The Open Championship preview

July 14, 1:37 PMTiger Woods ExaminerMichael Kaplan

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Tiger on the beautiful fourth hole during a practice
round

The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, is a very special tournament that takes us back to where golf was started. It is the oldest major tournament and the only one played outside of the United States. This year, it will be at Turnberry, in South Ayrshire, Scotland, on the resorts Ailsa’s Course. Last time the Open Championship was held at Turnberry was in 1994 and Nick Price won it. Tiger was not yet on the tour and was just finishing high school. The course has changed quite a bit since Nick Price was able to shoot eleven under in 1994. It has been lengthened by 250 yards, including the par 5 17th, which has been lengthened almost 60 yards. The 16th hole has been made 45 yards longer and turned into a dog-leg right.

Last year, the Open Championship was one of many tournaments Tiger could not play in because of his injury. The famous tournament is notoriously difficult, but last year it was ridiculous. Padraig Harrington won the Open with a score of three over par. The second place finisher, Ian Poulter, ended up with a score of seven over par, which usually doesn’t even make the cut at a PGA tournament. Padraig Harrington became the first player to win back-to-back Open Championships since the previous two years when Tiger Woods did it.

Tiger has three victories under his belt at the Open, and he is starving for another. He was probably licking his chops when he saw the winning score at last year’s Open. These last couple of weeks have been the first time Tiger Woods wasn’t the defending champion in any major since 2004. In fairness to him, he only played in two of the majors last year. Tiger would like to stop Padraig Harrington’s current Open Championship streak.

Woods was interviewed this week and he talked about his love of links golf. Tiger has certainly had success at this tournament before. He has the record for lowest score to par at this tournament, shooting a nineteen under in 2000 at St. Andrews. Tiger has three wins at the Open Championship, but he doesn’t hold the record and he has a long way to get to the great six-time champion Harry Vardon. But after a strong AT&T National over July 4th weekend in D.C., Tiger looks like he has a good chance to make a run at this year’s Open Championship.
 

For more info: The Open's Official Web Site