US aint doin to well in
    Majors thais year.
    
    LAzabel Spain
    Els    South Africa
    Price   Zimbabwe
    
    Who will win the PGA,
    
    I felt sorry or Tom Watson to see a great champion humbled by the
    blade, this game gets everyone in the end.

    	Also felt terrible about Tom Watson and the other Americans who
    faded out on the last day, especially with such unusual playing
    conditions for the Open.  Several top players in the world now call
    America 'home' (Price and Norman both live in Florida), it's too bad we
    can't claim them as Americans.  Imagine the Ryder cup team we would
    have!  I also felt pretty bad about Parnevik.  He stated in a interview
    after the round that he played 18 thinking he was a shot or two back. 
    Surely he would not have gone for the pin had he thought a par would
    have gotten him into a playoff at worst.  On the other hand, Price knew
    exactly where he stood and probably may have tried for birdie on 18 if
    he thought he needed it to win.  All in all, it was a great finish and
    a truly deserving champion.
    					JT

    JT,
    
    Did you not think Parnavik may have pulled his iron shot rather than
    go for the pin.
    
    I find it amazing he never looked at the leader board that close to the
    end, Ernie Els said the same when he bogied 18 in the US Open on the
    final day.
    
    These Majors year after year have incredibel finishes and shots that
    win Majors.
    
    When Couples won the Masters on the sort par 3 on the back nine his
    ball was short and rolling into the hazard as many had that week but
    his stopped and he won the masters, as did lazabel this year he hold
    from the front edge.
    Calcavechia holed a wedge which was going way past the pin when
    he won the Open, Price holed that hooray putt on 17.
    
    There always seems to be a turing point, i felt Fuzzy was unlucky
    he would have been a real popular champ.
    
    Every yar they trot ot the same old drivel that a Major does not start
    untill the back nine on Sunday afternoon and they are right, some guys
    start getting double bogies all over the place other get birdies and
    eagles, every time it happens.
    
    JA

Just to add fuel to the fire .......

Nick Price, at least some while ago, not only played for Zimbabwe he also has 
a British passport. 

Does this make it a home win ?

	Mike

    Price has a British passport, he grew up in Rhodesia which was changed
    to Zimbabwe after the war in 81 i think.
    
    As for home win , have you heard his accent, he has got a bother called
    Tim.
    
    Tim Price and Billy Keon played for Zimbabwe in the world cup when it
    was in Italy last, not a lot of people know that.
    
    Nick Price played a lot of junior golf at Warren Hills just outside
    Harare, Leadbetter was a pro there later not a lot of people know that.

    Did anyone else think that Daly's last put on the 11th (when he 4 putt)
    was struck while the ball was still moving.  It really looked like it
    on TV.  I'll stick with my assessment from the Masters - I would hate
    to play Price.  He looked better than all of the others-I'm not sure
    how he just looked better.  
    Go back and read all of this years masters stuff and see how it matches
    the Open.
    England taking credit for Price's win is like the US saying that
    Martina is an american.
    Mike

    	re: 27
    
    	Did Jesper pull his shot to the 18th green...absolutely not!  He
    said he thought he thought he was a shot or two down and was going for
    the pin.  I think he hit a wedge, and Nicklaus didn't think he had
    enough club before the shot.  
    	I'm NOT trying to claim any home win with Price.  I'd be an
    American wherever I lived and I'm sure Nick feels the same about his
    home land.
    					JT

    Well, the Americans petered-out, once again.  Watson, my man Brad, and
    the Fuz, all faded away yesterday.  Three down (majors, that is) and
    one to go.
    
    First time that the 3 major majors passed without an American winning
    one.  Now what's left?  The PGA may be the minor major, but you can
    bet there will be big endorsement bucks riding on whoever takes the
    last one of the year.  Sure did wonders for Daly's career.
    
    I see Price went back to his Zebra putter...  The guy is a machine.
    Notice that  hard stare of his has after a long shot?  Like he's
    willing the ball towards a target.
    
    Trivia Alert:  What is Fuzzy's middle name?  (I can always remember his
    middle name, but usually forget his first.)
    
    I see Beth Daniels won yesterday.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the
    difference between the PGA and LPGA. ;^)
    

    
    
     Another brilliant final day in the Open Championship. At one point 
    half a dozen players were on -8 with another halfdozen within 4 shots
    of the leaders.
    
     Parnevick must be pretty down at the moment. He reckoned he needed to
    get -13 to win so went for the flag on the last hole instead of aiming
    for the centre of the green, costly decision in the end.
    
     Price played some great golf to win the trophy. Most people will say
    his eagle putt on 17 won the trophy but the turning point was at holes
    13 and 14 where he got up and down from behind the green to save par.
    This kept him right in the hunt and gave him the momentum to attack
    holes 16 and 17.
    
     Sad to see Watson double-bogey holes 8 and 9 which ended his
    challenge. He would of been a popular winner throughout golf.
    
     Whats with John Daly? He was joint leader at -5 after nine holes of
    round 2, he finished the championship on 292, 12 over par and last
    place!! I reckon he's got a serious problem up top.
    
     Danny.
    
    ps Interesting to note that Price finished at -12, same score as Watson
       posted back in '77 when he won at Turnberry. All the advances in
       club and ball manufacture since '77 doesn't seem to have made that
       much of a difference.

    
    
    Frank Urban Zoeller   F.U.Z.

    re: .-1
    
    We have a winnah!  Yeah, I can always remember Urban, but Frank escapes
    me at times, even though I knew the first name began with an F.
    
    Go figure.

    Tom Watson chastised his Country men for missing the Open, he was quite
    strong about it, i was very suprised to hear him say such things.
    
    He said Boom Boom and Zinger would have been there but for their ill
    health but the rest got a slagging.
    
    Perhaps some of the target golfers think they would not do well on the
    links course, history does not bear this out the best golfers win the
    majors 9 times out of 10.
    
    It was nice to see Mark Calcevchia win 20k with his 7k from a Pro Am in
    Sweden 7k expenses he is 20k up for 2 weeks work, he will be back.
    
    

    Are you sure about Fuzzy's first name being Frank. I thought it was 
    Francis.    Just curious...
    

    re.35
    The course and weather conditions were the same?
    I don't think so.
    

>>    Are you sure about Fuzzy's first name being Frank. I thought it was 
>>    Francis.    Just curious...
  
I thought it was Matthew
  
Mike

    I think Frank is right.   
    
    Matthew?  That would make him 'Muzzy'!!!
    

    Francis Urwin Zoeller
    
    The FUZ!
    -jr

    Pretty sure it's Urban.  I will check this weekend.
    

    	re: 38
    
    	This is this a joke, right?  I see no smiley faces.  Frank or Fran
    is a nickname for Francis (or Matthew). 8^)
    
    						JT