Ups and downs at the British Open.
Birdie: Ben Curtis. Everyone knows who you are now. You’re a British Open champion.
If people say Curtis backed into the title, they couldn’t be more wrong. The back nine at Royal St. George’s is one of the most brutal stretches in golf. You have to give yourself a cushion.
Curtis did what he needed to by playing the front side in 32. He slipped on the back, but so did everyone else. In the end, he put himself in position to claim the claret jug.
Curtis’ victory could be a one-shot deal. But if it is, it is a terrific one shot.
Bogey: Thomas Bjorn. He shouldn’t go to the beach Monday. It turns out Bjorn is allergic to sand.
Birdie: Royal St. George’s. The course was terrific. It gave and it took away. American golf course architects can learn something about the links bunkers. If you land in a bunker, you should feel some pain. Just ask Bjorn.
Bogey: Tiger Woods. Again, it came down to the putter for Woods. If he had made some putts, he would have won the tournament going away.
Bogey: Sergio Garcia. It was another blown chance in a major. Coming into the day two shots out of the lead, Garcia produced a lackluster 74 to finish at 4 over. To win a major, you have to come up big in the final round. Garcia has yet to master the concept.
Bogey: Davis Love III. Love has a major title to his credit, but there’s a reason he doesn’t have more than one. He fails to seize the opportunity in the biggies. Starting with three bogeys in his first four holes isn’t going to get it done.
Birdie: Hennie Otto. As obscure as Curtis, Otto was expected to fade after taking the first-round lead with a 68. The South African did slide with rounds of 76 and 75, but he bounced back with a 69 to tie for 10th. Very respectable.
Bogey: Phil Mickelson. Curtis won a major in his first attempt. Mickelson now is 0-for-45. It doesn’t make sense. Then again, there are times nothing makes sense in golf.
Birdie: The veterans. Nick Faldo, 46, tied for eighth and actually flirted with the lead at one point Sunday. Greg Norman, 48, and Tom Watson, 54, were among the players in a tie for 18th. The old guys don’t get it done often these days, but when they do, it is thrilling to watch.
Faldo’s run renewed hope that he can qualify for the European Ryder Cup team in 2004.
“That’s my last big playing goal,” Faldo said. Here’s hoping he makes it.
Bogey: Kenny Perry. It’s really a half-hearted bogey. Entering Sunday with a chance to win, Perry came in with a 73. Still, in his last five starts, Perry has three victories, a tie for third in the U.S. Open and a tie for eighth in the British Open. That’s impressive golf.
Bogey: The topless woman who ran onto the course during the awards ceremony. First it happened at the U.S. Open and now the British Open. Is this a new tradition at majors?
