The 150th British Open

[playthrough]

150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, I'd say that deserves its own thread.

We'll be pounded with historic nuggets this week, but I'm not sure there's any I'll love more than this one about the 1876 Open in a Gary Van Sickle/SI.com story:

Would you believe that tournament organizers forgot to book the course, causing Open competitors to play amidst paying public golfers? That led to backups on tees, long waits and a major rules controversy.

The next time I'm playing with friends and we're stuck waiting while the group ahead is grinding over 3-footers, I'm gonna say "what are they doing up there? Playing the 1876 British Open?"

 

[qtlaw]

The Old Course is just golf at its core. I absolutely love watching the Open at St. Andrews. Daly in 1995 is one of my all-time stunners. (He got 2 majors in 4 yrs! He's got the same number as Norman!! even better.)

No complaining about bad bounces, tall hay, wind conditions, rough greens (or dare I say the "grain"?) Too f**king bad. Play it as it lies and go from there. (Admittedly, I call myself "solar" golfer, sunnier it gets, the better I play.)

 

[Noholesin1]

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the winner's share of the purse in 1876 was 10 pounds.

 

[Gutter]

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the winner's share of the purse in 1876 was 10 pounds.

That would be about £1230 in today’s pounds.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

That would be about £1230 in today’s pounds.

That'll get you about a week in an economy flat in Marylebone.

 

[playthrough]

Tiger unloaded today to the media about LIV, denouncing all of it including their "blaring music." I love that Tiger has officially entered Grouchy Old Golfer territory.

 

[MileHigh]

I've got no problem with what he said.

Tiger Woods rips LIV Golf players who 'turned their backs' on sport by choosing cash over major championships

 

[Chef2]

Fairways are stimping out higher than the greens.
Rory putted one from 60 yards away yesterday.

 

[playthrough]

I've got no problem with what he said.

Tiger Woods rips LIV Golf players who 'turned their backs' on sport by choosing cash over major championships

I don't either, but his bank account was set for life the day he turned pro. He could always just focus on winning. Some young guys are hedging their bets on themselves by taking up-front cash and hoping they can still play the biggest events later, but that's the murkiest part of the whole thing with the world ranking points being up in the air.

 

[poindexter]

LIV golfers are salty about being paired with duds.
LIV Golfers Salty About Disappointing Tee Times, Not Getting Invited to Press Conferences

 

[playthrough]

LIV golfers are salty about being paired with duds.
LIV Golfers Salty About Disappointing Tee Times, Not Getting Invited to Press Conferences

Phil's group is the sixth out in Round 1, definitely earlier than he'd ever go before but that could be a great thing if the weather favors that side of the draw.

As for not being invited to press conferences, that's a huge bonus for all those guys.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Absolutely nothing preventing any of the LIV players from walking into the press room and saying "what's up, gang?" That's a bull**** complaint.

 

[qtlaw]

Phil's group is the sixth out in Round 1, definitely earlier than he'd ever go before but that could be a great thing if the weather favors that side of the draw.

As for not being invited to press conferences, that's a huge bonus for all those guys.

At some point though you want press, need it.

 

[MileHigh]

At some point though you want press, need it.

They do pressers at the LIV events so they're getting press. Just not at St. Andrews.

 

[playthrough]

At some point though you want press, need it.

Not now and not in front of the British press. This wasn't a diss from the R&A, it was actually a huge favor.

 

[rtse11]

Based off what I heard from Phil at his last non-LIV presser, we're not missing anything except continued "thoughts and prayers"

 

[MileHigh]

I'll be curious the coverage and the number of protesters when they go to Bedminster in a couple of weeks.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Well. there's always the (remote) chance one of the LIV renegades goes out tomorrow, goes very low and leads the damn tournament. Then the R&A would have no choice but to drag the miscreant into the interview room.

 

[qtlaw]

Not now and not in front of the British press. This wasn't a diss from the R&A, it was actually a huge favor.

Don't get me wrong, I wish it was happening with the British press, that would have been fantastic. They hold nothing back.

 

[playthrough]

I'll be curious the coverage and the number of protesters when they go to Bedminster in a couple of weeks.

Gotta think that's gonna be a zoo. And if the course owner shows up ...