This is part of an e-mail I received from my former friend Michael Scott regarding the most stunning come from behind victory in his annual Majors Pool:

From Michael:

“Once again we have an amazing comeback in the Majors Pool.

I give you your new champion, Rick Hall. Rick was in 43rd place after the US Open. Good thing we don’t have a 2-round cut. He was 16th after the Open Championship. He closed the deal yesterday.

Rick is one of the funniest people I know. He is the self-proclaimed “Health and Fashion Editor” for Golf Digest (He’s not, but for those who know the story, it’s awesome).

He’s proprietor of the incredibly funny, well-written “Best In Golf” Blog. His day job is Golf Digest’s major league ad rep in the Southeast. First ballot hall of fame player.

And he knows how to finish. Unlike Sergio.

Thanks to everyone for playing (and paying).”

Michael Scott

Then today…The Agony of Defeat Phone Call!

Michael: “Hey bro, remember who won the ’68 Masters?”

Me: “Uh, Bob Goalby?”

Michael: “Exactly, and do you know who won the 2008 Majors Pool?”

Me: “Not me?”

Michael: “Exactly again!  There was a slight accounting error and you finished 43rd…but can’t wait to have you back next year”

Me: “Ouch”

This weeks best golf is the Sr. British Open…why?  Because it’s at he home of our first in the series, Best Par Threes in Golf…The 8th hole, The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon. 

The first in the category will most likely be the shortest at 123 yards from the championship  tees.  If it plays downhill, and if it’s downwind that day, with a foot in the rough it’s a pitching wedge.

But if it’s playing into a gale off the Firth of Clyde, and you can’t see the 7th fairway a few yards away, load up the surface-to-air missile and let it rip. 

Either way is daunting with a green just wide enough to stand on and the “coffin bunker” guarding the left…don’t need to tell you why it’s called that I don’t think.

Pictured right is friend Andy wondering just how he is going to get himself out of the coffin…can’t talk this one out Big Pine.

Has Linda Hartough ever painted a one-shotter at your club?  Yeah, mine either.

Royal Birkdale

Not very long ago, before TIVO, the greatest invention since ED drugs by the way, the only time one could roll out of bed, walk the dog, fix a Starbucks, and watch live golf was this very day…Open Sunday.

…but it was cool to see Miguel Angel Jiminez and Paul Casey sitting together on the grass watching their countrymen playing for the Claret Jug. As long as they think and act like that you can bet your farmer’s tan we aren’t going to win another Ryder Cup

Sure would liked to have seen an interview with Andres Romero. Can you even imagine the scene in Argentina if he hadn’t doubled 17 to lose by 1 and they pulled off the Open Double?

Six of the top 20 golfers in the end were Americans and none better than 6th, and that was Hunter Mahan who shot 65 before the seagulls got up…hmmm

“OK we’re back. Romero is on 17 now making double since we went to that last commercial break, so let’s go over to Sergio Garcia for his drive on 8. It’s a beauty right down the middle and we’ll show you where it ended up when we return right after this”

I’m not sure if between 9:00 and 2:30 I watched more golf or ads during ABCs coverage of The British Open today…it had to be close.

When will the TV Weenies get that serious golf fans are with you for the duration…take the lead from the Masters and tell us at the top of the hour who the sponsors are…not 100 times during the tournament…please!!!

And do the advertisers really think it’s helping them to run the same spot over and over and over? They have to realize that an average of three shots in between pods of commercials only irritate the audience and send a subconscious negative message.

I’m no expert but isn’t that the opposite desired affect?

It’s become as staple as Jack Whitaker and the funny way the ball flickers on TV from the British Open.

Steve Sands from the Golf Channel dutifully interviewing Schofield during the wrap-up show, which is the only reason to have The Golf Channel by the way

Ken saying “well the lads bucked up today in some pretty dreary conditions. Sergio is putting better and Luke seems in top form. Perhaps this is the year we’ll end our drought…we can only hope.”

Personally I couldn’t care less who wins a golf tournament, major or otherwise. The fact that a looper from Argentina won the US Open is a hoot to me…life changing for a guy who grew up where there weren’t any tracks at all…right or wrong side. Tiger will get his so not to worry there

Why is it that anyone cares who wins or what country they come from? Golf is global, always has been.

C’mon Kenny, you kick the USA from one end of the range to the other every four years at The Ryder Cup…let it go bud and smile now and again…at least for Steve who has to stand next to you.

So can we please let this go? TNT just treated us to Ousty’s call from that day on BBC…pretty good line when he said “someone take him into the clubhouse for a shower and a swab down”

Let this poor guy forget about 1999 and move on to be the sniveling, complaining, malodorous Frenchman he was born to be.

One good thing about VdV…he’s nowhere near as scary looking as Paul Lawrie in HDTV.

A horrible condition, laying awake when an important meeting looms the next day…but rejoice there is a cure.

Give me Ernie Johnson, I can handle him just fine. And I could do all the Jim Huber you can send. Players are comfortable with Jim and it shows. OK so he doesn’t ask the tough question…but this is golf after all…not the immigration debate.

But for my sleeplessness Bobby Clampett is the ultimate cure. Waking up this morning as usual, first day of The Open…as I have for many years looking forward to a couple of Starbucks and some live golf from Carnoustie…hard to beat that…at least if your life is a mundane as moi.

By the way that’s the last time The Open will appear on this BLOG…it’s the British Open around these parts pods.

Note to Bobby: The players are stronger, the ball has a miniature nuclear reactor inside…you don’t have to tell us how far they hit it anymore bud…we get it.

…and don’t say “What most people don’t realize” It makes you sound like Ken Venturi, and that ‘s not good…and everyone realizes that.

Oh and you need a little better line than “great up and down for McGinley, you’ll see lot of the players use a putter from off the green at The Open”

Oh, really? Don’t be so hasty BC, it could be new to some viewers. Those that have never played, watched, or driven past a Par 3 come to mind…but it’s possible.

Thank goodness Judy Rankin is recovered and clocked in at 8:50 EDT. Where have you been?

I have to go…trying to figure out how to get Bobby on my Ipod.