British Open filled with tradition and action
July 15th 2008 20:47
Justine Rose teeing off in preperation for the British Open
From this Thursday onwards, the most traditional tournament in Golf will take place in Royal Birkdale. The biggest dissapointment - the absence of legendary icon Tiger Woods who will miss the remainder of the year after undergoing surgery on his knee.
Royal Birkdale will be the focal point of the golfing world. All eyes will be on the spectacle that is the British Open, that will no doubt suffer somewhat under the lost presence of Woods.
It is believed the aura lost from Woods this British Open will cause mayhem for media and tournament organisers alike.
Organisers predict broadcasting without Tiger himself will be the catalyst for a severe drop in television ratings and crowd attendances alike.
Not that the rest of the players on tour care.
Irishman Padraig Harrington is the reigning champion and will feel confident in mastering the British courses without the eye of the Tiger looking on.
Not that it did too much to him last year. Harrington won the Open with Woods in it. A terrific achievement.
As for the rest, anything is possible. The logical favourite will no doubt feature world no.2 Phil Mickelson as the player capable of tearing the Open apart.
The American will take some beating though, especially with the climate Royal Birkdale throws up. Its cold and its windy and this will not sit well with Mickelson.
He strikes the ball very high, and in those conditions, control could be lost.
In saying that, Mickelson is Mickelson and he will no doubt find a way to put it right and give himself every possilbe chance of claiming another major.
If the man ever wants to close the gap between him and fellow American Tiger Woods, This is his chance to take control and come that much closer on a long road to seeking the world no.1 crown.
Australian Adam Scott could cause some grief at Royal Birkdale. His potential is unmatched but has often faltered when it comes to act. Scott has the game to bring him his first major. No one questions those aspects.
Others in the running are Spaniard Sergio Garcia, South African Ernie Els, Argentine Angel Cabrera and Englishman Lee Westwood.
The British Open is upon us and the golding world should watch, regardless of whether Tiger is somewhere else, bathing in the millions of dollars his terrific career has wielded.
As far as tradition goes, the British sure know how to organise tournaments that often surface the most breathtaking of performances.
If Wimbledon is anything to go by, the British Open could be something spectacular.
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