Easy life » 日志 » Golf Tidbits: The Open Championship Rota
Golf Tidbits: The Open Championship Rota
jordan 发表于 2008-07-21 08:06:06
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The British Open Championship kicked off Thursday at Royal Birkdale, one of 14 courses that have hosted the Open Championship. All 14 are links courses, as so ordered by the Championship Committee.
In 1922, the Championship Committee made a declaration that read in part, "The Open shall henceforth be played only on links courses, to provide a true test for the skilled players."
Some more interesting British Open site facts:
OF COURSE...
The 14 courses that have hosted the Open Championship are spread all over the map - one in
Nine venues within that group have hosted an Open since 2000 or are scheduled to host the event before 2012. Those nine are: Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Royal St. Georges, Royal Troon,
Two courses - St. Andrews (27 Opens) and
THE ONE AND ONLY...
The Old Course at
Woods won his first and second Claret Jugs at
Nicklaus, an 18-time major championship winner, won twice at
Two days later, Woods closed out a stellar five-shot win. Not bad, but it didn't match his eight-shot win from 2000.
The venerable course will again host the British Open in 2010.
WATSON NOT PICKY
In 1975, the year Woods was born, fellow American Tom Watson claimed his first British Open Championship. Watson won five Claret Jugs in all, which ties him for second-most all time, and he didn't finish there. He has won three Senior British Open Championships as well.
For all his British Open titles, Watson did not have a favorite course in the rota. He won five Open Championships between 1975 and 1983, and did so on five different courses - Carnoustie, Turnberry, Muirfield, Royal Troon and Royal Birkdale.
Watson has doubled up since participating in the Senior Open, winning a second time at Turnberry in 2003 and at Muirfield last year. He will compete this week at Birkdale, where he won his fifth British Open in 1983.
COMING UP...
The venue for the next four British Opens has been set.
Turnberry will host next year for the first time since 1994, and then the Open returns to
WHAT'S WRONG WITH OCHOA?
Since winning the Sybase Classic in mid-May, Lorena Ochoa has struggled on and off the course. A devout family person, Ochoa has had two close relatives die since that win.
The pain from those losses has carried over onto the course. Prior to her win at the Sybase, Ochoa carded 10-of-34 rounds in the 70s. However, in the three events since that win, the Mexican has stumbled to 8-of-12 rounds in the 70s, including four straight in her last start.
Ochoa, who could pick and choose where she plays, generally does play on a frequent basis. That said, she has played just three of the last eight events.
Ochoa is expected to return next week at the Evian Masters. The following week she will defend her title at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale Golf Club.
MINI-TIDBIT
- Michelle Wie is back in action this week, and needs a good week at the LPGA State Farm Classic. If Wie finishes among the top five players not already qualified, she will get into the Women's British Open in two weeks. She got off to a solid start with a five-under 67 on Thursday.
07/17 16:47:27 ET