When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
An extra-special bit of meandering lunacy from the the 45th President of the United States was issued after apparently watching The Open at Royal St George’s. Thanks to reader Chuck for sharing.
Donald Trump is definitely correct here. Turnberry will host again. Just as soon as he sells it.
From the “many-time Club Champion” who says “controversy only makes thing hotter”:
So much to cover and so little time before the first tee is open.
Oosthuizen records the lowest 36 in Open history. Plus, a rough day for Zalatoris, quotes, the Alliss tribute, TV notes, "The Media", a Saturday course preview and Tweets. Just another major championship Friday at The Quadrilateral for the fine folks who’ve signed on for the year.
Sam Cooper’s dispatches from the road have led to more wonderful “content” pieces about links golf. He has a special passion for Royal St George’s and the surrounding area. It comes out in this 10 minute piece. Some of the footage was licensed by NBC for the stunning visuals accented by Stephan Dillane’s voice.
Enjoy!
A wonderful compilation for the first Open without the great man. Though I do recall one other episode that sadly sleeps with the fishes but all in all a fantastic compilation:
The 18th at Royal St George’s (The Open Instagram)
We learned the links is getting water to keep it, gulp, fair.
Plus, the (The) Open name debate, reads, final odds and Tweets as the 2021 championship arrives. Following yesterday’s, this Thursday edition is back to being just for the paying subscribers. But there are ways to remedy that!
Lee Wybranski’s 2021 Open Championship graphic
From Trent Jones back to Ross courtesy of Hanse…
Before and After - the Gil Hanse restoration of the par 4 7th at Oakland Hills South Course. Hanse brought this hole back to the original Donald Ross design, the biggest single hole transformation of the project. pic.twitter.com/jaDgo7T2js
— The Fried Egg (@the_fried_egg) July 13, 2021
Brooks Koepka was probed and prodded by a more traditional press conference setting, resulting in plenty to fill up Steve Stricker’s notes for the “Task Force" files. Usually these things are put in the files AFTER the Ryder Cup, not before.
Enjoy!
Q. Is there a point considering that the Ryder Cup is coming up later this year that you have to start getting along with Bryson somehow if you're going to be in the same team in September?
BROOKS KOEPKA: You realise it's only a week, right?
Q. But you are on the same team.
BROOKS KOEPKA: It's only a week. I mean, look, I can put it aside for business. If we're going to be on the same team, I can deal with anybody in the world for a week.
I'm not playing with him. I'm pretty sure we're not going to be paired together; put it that way. I think it's kind of obvious.
Oh I don’t know, Hal Sutton might have put you two together. Go on…
It doesn't matter. I don't think they're -- we're not going to be high fiving and having late-night conversations. I do my thing, he does his thing. Yeah, we're on the same team, but it's not an issue at all. I don't view it as an issue. I don't think he does.
He did NOT rule out a fist bump.
Like I said, I can put anything aside for a team, business, whatever, just to get the job done. No problem with that.
And we always knew it was the Liberty situation but always nice to have it fleshed out.
Q. When you explained recently the start of this thing with Bryson, you said that he went back on his word, which is why you sort of -- did you explain what he did? How did he go back on his word? Apologies if you have said that and I missed it. What made you think he had gone back on his word?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it was at -- I said it a couple weeks ago. It was at Liberty. He didn't like that I had mentioned his name in slow play, so we had a conversation in the locker room, and then I guess we said something else in the press conference but didn't mention his name in it, and he walked up to Ricky, said something. It was, You tell your man if he's got something to say, say it to myself. I thought that was ironic because he went straight to Ricky. Ricky told me when I came out, hit a few putts, and then just walked right over to him, we had a conversation. We both agreed we'd leave each other out of it and wouldn't mention each other, just kind of let it die off, wouldn't mention each other's names, just go about it.
So then he decided I guess he was going on that little, whatever, playing video games online or whatever and brought my name up and said a few things, so now it's fair game.
Fair game. Take that opposing Ryder Cup team!
Tiger Woods is a “Popstroke” backer, a Topgolf-inspired putting course/miniature golf venture that’s begun opening other locations.
So it’s noteworthy to see Rory McIlroy, who has had an association with Drive Shack, apparently invest in their putting course/dining/drink concept called Puttery.
The Dallas Morning News’ Dom DiFurio reports:
World-renowned golfer Rory McIlroy and his team have committed to investing at least $10 million in Dallas-based Drive Shack Inc.’s new golf entertainment venue concept called Puttery.
The company describes Puttery as a competitive and social golf entertainment experience. The venue will leverage technology to keep score as guests enjoy a modern twist on putt-putt golf that includes cocktails and food.
The Claret Jug returns in understated and not-commercial-at-all fashion (R&A)
Please see my statement regarding #GlenAbbey golf course in Oakville 👇 pic.twitter.com/1BXhS0JzY5
— Steve Clark (@SteveClarkPC) July 9, 2021
It never made an ounce of sense and several years after Glen Abbey was designated a heritage site, the owners have officially dropped all efforts to turn revisit development plans. The many-times Canadian Open seems safe and folks will be able to keep trying one of the greatest non-GIR shots ever hit by Tiger Woods, or any golfer.
Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark said in a statement Friday he'd secured a commitment from Glen Abbey owner ClubLink Corp. to not go ahead with its plans.
"I am incredibly thankful to ClubLink for its cooperation and for ensuring that this heritage landscape will be protected from development," Clark said.
Preserving the golf course was "precisely" what the town, Halton region and residents wanted, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said in a statement.
"The thousands of letters written to the province made a difference and showed how our community is an engaged community," the mayor said.
Namely, should the Renaissance Club keep getting a shot or should the abladioblada Scottish Open return to a rota?
Also noteworthy was this video of course developer and new consulting player architect Padraig Harrington out looking how to liven up Tom Doak’s design going forward:
“You never want to take away from the amateurs. The pros are only here one week of the year.”@padraig_h has been helping @Renaissancegc in their mission to constantly improve.#abrdnScottishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/bK3cxImBWW
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 11, 2021
Yet another gem from the European Tour team, this time the pranksters were Matt Wallace and Søren Kjeldsen joining forces with “Fake Pundit” Seán Burke. They put the abrsplen Scottish Open field through awkward interview questions. Tip of the cap to Sky Sports for loaning the real mic and stage. And to mostly non-Americans for showing up to do an interview at all, even if it was for purely viral reasons.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
