Conference 7.286::golf

    TOM KITE WILL REDEEM HIMSELF....

    Faldo(even though Ican't stand him) should dominate.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    
    
    	The Zinger....!
    

Greg Norman will rise to the occasion...

    I like to pick underdogs, Fuzzy.
    
    Stu,

    Greg Norman is *really* due to win a major.
    
    Steve.

    I gotta go with "Woosie", Ian Woosnam.  
    
    Faldo, Norman, Azinger, & Curtis Strange will all be close as well.
    
    
    						Mike

    An AMERICAN will win this year!!!!!!
    Tom(an American of course).
    

    Faldo is dominating over there. I'll pick him.
    

    	I'll go with Calcavecchia.  He's playing well again, and his
    distance will really help.
    
    Beak

    Faldo, winning in playoffs  with  a birdie in the second hole against
    Strange and Norman.
    
    Tavo

    Curtis Strange... going away...

    Nick will win it., Nick Price that is..

     
    	From a resident of Troon - Ballesteros has the shots.

    My hope is for Nick Faldo to win his second major this year.
    
    Others to watch for are Mark McNulty, Bernhard Langer, Fred 
    Couples, Rodger Davis and ofcourse that man Seve.
    
    
    Phil.
    
    
    

    It's time that an Irishman won the Open so I go for Ronan Rafferty
    to win it.

    American Pros seem to be very competitive this year with the
    non-Americans. I like some of the picks so far, Kite, Azinger and
    of course Strange.  Of the others I particularly like Woosnam.
    
    	So I will take Chip Beck off his showing in the US Open.  

    
    Bill

    Surprised none of you guys are going for the home banker !
    
    What about a few votes for Sandy Lyle ?
    
    M.

    
         D.A. Weibring  (only because I wanted to pick a name I had
                          trouble spelling and/or player that wears
                          those white Hogan hats)

    -rick

    
    		Do I dare say it?
    
    		Trevino!

    
        I'll go with a guy who has proven several times that he can
    
     win a Brittish Open...   Tom Watson!
    
    
               so it's been a long time, doesen't mean he won't do it
    
     again.
    
                     Paul
    

    
    i am picking Tom Watson. I like his attitude this week. Like he
    said on Tuesday " i got a pocketfull of money and i'm betting it
    all on me".

                          ---> Freddy Couples <---
    
    Freddy will beat Woosnam by two ...
    
    Jim C.

    		The spaniard has got it in the bag!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    
    		go sevie....
    

    
    Sevie, Sevie, Sevie, !!!!
    
    

    
    
    Woosnam to win ....... Rafferty, Watson and Langer likely outsiders.
    

    Seve to sucessfully defend his title
    

    Finish in this order.
    
    	Tom Kite
    	Curtis Strange
    	Nick Faldo
    	Sandy Lyle
    	
    
    

    
    
     I  don't no Langer has been quiet for a long time.
    
    I like:
    
    Langer
    Azinger
    Sevie
    Ian

    
    JUMBO...
    
    It's never been won by a Japanese, the US Open was just a warm up for
    him...
    
    Jumbo by 1 stroke over Seve...
    
    Dave

    Trevino is in the clubhouse with an opening round of 68!!
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    
    All right Lee.
    
    Sure am glad I videoed it...
    
    guess what I'm doing tonight..
    
    Dave

    I like Woosnam for my Int'l pick and Crenshaw for the US.
                             
    Ken

    
        Looked at the paper this morning and my pick (Weibring) isn't
      even playing!! (In my best whiny voice) Can I pick another? Can I ? 
      Can I? C'mon pretty please! 
    
        I was going to pick Jose Maria Olazabal, honest, but I really
      didn't know how to spell his last name, plus you really have to
      root hard for a guy with Maria as a middle name. Now let me check
      the paper to see how my new pick is doing........
    
    -rick

    Who the hey is Warren Stevens ??
    
    

    
    	The leader after the first round is Wayne Stephens with a 66...
    
    	Trevino, Olazabal, Couples, Romero, Azinger, Martin, and Grady
    	are tied at 68... Watson at 69... Norman at 69... Kite at 70...
    	Strange at 70... Jumbo Ozaki at 71... Faldo at 71...Calcavecchia
    	at 71... Mize at 71... Langer at 71... Seve at 72... etc...

    Noontime update:
    
    	wayne grady, Aus	-9
    
    	payne steward, US	-7
    
    	Tom watson, US		-7

    
     I watched a couple of holes last night of the open. I've never
    really noticed before, but the course looks like a meadow to me.
    it may be one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) courses, but to
    me it is not a pretty course. Long grass directly off the fairways,
    generally a brown, burnt out looking course. Was it just my television
    set, or is this typical of links courses? I have never seen any
    courses in Europe, perhaps someone who has can let me know what
    I am missing.
    
    The announcer mentioned that the greens were hard as concrete! Who
    wants to play on greens like that? Is it just the heritage, prestige,
    or what? This is just my perceptioon and opions, but give me a nice
    GREEN course, with the rough cut higher than the fairways, nice
    fluffy sand, and greens that are soft enough so that you can stop
    your ball!
    
    Smitty
    

    If you want to be a golfer at their level you better learn to play
    all types of courses and conditions.....
    
    but for us ARMatures I'd agree with .39 because it is much more
    enjoyable...

    The winner was Mark Calcaveccia after a 3 way playoff with Wayne
    Grady and Greg Norman.Norman shot a 64 in his final round.He birdied
    the first 6 holes.Calcaveccia shot a 68 and Grady shot a 71.

    re.39
    
    Well we could go on ad infinitum (nauseam?) regarding links/parkland
    golf. The course was pretty brown but the weather in the area has
    been very exceptional lately, coupled with a sand based, quick draining
    land made for a parched golf course (and 100,000 or so people didn't
    help).
    
    The course was typical of links courses, but these are only found
    near the coast. It's is the 'traditional' origins of golf - whacking
    a ball across the sand dunes. The R & A have always stuck to using
    these courses for the Open.
        
    Amazingly for an Open, there was near perfect weather for 4 days.
    This undoubtedly led to the really close finish and lots of players
    shooting well under par. The wind (and rain...) is usually a big
    feature of the Open.
    
    Well played Calcavecchia though - he had a bit of luck (chip shot
    into the hole for a birdie, when he looked in a lot of trouble),
    but he made good use of it and played the 18th brilliantly. Bad
    luck Greg (again). Before the round he said a 63 would win it. He
    made 64, but dropped a shot on the shortest hole on the course.
    And that drive at the last playoff hole! 310 yards and it was still
    travelling when it hit the sand...
    

    
    	Since I was playing in my member-guest all weekend I didn't
    	get to watch any of the OPEN... Can some of you please mention
    	some of the highlights...
    
    	Thanks
    	Gene

    1. Tom Watson hanging in there for his record 6th. Pity it didn't
       have the fairy tale finish.
    2. Trevino's 68 on day 1.
    3. Unknown's (Wayne Stephens) marvellous 66 on day 1. (by the way,
       whatvere happened to Bobby Clampett).
    4. Norman's 64 (course record) in round 4.
    5. Norman thinking he was in a long driving contest on hole 4 of
       the playoff.
    6. Calcavecchia's chip straight into the hole for bird on #12 in
       round 4 to save at least 2 shots. (The ball went in on the fly
       - had it not he would have done well to make bogey.)
    7. Seeing Langer score 21 over on last 2 rounds - and then expect
       to be chosen for the Ryder Cup team.
    8. Generally, seeing a resurgence by US golfers - they might now
       be able to make a fight for the Ryder Cup.           
    
    There were many, many more highlights and lowlights. A great
    tournament, won in tremendous style.
    
    Sean

    The "Great Yellow Tuna" self distructs yet one more time. What a
    maroon!
    
    

    Can't agree with .45 .... a 310 yd. drive that's still travelling
    is what I would call going for it (especially when compared with
    a badly pushed drive which rebounds into a playable lie off a fence)
    Fair play to Calcavecchia though, he took his chance really well.
    Norman's bad luck is incredible ... losing 3 majors to a holed
    out chip shot, a holed out bunker shot and finally hitting a drive
    too well!!
    

    Losing ONE major to unforseen circumstances is bad luck. Losing
    three, is chokitis, my friend. Especially, as all this chump had
    to do was par in on the last two holes. There is agressive, and
    then there is stupid.

    
      Norman shoots a course record 64 on the final day to gain a playoff
    spot and you(CONWAY_J) are calling him a choker?  I've seen most
    of Norman's battles in the majors and the last word I'd use to describe
    him is "choker". Considering the pressure these guys(ALL top pros
    and amateurs) face week in and week out, I would say all of them
    perform incredibly well.  To label a player a choke is unfair,
    unreasonable and out-of-focus.
    
    -rick

    
    I am still amazed that people can think that these guys (any of
    the pros are chokers)...!!!! Norman has not played, bad he has
    been out played... I think Rick said it quite well in his last
    reply...
    
    CHOKE...! Guess again...
    
    Gene
    

    	I'd have to agree that Norman is not a choker, unless you refer
    to his early rounds in the majors. He is usually the guy who shoots
    the best final round, only to fall a stroke short, or to bad luck.
    As to Norman "needing to only par in" the final 2 holes, how did
    he know that would be ggod enough???? He certainly wasn't in the
    last group!  BTW, I didn't get to watch yesterdays action, only
    saw film clips so forgive me if I overlooked something.....

    Sorry to disagree people, but what do you call it when a man is
    two strokes up in a four hole playoff with two holes to play and
    snatches defeat from the jaws of victory?  I was watching the open
    with my brother-in-law (an innocent 23 year old). When "The Tuna"
    birdied the second hole, Bobby said "Its over! Nobody is going to
    catch him now!".   At which I bet him $20 bucks that Norman would
    find a way to lose.  Easy money! I wish ya'all would have been there
    cause if you had, I could afford that new set of Staff Goosenecks
    I have my eye on.    

    
    What "TWO" strokes up...? According to the paper Norman birdied
    the first two holes of the playoff and Mark went par birdie and
    Grady went par par. Norman then bogied the third hole of the playoff
    and Mark shot par. Looks to me like he only had a one shot lead
    at and point in the playoff. Was the paper wrong...?
    
    Gene

    I was really sad for Calcaveccia when his drive hit the fan(rather
    than a fence) and thought he wouldn't have a chance to get on the
    green. What a second shot !!! Did the morning coverage start with
    the playoff ?? I set up my VCR to record from 7:30 a.m. PDT and
    left for a day of golf myself (96 on a so-so day). When I rewound
    the tape and started it all I got was the playoff. Sure glad I got
    to see that but wonder about the rest of the fourth round. Was that
    televised?? If I count all my really long drives, no matter were
    they end up as "hitting a drive too well", then I am one of the
    great drivers of all time. Mark won that tournament with his second
    shot to the 18th green. It forced Norman to try and reach the green
    with an impossible shot and when he went into the second bunker
    the game was over .
    
    THE MAD HACKER 

    RE: .53
    
             The TV coverage started at about noon(EDT) or was it 10AM.
    Actually they showed most of the tournament. 
     I was quite shocked to find Norman among the leaders when the 
    broadcast began. He played well enough just to get into the playoffs
    never mind winning it.  
     When he went up by 2 after the second playoff hole, I remember
    thinking, par out -- just par out. When the third hole was done, I
    really felt that he would lose. Not because of the past but because
    Mark looked so loose. Of the 3 he was the only one smiling and looking
    like he was enjoying himself. When I saw this, I knew he would win.
     As far as Greg's last hole, I might have laid up, but as Gene said
    Norman only had a 1 shot lead. 
    
    
    
                        Ken

    Greg never had a 2-shot lead, his first 3 play-off holes went birdie,
    birdie, bogey. Mark went par, birdie, par. So they were all square
    starting the 4th tie hole and it was all to play for. Greg went
    for it and that bunker caught him ... simple as that.
    

    El Marko found a way to WIN; grace under pressure, the sign (the
    Mark?) of a champion.
    
    El Foldo found a way to lose.  Tuna salad anyone?

    Sorry, But I can not call Greg el foldo. As in any game, and in
    particular, golf, sometimes you get the breaks and then again you
    don't. Mark's game included a 40 footer from off the green for a
    birdie and, as I recall, a chip in. He got some breaks along the
    final 18 to get into a position to make the playoffs.
     
    
    
                       Ken

    I don't think you can call the last hole of the playoff a choke on the
    part of Norman. He smoked his last drive to what Jack Nicklaus called
    an unreachable bunker. He made a error of commision ( he went for it ).
    The guy shoots a course record 64 to make the playoff and because he
    was too pumped got himself in trouble on the 4th playoff hole.
    Calcaveccia hit an awsome second shot and deserved to win...
    
     guto

    	Who was that masked noter who picked Calcavecchia to win the
    Brittish Open!!!  
    	
    
    
    	Why it was the same guy who last year picked Curtis Strange
    to win the U.S. Open when nobody else did!!!  :-)  :-)
    
    
    Beak

    Well for all of the pre-shot "visualization" that Greg does, he
    failed to see that his second shot would hit the bunker wall and
    end up short of the green where there were additional bunkers.
    
    Not to smart! Forget how long he hit his drive after that type of
    error. Then, remember that he hit his third OB!!!!!! By now, everyone
    should have forgotten that he had a 64 followed by two(2) straight
    playoff birdies. Were it medal, he would really have lost big.
    Tom

>    Not to smart! Forget how long he hit his drive after that type of
>    error. Then, remember that he hit his third OB!!!!!! By now, everyone
>    should have forgotten that he had a 64 followed by two(2) straight
>    playoff birdies. Were it medal, he would really have lost big.
>    Tom

        And if it were a sudden death type playoff, like the most of
    the tournaments they play in (included are the Masters, PGA, and
    even the British Open before this year!), Norman would be the British 
    Open Champion today.      

        To me, Norman's greatest golf achievement was when he won that
    tournament for the boy who had leukemia.  Norman became more or
    less his adopted father for the 4 days.  He dedicated the tourney
    for the kid and goes out and wins it.  The "majors" seem insignificant
    when held up to something like that. Norman will never *ever* be
    a "choke" artist in my book.

    -rick

I won't go as far as saying that Norman choked on the last hole.  However, I
think that he forgot the advice that Nicklaus gave him Saturday evening at
dinner.  (For those who don't remember it was "Play smart golf".)  If he thought
he could get to the green from the trap with a 9 iron, he probably could have
gotten there with 7 or 8 if he had laid up from the tee.

Unfortunately he can only play either flat out or not at all, for him 
there's no in between.  Too bad, once he got into the playoff this was the 
major where it looked like he had his destiny in his own hands.

Larry

    You guys are missing the point. Yes, Greg Norman is a real nice
    guy, and maybe he deserved to win, but he didn't and the reason
    he didn't is between his ears! A few of you have said "don't knock
    the guy because he 'went for it' on 18"   Went for what?  Did he
    think he was going to drive the green?  A hole in one maybe? Hey
    fellow, get real! Have you ever heard of golf course management?
    Why, instead of "go for it", didn't Greggy-pooh figure out which
    was the club he would most like to hit his second shot with, and
    hit his drive the appropriate distance to use THAT CLUB?! Norman
    did not (apparently) even consider what the golf course would "give"
    and what it wouldn't.  He failed to think under pressure. Thats
    what I mean by "finding a way to lose" 
    
    And its not the first time either; does anyone remember who blew
    his tee shot on 18(again) with a chance to win or tie the last time
    Jack won the masters? (86 or 87, can't remember. )
    
    Nicklus would never make those kinds of mental errors with a tournament
    on the line, especially a major. 

    So where was Calcavecchia's golf course management on the 18th?
    He duffs his drive short and right - was that deliberate? Did he
    figure "I know I'll hit my worst drive of the day, leave myself
    a long iron and stick it next to the pin?" That drive was very nearly
    one helluva choke.
    
    Greg was unlucky not to get a lie in the bunker, Mark was lucky
    to get one from where he was. They did their best given the rub
    of the green in the playoff. No j(ch)oke.

    
      .63   You can argue Norman's course management all you want, and
          the fact that he could have done things differently to win
          that particular tournament. What I object to are the words,
          "Greggy-pooh","El Foldo", "Choke Artist","Chokitis","The Great
          Tuna" that constantly appear in your replies.
    
-rick            

    
    
      From the remarks against Norman, I think J_Conway is crowing more
    about the twenty bucks he won.  Greg played HIS game, GO FOR IT.
    He was tied going into the fourth hole and pulled out the stops,
    AND he has the game to manage such a risk shot.  HAD he pulled it
    off, would we have heard about the twenty bucks you would have lost?

                    <<< USER$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
================================================================================
Note 694.0                      1989 BRITISH OPEN                     No replies
SANFAN::GRANT_JO                                      7 lines  24-JUL-1989 16:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Did anyone out there attend the British Open?  If so, I would love
    to hear on-sight comments on the condition of the course.  Looked
    terrible on TV (there has been a drought for three or so months)
    but looks can be deceiving.  Also - any general feelings/thoughts
    about the outcome of the tournament?
    

Re: -.a couple

>    So where was Calcavecchia's golf course management on the 18th?
>    He duffs his drive short and right - was that deliberate? 

    Golf course management generally minimizes the cost of a mistake
    while increasing the potential rewards.  I don't think that
    Calcavecchia would have been in the bunker if he hit it well.

>    Greg was unlucky not to get a lie in the bunker, Mark was lucky
>    to get one from where he was. 

    Actually from my understanding of links courses you are lucky if you
    get a lie in the bunker.  The philosphy is hit it in the bunker it
    costs you a stroke.

Re: the last few

    The tone of most of the recent discussion is emotional.  There are
    a lot of people that love Greg Norman because he is a nice guy &
    the wonderful things he can do with a golf ball.  There are also
    enough others that want to rub it in when they find the emperor
    has no clothes.  Is wish that we could take it back to a higher
    plane of discussion.

    What I'm wrestling with is Mark Calcaveccia as British Open champ.
    Remember when they said he was only winning because of square grooves.
    Now he even has a major title to his credit.  Maybe it is time we 
    reevaluate how good a golfer he truly is.

    	Let's see now, two golfers are tied for the British Open lead
    playing the last hole of a four hole playoff. One golfer hits his
    drive right off a spectator while the other hits a rather long drive
    (310) into a fairway bunker. From the descriptions of these drives,
    which golfer would you pick as being a bit tight and which one would
    you pick as being pumped up? 
    
    	To counter (conway_j)'s Masters memory of the 18th hole, how
    about that clutch 50 foot putt (give or take 10 feet) Norman made
    on 18 at the U.S. Open to tie Fuzzy Zeller a few years ago? Normans
    game can easily be described as AGRESSIVE and I feel his drive on
    18 reflected that game plan. A few years back, another golfer played
    the game in a similar fashion. Golf fans would shout with joy for
    every bold shot that worked and cringe with every bold shot that
    failed. (Any quesses??)
    
    	Normans other losses in major championships must border on the
    bizarre side. This loss was self-inflicted and done within his style
    of play. I respect and admire his game for coming back so successfully
    during major tournaments and this I believe is due in part to his
    style of play. 
    
    	Normans loss due to choking? NO WAY
    
    Gary

    re .66
    
    That sound you have been hearing is your chain being yanked. You
    respond real well. 
    
    re .67
    
    If I had lost my twenty bucks You would have heard how I have
    been misjudging Greg Norman for several years, that I was wrong
    and that the man really does have the grapes to win a major tournament
    in a pressure situation. But, I made the bet because it was a sucker
    bet, my $20 was safe as houses.  When he does show such wherewithall
    I will apologize, but until then.........heh, heh, heh.

    	Normans 2nd shot on 18 in the playoff was the right choice for
    him, I beleive.  For any of us, maybe it wasn't, but for a guy with
    his talent, it was the only choice.  You forget that he just finished
    watching Calcavecchia put his 2nd shot, 4 feet from the pin.  He
    knew, that playing a safe shot and hopefully making a good pitch
    and getting par, probably wasn't going to be enough.  He already
    had at the very worst, a tie for 2nd place guaranteed.  And in majors
    2nd place is just that.  You play to win if you're in a position
    to win.  The entire last day he played great and got himself in
    a position to WIN A MAJOR.  There is nor reason he shouldn't have
    tried to do just that!!!  And as far as his tee shot goes, I'm sure
    he wasn't trying to put that ball in the bunker.  He probably thought
    he had almost no chance of doing so, therefore the reason for hitting
    driver.  Both of the other 2 golfers hit driver off that tee also.
    So again, before seeing the result, it was probably the right choice.
    All or nothing.  If he lagged back on either shot and played it
    safe and made par, just to lose to a birdie, everyone would be saying
    he blew it by not taking a chance.  so lay off the guy and just
    enjoy watching one of the worlds top golfers.
    
    Beak

    re .71
    
    I am not arguing about the second shot. At that point he had nothing
    to lose, so why not go out in a blaze of glory? If nothing else
    it keeps the "faithful" (a number whom apparently participate in
    this conference) safely within fawning range. The "shark" (ok
    blaisdale?) lost the tournament when he mistook the teeshot on 18
    for a long driving contest. His failure was a mental mistake, he
    pulled a rock, get it?  If the adrenalyn(?) was pumping so heavily,
    then recognize that fact and compensate for it by using a 1 iron.
    As i asked before, what was he thinking of? Did he think he could
    drive the green?   The tee shot on eighteen should have been played
    for POSITION!, to land on the right side of the fairway, well short
    of the bunker. A man of Greg's ability could very possibly cozyied
    a 7 iron to within birdie range with no problem. Nope, the tee shot
    was the problem guys, and the time to "go for it" was on the SECOND
    shot.  So, what I saw was; 1. Norman gave Calc. an opportunity by
    being over agressive on his tee shot. 2. By the same shot he denied
    himself an opportunity to make birdie on 18 unless he pulled off
    a miracle.  Real neat. Find a way to lose in such a way so that
    the fans still think I'm a great champion. This guy is all potential
    and minimum bottomline performance and I'll knock him if I want
    to.
     

    
    It is to bad that Norman didn't realize that he was going to
    hit it 310 instead of say 280 ;-{... I know I always know
    within 10 yards how far I am going to hit my drives...;-)

    To .67
    re: the condition of the course.
    
    I attended the Open for the whole week, getting the opportunity
    to walk the fairways and the greens at quieter moments.
    From what i saw the course was in superb condition. the fairways
    and greens felt like they had been extensively watered in the month
    or so up to the championship. This left a very nice feel on the
    fairways from which to hit shots. Likewise the greens were very
    receptive in general to a well struck shot. Some greens like 17
    looked hard but it was because most players played 2-3 irons and
    not much spin can be generated from those clubs.
    I played golf on nearby public courses during the week and can testify
    to the vast difference in the texture of the fairways compared to
    the championship course. The greens were the same as those on Royal
    Troon, i.e. very receptive to a good shot.
    
    martin
    

    RE: all
    
    	After reading all the comments AFTER the tourney I know for
    sure I will not be the one to start the note for PGA CHAMPIONSHIP..
    
    I was just looking for choices but guess the results left some
    sour feelings...hey this is just a notes file not 19th hole...
    chill out some of you...I figure these guys make more money
    than I ever will so if they quit/choke/withdraw/DNQ or whatever
    they still are the best players in the world and a pleasure to watch
    

    In growing up with four brothers who are sports fans, I have come
    to the conclusion that a big part of being a sports fan is the
    type of arguing (or should I call it discussion) that has gone
    on in this note. For a long time I just couldn't understand where
    the fun in it was, but I suppose sports spectatorship wouldn't
    be the same without it.  
    
    So here's to differences of opinions; long live sports fans!

    Went home last night and figured out that I hadn,t rewound my
    tape properly and got to see the fourth round after all. Did
    anyone notice how close Calcavececchia came to putting his
    drive on 18 (during fourth round) almost into the same bunker
    that Norman hit into during the playoff? The ball stopped rolling
    about 2 yards from the trap!! This was one of the most exciting
    tournaments I have watched this year. Funny that they had to
    go to Scotland to find great weather!!!
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    RE .72
    	Mr. Conway, you are entitled to your opinion, and you can knock
    whomever you want to including Greg Norman.  But don't think you
    can do it without others expressing their opinions too.  I think
    your opinion is way off base.  That doesn't mean you aren't entitled
    to it.  If Norman thought he was going to hit the driver 310 yards
    into a bunker on the right hand side of the fairway, I'm sure he
    would have hit a 3 wood off the tee.  But things happen.
    	
    RE the last reply
    
    	This is not generally arguing.  It's a matter of difrerent
    opinions.  Something we are all entitled to.  And when Sports are
    envolved, there are always numerous different opinions.  You just
    cannot avoid it.  Leave it at that, and don't take it as anything
    more than just that.
    
    Beak

    Mr. beak
    
    Sir, you are exactly right......and thats why they make horseraces,
    golf tournaments, and more than one flavour of ice cream. I do not
    believe that I attempted to keep others from airing their opinion
    of what happened Sunday, I merely insist on my right to see it
    differently, and argue about it if the opportunity presents itself. 

    It was nice to see an american golfer win, with all the knocks I've
    read and heard about the best golfers being from other lands.  I hope
    Calcavecchia's(sp) win gives the Americans more credibility.  
    
    Now... on to the Ryder...

    
    Did anyone see how Norman played the 16th, a 577 yd. par 5? There
    was a hazard running across the fairway 280 yds. out so he
    laid up with a long iron to 30 yards short.  He then hits a *driver*
    325 yds. to within 12 ft. of the cup!  Amazing.  I wonder how many
    other golfers reached that green in two?  I wonder how many are
    *capable* of reaching that green in two.
     
    Call him foolish, stupid, daring, whatever.  But no one (since maybe
    Arnold Palmer) is nearly as exciting to watch.  Greg Norman may never win 
    another major but I'll still always think of him as one of the best 
    golfers ever.                                   
    
    

    
    I don't think Norman made the smartest move on the 18th hole,
    but he sure made for an exciting playoff.  It was interesting
    that Jack Nicklaus said just before Norman drove his fatal
    drive that that bunker was basically not in play, that it
    was nothing to worry about.  
    
    The first time Norman was on that tee in the morning the light
    breeze was against him, but by playoff time the wind had shifted
    around and was behind him, I think that was the difference.
    
    It certainly seems a little crazy how many shots that would have
    been out of bounds stayed in bounds because they bounced off
    spectators a la Calcavechia's final drive.  For the first time
    ever watching golf on TV, I was on the edge of my seat.
    
    -John-
           
    
    

    
    
    	Hello Jo - I work in Digital Ayr and live in Troon.
    
    	I attended the Open on Friday and Sunday.
    
    	The weather conditions were unnatural to say the least - warm,
    	still conditions. Friday saw the first sign of Wayne Grady.
    	The best shot I saw all day was the bunker shot Watson holed
    	on 16 for an eagle. He is really well supported in Scotland.
    	
    	Sunday - again the conditions were near perfect.
    	I have read all the 'silly' comments made about Greg Norman
    	all I can say is that anyone who shoots 64 has what it takes
    	and he will no doubt win more majors.
    	All credit to Calcavecchia - however he was a shade lucky at
    	18 in the playoff.
    	
    	I personally felt sorry for Tom Watson - I thought he was
    	going to do it.
    
    	Overall the atmosphere was electric - all we need is for a
    	European to win the USPGA and the majors will be split evenly.
    	Makes for an exciting Ryder Cup?

With all this talk about the playoff, can anyone tell us what happened
to Tom Watson on the final day?  I would have expected him to be in the
playoff.  I take it he ran into diffcult times...

Mike

    
    re .85
    
    
    	Michael - Tom missed a three footer on 7 for par, a 10 footer
    	on 8 for a birdie and I think he bogeyed 9.
    
    	He go one birdie back and finished at 11 under - 2 behind
    	those in the playoff. I personally thight he was going to 
    	win but three poor holes put him out of contention.
    	I hope he does win again as he is a super goler.

    
    
    not that anyone probably cares but, does anyone know where 
    "Sir Walrus" finished (Craig Stadler).
    I caught about 20 minutes Saturday and he was already in at 5 under.
    
    He hasn't been placing very well this year, I was pleased to see
    he was playing fairly well at Troon.
    
    ace
    

    
    Stadler finished at 282, 7 shots out...

    .82
    	I believe that calcavecchia (sp?) also reached the 16th in two.
    It set up his birdie there. To go along with his spectacular bird
    on 18 to force the three way playoff. 
    
    	It was a very big win for Mark. I don't watch much golf on TV,
    but every time I do it seems that Mark is right in it. I thing he
    may be part of a new breed. Maybe the next Nickalaus, Palmer or
    Watson. 
    
    Congratulations Mark
    
    Roland
    

    As a neophyte (fanct word for "rabbit") to golf with barely a year's
    play under my belt I am somewhat hesitant to put forward my opinions
    on this game, but there is something I don't understand, and perhaps
    you can put me right on it.
    
    I watched some 25 hours of transmission of the game and the main
    impression I got of Greg Norman's play was that he is superb on
    long holes but relatively weak on the short ones. If my memory serves
    me correct, he lost most strokes on the par 3s.
    
    When the playoff came I assessed his chances of winning by how well
    he'll account for himself on the 17th. He didn't and he lost. By
    the time he got to the 18th tee, it was do or die.
    
    Have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick?
    
    Peter

	I can remember two years ago that Mark Calcavechia was not well
respected by the media.  Do you remember?  There was some talk about Mark's
use of square groove clubs (Pings) helping his game tremendously.  There
was a strong implication that the only reason he was playing better was
because of the clubs. 

	After Calcavechia played well in last years Masters the stories
about his hard work with Peter Kostis started to surface.  This year the
media began to talk about his go-for-it attitude, how long he is off the
tee and what a great short game he has.  What a change.  I remember reading
an article several months ago that Mark was getting prepared to make the
change to tour blades.  I'm curious, does anyone know what kind of clubs he
used in the British Open? It looked like Fred Couples was still using
Pings... 

Jeff

    
    	I don't know if Calcavecchia was using Pings or not, but Couples
    	had supposedly switch to Tommy Armours early this year...

    To 686.91--------
    
    Looked to me like Ping's in Mark's grip, but made of brass???

>    To 686.91--------
    
>    Looked to me like Ping's in Mark's grip, but made of brass???

    
    He must still be playing his Pings then. BTW, the are copper-beryllium
    not brass...

    Right!
    They looked like BeCu and why I said Brass is beyond me.
    Thanks, Gene.
    Tom

    Mark has stated that he will continue to use his Pings right up to the
    last day that they are legal.  With the new suit by Ping against the
    USGA, that may be longer than he thinks.
    
    Hal

>    Mark has stated that he will continue to use his Pings right up to the
>    last day that they are legal.  With the new suit by Ping against the
>    USGA, that may be longer than he thinks.
    
    	It isn't the USGA that has made the decision to ban the SQUARE
    	grooves by Jan. 1, 1990 for the pros, it was the PGA... This
    	is what has caused other problems in that it has always been
    	the USGA along with the Royal and Ancient that have made the
    	rules and now the PGA makes this decision on its own...

    	Did you see the advertisements with Kartson and Calcavecchia
    	this weekend during the PGA...?
    
    	Gene