There is nothing quite like The Open
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Early this evening a bright yellow rescue helicopter very briefly hovered over Muirfield and by that time many of the players badly need salvaging from the wreckage of this year’s gruelling battle for the Claret Jug.
Yet again this week has proved that the Open Championship remains the ultimate test of golf. This week at Muirfield has categorically hammered that message well and truly home.
The Open, come rain, wind or shine, sorts the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff and the very good from the absolutely outstanding.
Not only is it a huge test of skill but patience, concentration and endurance as well. You’ve got to use all your golfing nous – and more – to stay in the hunt. And, of course, admittedly you need a little bit of good fortune too. A good or dodgy bounce is all part of the Open fun and games.
Yes, forget the US Open and the Masters at Augusta, there’s nothing quite like and comparable to The Open…and never will be.
This week at Muirfield the players, rarely for an Open (of the British kind that is), may have had the sun on their backs (and fronts) at all times but they’ve still had loads of other stuff to deal with: like a tricky wind from different directions on the first two days, pencil-thin fairways, knee high rough and lightning fast greens. Then there’s the penal gaping bunkers, some devilishly difficult pin placements and the pressures involved in a major championship. And so on…
Everything needs to be spot on and in place during Open week and though some players have had a moan about this and that concerning playing conditions, at the end of the day it’s exactly the same playing field for all 160-plus participants.
And come Sunday evening, there’s one thing you can absolutely 100% guarantee: whoever holds aloft the Claret Jug will have thoroughly deserved it.
As I say, there’s nothing quite like The Open is there?
