Let It Be...The British Open
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/519/1/Let-It-BeThe-British-Open.html
Robbie LaBrie
By Robbie LaBrie
Published on 07/20/2006
The British Open tees off at Royal Liverpool today, and Rob LaBrie breaks down the field with a little help from Liverpool's most famous exports.
Starting today, the British Open Championship will be held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Liverpool, England, a town well-known by rock and roll fans of all ages. Hometown of the Beatles, Liverpool will be home to a new Fab Four this Sunday, when the last two pairings start their rounds and the march for the Claret Jug.
It’s about time that two awesome things like golf and the greatest music pioneers of all time can Come Together on such a huge stage. When Doctor Robert (that would be me...in BeatlesSpeak) noticed this connection, he said “Oh, Darling, this is the only way to preview the British Open." So, now, I Want to Hold Your Hand and take you through the 2006 British Open with the Help! of some Boys named John, Paul, George, and Ringo. I’ve Got a Feeling that You’ll Be Mine, so come with me on this Magical Mystery Tour of golf’s most historic championship, through the eyes of culture’s most historic music group.
Help! – Royal Liverpool Golf Club:
This is a golf course that isn’t exactly known for its great championship play. It’s also known by many as Royal O.B., referring to the high probability of players making their way out of bounds if they hit bad shots. This means that one mistake could cost any given player the tournament. Whoever is able to play mistake-free golf at crucial times is the player who will walk away with the championship. This isn’t to say that scores will rival the 5-over that won the U.S. Open, just that each mistake will hurt the golfers much more dearly than in most tournaments.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Tiger Woods:
Woods has gone through a lot over the past few months in losing his father and missing the cut in the US Open. His golf game has suffered from this turmoil and uncertainty in his home life and, quite certainly, his “guitar” still weeps. However, success is the best medicine for fierce competitors like Tiger. A win in the Open Championship might just bring the true Tiger back. Good news for fans of the game, bad news for those who play the game. My prediction is that Tiger earns a low top-10 spot: good enough to make news, but not quite as sweet as a victory.
Taxman – Phil Mickelson:
Despite his major choke in the U.S. Open on the 72nd hole, Mickelson is still the Tour’s money leader, earning the right to be called “Taxman." So far, this has been Phil’s year, but the British Open may not quite conform to his aggressive (sometimes overly so) style of play. It’s going to take consistency to win at the Royal O.B. I don’t expect a good showing from Lefty here, so his fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Hello, Goodbye – Vijay Singh:
After Vijay’s big “Hello” in 2004 when he found himself, at times, on top of the world rankings, he’s been the epitome of the “on/off” golfer. He goes stretches where he’s untouchable and has his share of times when he looks quite pedestrian. He’s had his “Hellos” and “Goodbyes”. He played well in the 2006 U.S. Open, finishing sixth. I believe Vijay will improve his placing in the British Open, as he seems to like being in contention in majors, but in the end he won’t be the one raising the Claret Jug.
Nowhere Man – Ernie Els:
Though Els is still considered part of golf’s “Fab Five”, he hasn’t done much to support his cause to stay in that elite group. His world ranking has fallen all the way to eighth, behind Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, and Geoff Ogilvy. Many are wondering what’s wrong with the Big Easy. Some say he’s already enjoyed the peak of his career and is simply in the midst of an early decline. Others say he has just lost interest in improving his game. Who knows what is really going on, but it would be great to get him back. I’m not expecting his big resurgence to start this weekend though, since Royal Liverpool is course that could exploit his inconsistencies.
Don’t Pass Me By – Retief Goosen:
Goosen is often the forgotten of the Fab Five. His laid back manor and quiet victories have kept him out of the spotlight for most of his career and have caused those who aren’t golf fans to recognize him as just another golfer, rather than the 4th best player in the world. Expect the Goose to be in contention during the Open, but don’t expect to hear much about it.
Revolution 1 – Australian Golfers:
“You say you want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world…” Five to ten years ago, nobody would’ve thought that these Australian golfers would be able to take over the game in the way that they have. Ogilvy wins the U.S. Open. Scott moves into 6th in the world rankings with his outstanding year. Stuart Appleby, Nick O’Hern, Robert Allenby have all found success as well on the Tour. There are also some promising young Australians, such as Aaron Baddeley, looking to move into the upper echelon of the sport. The Australian revolution is here to stay.
Magical Mystery Tour – European Golfers:
Since European golfers certainly aren’t winning tournaments or improving their games, they must be on a “Magical Mystery Tour." It’s really the only explanation. The European golfers seem to have disappeared from the PGA Tour. They just aren’t winning big tournaments like they once did. Maybe this is the year that somebody like Luke Donald, David Howell, or Monty step it up and takes home victory at the Open. Then again, the odds of it aren’t so good.
Back in the U.S.S.R. – Colin Montgomerie:
Monty’s a jolly good chap (as far as the U.S. is concerned, he’s not at all, but for the sake of his British ancestry, this line is necessary). However, he just can’t get it done in the majors. He tried to make a run in the U.S. Open and finished runner-up in last year’s British Open, but can’t seem to overcome his roadblock. There wouldn’t be a better time or place for Monty to shake off his career-long funk, but I don’t see it happening.
Get Back – Jim Furyk:
After a rough couple of years, Furyk is finally healthy again and has been able to “get back to where you (he) once belonged." This will be Furyk’s true coming out party, as I’m predicting British Open victory for the guy whose mechanics would get him cut from a high school golf team. That funny looking swing will bring him all the way to the Claret Jug in 2006. That should get him on top of the money list and maybe even bump him towards the top of the world rankings. Now that’s a sweet comeback.
Yesterday – Tom Watson:
Tom Watson has certainly seen his best days pass him by; he’s the elder statesman in this Open field at 56. He’s actually aged quite well compared to what most guys are doing at 56, but 35 years of professional golf has definitely taken its toll. The only other PGA Tour event Watson has entered this year was The Masters, where he missed the cut with a two-day score of 154. You can almost imagine Watson, on the back-9 of his career, singing “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it seems as though their here to stay." Watson certainly still believes he can play, but his future lies on the Champions Tour. Don’t get too hopeful about a miracle in the Open for Watson.
Blackbird – Sean O’Hair:
In the song, Blackbird, the key line is “take these broken wings and learn to fly." Well, sadly, Sean O’Hair’s “broken wings” are his father. Though his father showed Sean his true talent, it was at the price of Sean’s childhood. Marc O’Hair pushed his son to the line and then crossed it over and over again, almost to the point of abuse. Then when Marc asked his son for a contract, guaranteeing him 10% of his son’s winnings, Sean finally gave him the boot from his life. Since then, Sean has developed into quite a golfer, and I believe this British Open will be his coming out-party on the worldwide stage. I’m predicting a second place finish for Sean O’Hair, as he certainly has “learned to fly."
The Long and Winding Road – David Duval:
If you’ve read Moneyball, the story of Oakland A’s GM, Billy Beane, you know that Beane was a great athlete who never made it big in the majors because he just didn’t have the right mindset. Duval reminds me a lot of the Billy Beane story, except it seems like Duval’s problems were more temporary than Beane’s. After being incredible during the beginning of his career, Duval has certainly traveled a Long and Winding Road to get to where he is at now, which is on the verge of winning on tour once again. I don’t think he’ll have a great showing in the British, but he’s on the right track.
Happiness is a Warm Gun – John Daly:
Daly has gone through so many problems in his life, the most recent of which being his well-documented gambling issues. This song is basically about major life problems, much like what Daly has gone through. It’s about overcoming them and that’s what Daly needs to do. It is said that Daly may have more natural golf talent than any other player on Tour, but doesn’t work at it, so he doesn’t get the results that guys like Tiger and Phil get. There are too many problems surrounding Daly to expect a good showing in the Open. Unfortunately, I doubt he will even be able to make the weekend this year.
The End:
So there you have your 2006 British Open preview, and you may have learned a little something about The Beatles as well. Two birds with one stone. For those of you who crave organization, here’s a 10-man leaderboard for dessert:
1. Jim Furyk
2. Sean O’Hair
3. Vijay Singh
4. Retief Goosen
5. Adam Scott
6. Luke Donald
7. Tiger Woods
8. Zack Johnson
9. Geoff Ogilvy
10. Stuart Appleby
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The British Open tees off at Royal Liverpool today, and Rob LaBrie breaks down the field with a little help from Liverpool's most famous exports.
 |
| wbmonty_narrowweb__200x270.jpg |
Starting today, the British Open Championship will be held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Liverpool, England, a town well-known by rock and roll fans of all ages. Hometown of the Beatles, Liverpool will be home to a new Fab Four this Sunday, when the last two pairings start their rounds and the march for the Claret Jug.
It’s about time that two awesome things like golf and the greatest music pioneers of all time can Come Together on such a huge stage. When Doctor Robert (that would be me...in BeatlesSpeak) noticed this connection, he said “Oh, Darling, this is the only way to preview the British Open." So, now, I Want to Hold Your Hand and take you through the 2006 British Open with the Help! of some Boys named John, Paul, George, and Ringo. I’ve Got a Feeling that You’ll Be Mine, so come with me on this Magical Mystery Tour of golf’s most historic championship, through the eyes of culture’s most historic music group.
Help! – Royal Liverpool Golf Club:
This is a golf course that isn’t exactly known for its great championship play. It’s also known by many as Royal O.B., referring to the high probability of players making their way out of bounds if they hit bad shots. This means that one mistake could cost any given player the tournament. Whoever is able to play mistake-free golf at crucial times is the player who will walk away with the championship. This isn’t to say that scores will rival the 5-over that won the U.S. Open, just that each mistake will hurt the golfers much more dearly than in most tournaments.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Tiger Woods:
 |
| John, Paul, George, Ringo...and Jim Furyk? |
Woods has gone through a lot over the past few months in losing his father and missing the cut in the US Open. His golf game has suffered from this turmoil and uncertainty in his home life and, quite certainly, his “guitar” still weeps. However, success is the best medicine for fierce competitors like Tiger. A win in the Open Championship might just bring the true Tiger back. Good news for fans of the game, bad news for those who play the game. My prediction is that Tiger earns a low top-10 spot: good enough to make news, but not quite as sweet as a victory.
Taxman – Phil Mickelson:
 |
| John, Paul, George, Ringo...and Jim Furyk? |
Despite his major choke in the U.S. Open on the 72nd hole, Mickelson is still the Tour’s money leader, earning the right to be called “Taxman." So far, this has been Phil’s year, but the British Open may not quite conform to his aggressive (sometimes overly so) style of play. It’s going to take consistency to win at the Royal O.B. I don’t expect a good showing from Lefty here, so his fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Hello, Goodbye – Vijay Singh:
 |
After Vijay’s big “Hello” in 2004 when he found himself, at times, on top of the world rankings, he’s been the epitome of the “on/off” golfer. He goes stretches where he’s untouchable and has his share of times when he looks quite pedestrian. He’s had his “Hellos” and “Goodbyes”. He played well in the 2006 U.S. Open, finishing sixth. I believe Vijay will improve his placing in the British Open, as he seems to like being in contention in majors, but in the end he won’t be the one raising the Claret Jug.
Nowhere Man – Ernie Els:
 |
Though Els is still considered part of golf’s “Fab Five”, he hasn’t done much to support his cause to stay in that elite group. His world ranking has fallen all the way to eighth, behind Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, and Geoff Ogilvy. Many are wondering what’s wrong with the Big Easy. Some say he’s already enjoyed the peak of his career and is simply in the midst of an early decline. Others say he has just lost interest in improving his game. Who knows what is really going on, but it would be great to get him back. I’m not expecting his big resurgence to start this weekend though, since Royal Liverpool is course that could exploit his inconsistencies.
Don’t Pass Me By – Retief Goosen:
 |
Goosen is often the forgotten of the Fab Five. His laid back manor and quiet victories have kept him out of the spotlight for most of his career and have caused those who aren’t golf fans to recognize him as just another golfer, rather than the 4th best player in the world. Expect the Goose to be in contention during the Open, but don’t expect to hear much about it.
Revolution 1 – Australian Golfers:
 |
“You say you want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world…” Five to ten years ago, nobody would’ve thought that these Australian golfers would be able to take over the game in the way that they have. Ogilvy wins the U.S. Open. Scott moves into 6th in the world rankings with his outstanding year. Stuart Appleby, Nick O’Hern, Robert Allenby have all found success as well on the Tour. There are also some promising young Australians, such as Aaron Baddeley, looking to move into the upper echelon of the sport. The Australian revolution is here to stay.
Magical Mystery Tour – European Golfers:
Since European golfers certainly aren’t winning tournaments or improving their games, they must be on a “Magical Mystery Tour." It’s really the only explanation. The European golfers seem to have disappeared from the PGA Tour. They just aren’t winning big tournaments like they once did. Maybe this is the year that somebody like Luke Donald, David Howell, or Monty step it up and takes home victory at the Open. Then again, the odds of it aren’t so good.
Back in the U.S.S.R. – Colin Montgomerie:
 |
Monty’s a jolly good chap (as far as the U.S. is concerned, he’s not at all, but for the sake of his British ancestry, this line is necessary). However, he just can’t get it done in the majors. He tried to make a run in the U.S. Open and finished runner-up in last year’s British Open, but can’t seem to overcome his roadblock. There wouldn’t be a better time or place for Monty to shake off his career-long funk, but I don’t see it happening.
Get Back – Jim Furyk:
 |
After a rough couple of years, Furyk is finally healthy again and has been able to “get back to where you (he) once belonged." This will be Furyk’s true coming out party, as I’m predicting British Open victory for the guy whose mechanics would get him cut from a high school golf team. That funny looking swing will bring him all the way to the Claret Jug in 2006. That should get him on top of the money list and maybe even bump him towards the top of the world rankings. Now that’s a sweet comeback.
Yesterday – Tom Watson:
Tom Watson has certainly seen his best days pass him by; he’s the elder statesman in this Open field at 56. He’s actually aged quite well compared to what most guys are doing at 56, but 35 years of professional golf has definitely taken its toll. The only other PGA Tour event Watson has entered this year was The Masters, where he missed the cut with a two-day score of 154. You can almost imagine Watson, on the back-9 of his career, singing “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it seems as though their here to stay." Watson certainly still believes he can play, but his future lies on the Champions Tour. Don’t get too hopeful about a miracle in the Open for Watson.
Blackbird – Sean O’Hair:
In the song, Blackbird, the key line is “take these broken wings and learn to fly." Well, sadly, Sean O’Hair’s “broken wings” are his father. Though his father showed Sean his true talent, it was at the price of Sean’s childhood. Marc O’Hair pushed his son to the line and then crossed it over and over again, almost to the point of abuse. Then when Marc asked his son for a contract, guaranteeing him 10% of his son’s winnings, Sean finally gave him the boot from his life. Since then, Sean has developed into quite a golfer, and I believe this British Open will be his coming out-party on the worldwide stage. I’m predicting a second place finish for Sean O’Hair, as he certainly has “learned to fly."
The Long and Winding Road – David Duval:
| 7 |
If you’ve read Moneyball, the story of Oakland A’s GM, Billy Beane, you know that Beane was a great athlete who never made it big in the majors because he just didn’t have the right mindset. Duval reminds me a lot of the Billy Beane story, except it seems like Duval’s problems were more temporary than Beane’s. After being incredible during the beginning of his career, Duval has certainly traveled a Long and Winding Road to get to where he is at now, which is on the verge of winning on tour once again. I don’t think he’ll have a great showing in the British, but he’s on the right track.
Happiness is a Warm Gun – John Daly:
| 44 |
Daly has gone through so many problems in his life, the most recent of which being his well-documented gambling issues. This song is basically about major life problems, much like what Daly has gone through. It’s about overcoming them and that’s what Daly needs to do. It is said that Daly may have more natural golf talent than any other player on Tour, but doesn’t work at it, so he doesn’t get the results that guys like Tiger and Phil get. There are too many problems surrounding Daly to expect a good showing in the Open. Unfortunately, I doubt he will even be able to make the weekend this year.
The End:
So there you have your 2006 British Open preview, and you may have learned a little something about The Beatles as well. Two birds with one stone. For those of you who crave organization, here’s a 10-man leaderboard for dessert:
1. Jim Furyk
2. Sean O’Hair
3. Vijay Singh
4. Retief Goosen
5. Adam Scott
6. Luke Donald
7. Tiger Woods
8. Zack Johnson
9. Geoff Ogilvy
10. Stuart Appleby
Disagree with Rob's analysis? Have a better Beatles analogy? Let him know by emailing him at robbie.labrie@atomicsportsmedia.com