Jdb2005
Challenge Tour Pro
This for me
The 2013 Open Championship - what's your verdict
- Thread starter MikeH
- Start date
This for me
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Well played by Mickelson, he wasn't even in the picture standing on the 13th tee and wins with a few to spare.
Nice guy, glad he's finally got his name on the trophy as he's certainly the 2nd biggest name in golf over the past 20yrs.
Nice guy, glad he's finally got his name on the trophy as he's certainly the 2nd biggest name in golf over the past 20yrs.
D
Deleted member 1418
Guest
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
To me it summed up the state of golf quite well.
From a golfing purists point of view there was much to admire and enjoy. There were true links conditions to play in. Also the course was a great test without getting too silly, although at times the pin positions were meaning that players could not really go for them and were just playing for pars. But I think they mostly got the balance right and the cream rose to the top, which I think is a sign of a good course set up. And it was very exciting where you don't know who would win and it was not just a procession for the final group. Although some may see that as an anticlimax as the winner had finished well before the last puts were made. Also Lefty is a classy guy, played one of the great final rounds in major history (not that we saw much of it) and it is difficult to find a more worthy or popular winner.
I still though think there is an issue that live stroke play golf is a bit boring most of the time, no matter if it's Sky, the BBC or Al Jazeera (actually I'd pay to watch that
). And I am not sure how much it draws in and engages the casual sports viewer the way Wimbledon or the Ashes cricket does. Yes golfers will watch it, but there is a lot of excellent sport this summer in which Britain is doing rather well in, and the R&A and BBC needs to understand it is competing with these events. It would be interesting to see the viewing and listening figures as I know the BBC have had record figures for Wimbledon and Test Match Special on the radio.
From a wider perspective though I think there are some issues. The whole 'women members' debate dominated the build up. And I expect this is not something that will go away, especially the next time the open is played at a male members only course, which I believe is quite soon. And despite all the well worn arguments about the rights and wrongs, whose fault it is etc etc, I hope everyone would agree that this does not to the image of the game or 'Brand Open' any favours at all.
Visitor numbers were also down on the first 2 days on the last time it came to Muirfield, which must be worrying for the R&A. I am sure there are lots of reasons/excuses for this, but with the weather they had, this must be an area for concern. One of the images I have of this championship is stands that were not exactly full, even when Tiger was playing on the green. There were grumblings from those that went and a few commentators on the cost and quality of the tented area. Again high costs and corporate influence at major sporting events is not exactly a shocker, but if you need to attract more visitors and are not selling the event out then these things matter.
Also I know it is a bugbear of mine, but the presentation ceremony shows all that is wrong with golf to me. Here is the climax to a event seen worldwide, and up comes Peter Dawson and the seven administrative dwarves of the apocalypse. All rocking that blazer look that only old people of a certain age seem to think is smart. I mean who are most of these people? Does anyone have the faintest idea who they are and what they are doing there? Would it kill you to put a suit on? Do they really think the viewing population wants to see them? Then Dawson opens his mouth with the plumby voice and gives the same speech every year. If they were trying to set a record for re-enforcing all those stereotypes about golf and the people that run it in the shortest possible time, then mission accomplished.
How about taking a leaf out of Wimbledon's book, another institution that is no stranger to tradition and etiquette. They now have Sue Barker MCing the presentation, interviewing the players, making it fizz along and generally adding a bit of sparkle to it. They have realised that no one wants to see anonymous old duffers in blazers giving themselves some side and getting involved in the presentation, and have managed to reduce the role of Prince Michael of Kent to about 5 seconds now where he hands over the trophy and says nothing.
I know a lot of this may seem a bit trivial and frivolous, which perhaps it is. But yet again I would go back to the perception and image the game has. It's competing with a lot of other summer sporting events, visitor numbers were down whilst the weather was as good as it ever will be and the game has become even more associated with the wrong image with regards to its treatment of women. And I am not sure the game has advanced for the better after The Open this year, in fact I would say the opposite.
From a golfing purists point of view there was much to admire and enjoy. There were true links conditions to play in. Also the course was a great test without getting too silly, although at times the pin positions were meaning that players could not really go for them and were just playing for pars. But I think they mostly got the balance right and the cream rose to the top, which I think is a sign of a good course set up. And it was very exciting where you don't know who would win and it was not just a procession for the final group. Although some may see that as an anticlimax as the winner had finished well before the last puts were made. Also Lefty is a classy guy, played one of the great final rounds in major history (not that we saw much of it) and it is difficult to find a more worthy or popular winner.
I still though think there is an issue that live stroke play golf is a bit boring most of the time, no matter if it's Sky, the BBC or Al Jazeera (actually I'd pay to watch that
). And I am not sure how much it draws in and engages the casual sports viewer the way Wimbledon or the Ashes cricket does. Yes golfers will watch it, but there is a lot of excellent sport this summer in which Britain is doing rather well in, and the R&A and BBC needs to understand it is competing with these events. It would be interesting to see the viewing and listening figures as I know the BBC have had record figures for Wimbledon and Test Match Special on the radio.From a wider perspective though I think there are some issues. The whole 'women members' debate dominated the build up. And I expect this is not something that will go away, especially the next time the open is played at a male members only course, which I believe is quite soon. And despite all the well worn arguments about the rights and wrongs, whose fault it is etc etc, I hope everyone would agree that this does not to the image of the game or 'Brand Open' any favours at all.
Visitor numbers were also down on the first 2 days on the last time it came to Muirfield, which must be worrying for the R&A. I am sure there are lots of reasons/excuses for this, but with the weather they had, this must be an area for concern. One of the images I have of this championship is stands that were not exactly full, even when Tiger was playing on the green. There were grumblings from those that went and a few commentators on the cost and quality of the tented area. Again high costs and corporate influence at major sporting events is not exactly a shocker, but if you need to attract more visitors and are not selling the event out then these things matter.
Also I know it is a bugbear of mine, but the presentation ceremony shows all that is wrong with golf to me. Here is the climax to a event seen worldwide, and up comes Peter Dawson and the seven administrative dwarves of the apocalypse. All rocking that blazer look that only old people of a certain age seem to think is smart. I mean who are most of these people? Does anyone have the faintest idea who they are and what they are doing there? Would it kill you to put a suit on? Do they really think the viewing population wants to see them? Then Dawson opens his mouth with the plumby voice and gives the same speech every year. If they were trying to set a record for re-enforcing all those stereotypes about golf and the people that run it in the shortest possible time, then mission accomplished.
How about taking a leaf out of Wimbledon's book, another institution that is no stranger to tradition and etiquette. They now have Sue Barker MCing the presentation, interviewing the players, making it fizz along and generally adding a bit of sparkle to it. They have realised that no one wants to see anonymous old duffers in blazers giving themselves some side and getting involved in the presentation, and have managed to reduce the role of Prince Michael of Kent to about 5 seconds now where he hands over the trophy and says nothing.
I know a lot of this may seem a bit trivial and frivolous, which perhaps it is. But yet again I would go back to the perception and image the game has. It's competing with a lot of other summer sporting events, visitor numbers were down whilst the weather was as good as it ever will be and the game has become even more associated with the wrong image with regards to its treatment of women. And I am not sure the game has advanced for the better after The Open this year, in fact I would say the opposite.
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Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Well with 9 letters in your surname you will be quite near the top...........
My wife said that when the engraver started work!
Classic links Open.
IMO some very poor golf played over the four days.
I have played that course many times in that condition [pre. fairway watering] and some of the shots were miles off line.
15 yards in the rough with an iron off the tee is not clever.
Exciting stuff though.
Most of the current top players in the world were in the mix and they sent quite a few aspiring stars homeward tae think again.
There was also massive mis-judgments of the distances, the number of 25 yard putts Woods had was a good example of that
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Surely that's a misjudgement of the amount of bounce and roll you're going to get - which is virtually impossible to predict.
Easy when you've watched 30+ players all come up short as they assumed that you could pitch short and let the ball run, it landed softly and then didn't...
We heard Moore's Caddy say something like "this HAS to bounce on" - well it didn't.
So not necessarily misjudgements - more lucky unlucky bounces.
Tommo21
Tour Winner
Kymer, Els, Garcia, Rafael, Jimenez, Cabrera, Woods.......Johnston and Day especially, both shot 77, couldn’t come up with the goods when it mattered.
Mostly putting was the difference, and even Poulter, if another couple dropped would have been in there.
Great championship, was there for 8 days straight and got an insight into the whole circus, including the one that follows Tiger even if he plays good or not. It’s a feeding frenzy that is built up by the press as if they’re scared they’re going to miss something. Even after his round they follow him like flies round dung.
In my opinion Phil is way ahead of Tiger now, and rightly so.
Big shout for Paul Laurie. After his disastrous first round 81 the guy done good.....especially with a sore back.
Mostly putting was the difference, and even Poulter, if another couple dropped would have been in there.
Great championship, was there for 8 days straight and got an insight into the whole circus, including the one that follows Tiger even if he plays good or not. It’s a feeding frenzy that is built up by the press as if they’re scared they’re going to miss something. Even after his round they follow him like flies round dung.
In my opinion Phil is way ahead of Tiger now, and rightly so.
Big shout for Paul Laurie. After his disastrous first round 81 the guy done good.....especially with a sore back.
User20205
Money List Winner
To me it summed up the state of golf quite well.
I still though think there is an issue that live stroke play golf is a bit boring most of the time, no matter if it's Sky, the BBC or Al Jazeera (actually I'd pay to watch that
Visitor numbers were also down on the first 2 days on the last time it came to Muirfield, which must be worrying for the R&A. I am sure there are lots of reasons/excuses for this, but with the weather they had, this must be an area for concern. One of the images I have of this championship is stands that were not exactly full, even when Tiger was playing on the green. There were grumblings from those that went and a few commentators on the cost and quality of the tented area. Again high costs and corporate influence at major sporting events is not exactly a shocker, but if you need to attract more visitors and are not selling the event out then these things matter.
Also I know it is a bugbear of mine, but the presentation ceremony shows all that is wrong with golf to me. Here is the climax to a event seen worldwide, and up comes Peter Dawson and the seven administrative dwarves of the apocalypse. All rocking that blazer look that only old people of a certain age seem to think is smart. I mean who are most of these people? Does anyone have the faintest idea who they are and what they are doing there? Would it kill you to put a suit on? Do they really think the viewing population wants to see them? Then Dawson opens his mouth with the plumby voice and gives the same speech every year. If they were trying to set a record for re-enforcing all those stereotypes about golf and the people that run it in the shortest possible time, then mission accomplished.
How about taking a leaf out of Wimbledon's book, another institution that is no stranger to tradition and etiquette. They now have Sue Barker MCing the presentation, interviewing the players, making it fizz along and generally adding a bit of sparkle to it. They have realised that no one wants to see anonymous old duffers in blazers giving themselves some side and getting involved in the presentation, and have managed to reduce the role of Prince Michael of Kent to about 5 seconds now where he hands over the trophy and says nothing.
are you advocating a change of format ?? If so to what? the ashes may be a bit one sided this summer also, maybe change that to 20-20?? it's good for TV
I do agree re the ceremony, it could do with a professional touch. I'm not sure who would do it though, as the BBC coverage seems to mirror the R&A set up... a little dated.
it's my understanding that visitor numbers were down because tickets had gone up £15 to £75 per day, sounds a big leap to me and maybe a touch greedy !
SAPCOR1
Journeyman Pro
The empty stands for the "world's greatest golf tournament" in one of the best Summers in years must be a concern. The entry prices were crazy in my opinion (even though I've applied for RC tickets 
).
The presentation ceremony needs to change. The blazer'd committee give off the wrong image, marching out and then all standing behind an old table from the lounge. The speeches are just dull. Have the captain present the claret jug if you must but it would be nice if last year's champion did the presentation.
I think Peter Dawson has done well in his role but he is hampered by having to keep one foot in the "traditionalist" camp.
The course is the course and is the same for all players. I never heard Tiger or Lee complaining about that. Would love to have seen Lee or IJP win it but Phil is a worthy winner.
As for the BBC coverage it is time for either them to change or give it to Sky
).The presentation ceremony needs to change. The blazer'd committee give off the wrong image, marching out and then all standing behind an old table from the lounge. The speeches are just dull. Have the captain present the claret jug if you must but it would be nice if last year's champion did the presentation.
I think Peter Dawson has done well in his role but he is hampered by having to keep one foot in the "traditionalist" camp.
The course is the course and is the same for all players. I never heard Tiger or Lee complaining about that. Would love to have seen Lee or IJP win it but Phil is a worthy winner.
As for the BBC coverage it is time for either them to change or give it to Sky
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
are you advocating a change of format ?? If so to what? the ashes may be a bit one sided this summer also, maybe change that to 20-20?? it's good for TV
I do agree re the ceremony, it could do with a professional touch. I'm not sure who would do it though, as the BBC coverage seems to mirror the R&A set up... a little dated.
it's my understanding that visitor numbers were down because tickets had gone up £15 to £75 per day, sounds a big leap to me and maybe a touch greedy !
No I am not advocating a change of format of the Open as that would be silly, although I do wish there would be more match play tournaments as they are more exciting. The broadcasters have to do the best they can with the format they have. And the coverage just seems a bit 'staid' to me.
I think the broadcasters are stuck between trying not to alienate the etiquette and traditionalist brigade who mostly fear change, which let's face it, in golf is just about everyone. And trying to update it a bit for the 21st century and the viewing habits of the modern sports fan brought up on the way sport is shown on TV, hot spots, stump cam, super slo mo, etc etc.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Re the coverage, I agree it is starting to look tired. Why don't they do more technical stuff? Look at what Sky do at the Test analysing the players. The commentary team use super slo-mo to explain why a bowler is taking wickets or a batsman is playing badly. It seems the Beeb are afraid of alienating the casual viewer but it's at the expense of the enthusiasts, and we've come to expect more. I don't recall seeing one bit of technical analysis or explanation of a shot over the 4 days.
Birchy
Money List Winner
Matchplay will only ever be exciting viewing in a team format though. When the final of a matchplay tournament is on for example there is only two people playing leaving loads of time to fill and making for extremely boring viewing.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Wanted to add that charging the same price for all 4 days seems a bit strange. Surely common sense suggests that entry on Thursday and Friday and may be even Saturday should be a bit cheaper than Sunday. Does Wimbledon charge the same for Centre Court on day 1 as for the Final?
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport...-praised-for-not-thanking-jesus-2013072276404
Warning, the article does contain one rude word.
Warning, the article does contain one rude word.
SAPCOR1
Journeyman Pro
Ha ha
The Open Tournament- Excellent :thup:
The weather- Excellent :thup:
The entry prices- too steep at £75, consensus at my club was many didnt go because of that
The tented village- worst year ever, a few eateries (which were good) no manufacturers, no special golf equipment/holidays etc etc In the past the Tented village could entertain even the casual golfer or non golfer with it's vast array of products but not now.
...and what on earth was Doosan doing there with a huge tent?
The weather- Excellent :thup:
The entry prices- too steep at £75, consensus at my club was many didnt go because of that
The tented village- worst year ever, a few eateries (which were good) no manufacturers, no special golf equipment/holidays etc etc
In the past the Tented village could entertain even the casual golfer or non golfer with it's vast array of products but not now....and what on earth was Doosan doing there with a huge tent?
carlosportsman
Club Champion
I thought overall the tournament was good to watch. Golf should be tough and I am a firm believer in letting mother nature have her say on proceedings. I think there is little doubt the Phil was a deserving winner and a winner befitting of the list of Muirfield champions.
I was disappointed in the weekend performance by Tiger again, he showed no real killer instinct and I think he needs to reconsider his game plan for Oak Hill as frankly it hasn't worked in the last 6 majors when he has been in the hunt going into the weekend in all 6.
Westwood was, sadly, always going to falter yesterday in my opinion, this wasn't based on any concept of he being a 'bottler' or such nonsense though. It was based on a rational school of thought that he had struggled all season and the changes he has made in his swing and putting were very recent and likely to difficult to keep in place under pressure. I think if he is to win a major it has to be in a fortnight, just my opinion there though.
Rory's woes have been done to death but I am not sure if his entire set up off course is right for him, I know it is important for golfer to be comfortable with his set up but having a family based management team is just going to create a yes man scenario for Rory with no-one there to tell him the harsh truth when required, he also has that on course with his caddie. Again just my thoughts
I was disappointed in the weekend performance by Tiger again, he showed no real killer instinct and I think he needs to reconsider his game plan for Oak Hill as frankly it hasn't worked in the last 6 majors when he has been in the hunt going into the weekend in all 6.
Westwood was, sadly, always going to falter yesterday in my opinion, this wasn't based on any concept of he being a 'bottler' or such nonsense though. It was based on a rational school of thought that he had struggled all season and the changes he has made in his swing and putting were very recent and likely to difficult to keep in place under pressure. I think if he is to win a major it has to be in a fortnight, just my opinion there though.
Rory's woes have been done to death but I am not sure if his entire set up off course is right for him, I know it is important for golfer to be comfortable with his set up but having a family based management team is just going to create a yes man scenario for Rory with no-one there to tell him the harsh truth when required, he also has that on course with his caddie. Again just my thoughts
A
Alex1975
Guest
Great Open, great champion... that is all!
HotDogAssassin
Tour Rookie
Did anybody else notice a bit of tension between Henrik Stenson and Zack Johnson during the card signing following their round yesterday? They both seemed to 'throw' their cards at each other with no niceties at all. Johnson literally tossed it across with his back turned. I wondered at the time if they had had a falling out on the course, or is there some history between them?
On another point, I enjoyed watching the BBC coverage, but got a little frustrated at times. With the length of viewing, I'm sure I'm not along in not sitting constantly to watch, rather than dipping in and out through most of it. What then frustrates me is the amount of time it takes to show latest scores. I'd prefer it if there was a small list of the top 20 constantly on the side of the screen, with another small caption at the bottom showing specifics about the player in view. I'm not talking about anything that would detracted from the viewing of the play, just something fairly discrete to keep the information updated.
On another point, I enjoyed watching the BBC coverage, but got a little frustrated at times. With the length of viewing, I'm sure I'm not along in not sitting constantly to watch, rather than dipping in and out through most of it. What then frustrates me is the amount of time it takes to show latest scores. I'd prefer it if there was a small list of the top 20 constantly on the side of the screen, with another small caption at the bottom showing specifics about the player in view. I'm not talking about anything that would detracted from the viewing of the play, just something fairly discrete to keep the information updated.
carlosportsman
Club Champion
I did notice that, it was all very odd. Henrik is quite an intense player but Zach is not know to rub players up the wrong way, perhaps they were both miffed they didn't win.
