1-Man’s Opinion on Sports–Monday “British Open-Good Times-Bad Times”
“Some Weekend in Sports”
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THE OPEN….What a finish at Royal St George in the 143rd British Open. You have to play 4-rounds, so it was tough to see Louis Oosthuizen fall apart on Sunday. He had 1-bogey in the first 36-holes to start, but his putter went away over the final two days. A 5-stroke lead dissipated quickly and then the putts he was hitting on Thursday and Friday disappeared halfway thru Saturday all all day Sunday.
THE KID…Collin Morikawa was in a zone on the final day of the tourney. This was the British Open, and yet he rolled thru 3-straight holes, getting birdies on 7-8-9, chase down the leaders, and then play steady as she goes golf to pull away. 2nd Grand Slam win in the only 2-majors he has played, looks as if you can spell superstar Morikawa.
REDEMPTION TOUR…Jordan Spieth is back after being out on the desert for awhile. His game looks razor sharp, his mechanics seem solid, and his focus seems off the charts. An eagle and 2-birdies in a four hole span triggered a climb up the leaderboard. A force to be reckoned with going forward.
RAHM THE MAN…He is stringing together some kind of season that could end in a championship season for Jon Rahm. He stormed thru the final round with 4-birdies in a row and added an eagle. And this from a guy, who had a 6-shot lead in a tourney on the final day a couple of weeks when they came out on the course and pulled him because of the positive Covid test.
DJ NOT OK…Dustin Johnson just does not look the same powerful golfer from the last couple of years. Missing 7-weeks with Covid early on seems to have sapped some of his power game. There’s still lots of golf to be played.
BRYSON BOMBS…The drama week to week continues for DeChambeau. His over the top personality wears you out. His fanatical preparation sounds great but his game does not have much flexibility to it, considering how much the courses change week to week. He was a bad fit for the Sandwich, England course, but his game seems to be very erratic right now.
THE COURSE…There is so much history at the British Open. The weatherman turned golf fan this time. No rains off the English Channel. Only one day of wind. The scenery, the horizon, the ancient buildings, the swales around the greens, the pot bunkers. What tradition. What a challenge to navigate the course.
WOE IS PHIL…You’d never think you’d see it so bad, but it was for Mickelson. An 80 on opening day including 8-bogeys and one double bogey. He hasn’t played well, hasn’t played with focus, and sure does not look like the guy who captured the PGA Championship.
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