British coverage of the Open Championship..................

[CrownPrinceBandar]

is making fun of the course conditions at Shinnecock this year. They were saying that Mickey Mouse was wearing a USGA jacket, in reference to the difficulty of the US Open. However, they can't say enough about Royal Troon; ugly, crap-ass course that it is.

Listen to radio coverage:

http://www.opengolf.com/mediaworld/radio.sps/

[tcfrogs]

1. I'm not listening to their coverage

but they're right. Shinnecock was pretty unfair, IMHO. Troon is a fair test. Yes, there are some fluky things that can happen to you, such as getting in one of those tiny bunkers and having to play out backwards. But, that's typical of a British Open course.

[trumad]

2. typical of a British Open course

A fucking Cow Pasture?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

3. But Shinnecock was HARD for everybody!............................

And the fact that some of the players finished under par showed that it could be done. I love watching the PGA, but I think those guys are getting so used to manhandling courses that they cry foul when it gets unusually hard. Shinnecock was difficult yes, unfair no.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. BBC TV commentary even managed a swipe at Bush!

One commentator said "I've been told by a source in the USGA that heads may roll for the US Open problems", and another replied "Well, intelligence from US sources hasn't been that reliable in the past couple of years!"

[tcfrogs]

31. Sounds like they are ripping the good ole' USA a bunch today

[tcfrogs]

4. Wow - Ernie's ball was stuck in a little pine tree

and he actually hit it out!

[Bluzmann57]

5. The guy who's winning is from Illinois

about 50 miles south of the Quad-Cities, where I'm at. Go Hamilton!

[tcfrogs]

6. I'm liking him more & more

He's playing so steady today - can Phil birdie 18???

[ps1074]

7. Seems he can't

eom

[Bluzmann57]

8. Els just birdied at 17

one stroke back. Hamilton has it, all he needs to do is par and hope that Els doesn't birdie again. It looks good for Todd Hamilton now.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

12. Nervous tee shot on 18 into the rough!.....................

C'mon Todd!

[ps1074]

9. Wow, Els pull back one shot

Hamilton at -11 after 17
Els at -10 after 17

Very exciting :)

[ps1074]

10. Great tee shot from Els

eom

[ps1074]

11. Hamilton's tee shot is in the rough

[ps1074]

13. Hamilton's second shot to the 18th

goes left into the crowd...

Advantage Els

[ps1074]

14. Els's second shot lands on the green

10 feet from the hole.

[tcfrogs]

15. BIG advantage, Els

[ps1074]

16. Hamilton needs a superb shot to stay alive

[tcfrogs]

17. Got a lot of green to work with

He has to be thinking that he MUST get up & down to force playoff - has to assume Els will make his birdie.

[ps1074]

18. Hamilton's third shot

lands on the green and rolls 12 or so feet from the hole. Nice shot :)

edited to correct the yeardage of the shot.

[Bluzmann57]

19. Hamilton just made a pretty good shot out of the rough.

Now lets see if Els goes birdie-birdie-birdie to finish out.

[tcfrogs]

20. I say we're headed for a playoff

hunch

[ps1074]

21. BOGEY

Holy Smoke.

[ps1074]

22. If Els holes this one he is the new Open Champion

Thrilling finish :)

[ps1074]

24. Playoff

It doesn't get any better than that.

It is a 4 hole play-off. Holes to be played are 1, 2, 17 and 18.

[Bluzmann57]

23. PLAYOFF!

I rarely watch golf, just tuned today to see a local guy possibly win, but man oh man, this is exciting. Go Hamilton!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

25. I think the playoff favors Els.

Hamilton's nerves could be his undoing. If he keeps it together though...

[tcfrogs]

26. Nick Faldo was right on in his commentary

that was a terrible putt by Els.

Go Hamilton!

[tcfrogs]

27. Hamilton's daughter just said

The 18th hole is stupid!!!! Hilarious!

[Bluzmann57]

29. Ah from the mouths of babes...

She was right, at least from Hamilton's viewpoint. Great stuff on live TV.

[tcfrogs]

28. Ernie's looking a little tentative with the flat-stick

Both the putt on 18 and on the 1st playoff hole were pretty poor.

[tcfrogs]

32. Could we be headed to sudden death now?

[ps1074]

33. HAMILTON WINS THE OPEN

Good job :)

[tcfrogs]

34. All Right Hamilton!

That was the headline on the cover of Golf World when he won the Honda Classic - a line from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

[Bluzmann57]

35. Local boy makes good

Hamilton comes from a small town, Oquawka, about 50 miles from here, and it's neat that he won. Congratulations to Todd Hamilton. :toast:

[northzax]

36. I guess this gives a new spin

to win a date with Tad (todd?) Hamilton, huh?

good working, Hamilton, enjoy that ten year exemption, no more Japan Tour for you!

[Jack_Dawson]

37. S-T-U-D

Todd Hamilton was the most poised I've seen a golfer in a long time. He could've easily cracked on the 18th, but he got up and down when he needed to. Dude was nails.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

38. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

GO TODD!