As the 131st Open Championship nears, the anticipation of more historic moments at this oldest golf championship is growing exponentially. The season’s third major, also known as the British Open, will be another step in Tiger Woods’ way to the Grand Slam.
Sure, there’s no written rule that stipulates that the Grand Slam has to be done within a year. But then again, why does a baseball pitcher ‘stand up’ for a teammate that is hit by a pitch by throwing at the head of the next guy up from the other team? Is that written anywhere?
Anyway, telling Woods he hasn’t done the pure Grand Slam is yet another way to get him mad and that much more motivated. Although he hasn’t said anything offensive publicly, you can bet that Woods is burning inside trying to win the four majors this year, if only to keep so-called purists quiet in the future.
For those trivia buffs, Jack Nicklaus was the last one before Woods to win season’s first two majors. That was back in 1972, when Nicklaus was the runner-up to Lee Trevino at the Open Championship, held at this year’s venue Muirfield Golf Links in Scotland.
Muirfield will host its first Open since 1992, and 15th overall, but the course remains virtually the same. In contrast with the extensive changes at Augusta National to combat the new technology, only two holes at Muirfield, both par-3s, have been extended. The par-3, fourth has been lengthened 33 yards to 213 yards, while the 13th measures 191 yards, an increase of 32 yards.
The total yardage of Muirfield is 7,034, considerably shorter than Augusta and Bethpage Black. Four of its par-4s are less than 400 yards, and all three par-5s are quite reachable compared to ones at Bethpage.
Muirfield’s defence will be not much different from that of other Open venues: fast, narrow fairways, high and thick rough, hard greens, 148 bunkers and Mother Nature. If the conditions turn blustery with little rain, keeping the ball on those firm, undulating fairways will be even more difficult. Balls tend to run a lot on fairways of links courses such as Muirfield, where the rough is so tall that it could well hide balls, golf bags and smaller players and caddies. Hence, hitting the fairways with tee shots will be a must to win this particular Open.
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