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SPORTS> Feature and Column
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British Open? More like a day at the beach
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-19 13:56 The country was in the grips of a heat wave, though it was expected to cool off a bit by the time the first real shot was struck on Thursday. This being Britain, there's always the threat of showers rearing up at any time, though meteorologists said it didn't seem that likely before the weekend. But rest assured, everyone will be keeping an eye on the forecast. More than any other major, this event is defined by its weather. The ancient courses that make up the British Open rotation _ and Royal Liverpool, back in the mix after a 39-year absence, is certainly no exception _ rely on cold rain and blustery winds to ward off today's big hitters. When conditions are benign, the shorter, wider layouts are there for the taking. "After the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, this is a pleasant sight," said Mark Calcavecchia, who won the British in 1989. "I think it's going to be a nice week of weather and unless it gets really windy, you're going to see some really good scores out there." That certainly wasn't the case at the last major, when Geoff Ogilvy's 5-over-par score was good enough to give the Aussie his first major title. While Winged Foot was defined by failure _ Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie both making double bogeys on the 72nd hole, Furyk missing a short putt that could have forced a playoff, Tiger Woods missing the cut _ this tournament could produce the sort of gaudy scores normally associated with less-glamorous events. If conditions stay anything close to what they were on Monday, it's going to take an awfully good number to claim the claret jug. Maybe not as low as Woods' winning score at St. Andrews in 2000 (a 19-under 269), but certainly along the lines of his 14-under victory at the birthplace of golf a year ago. "It's playing short and playing fast," Calcavecchia said after his practice round. "On a day like today, you would have seen a lot of low scores."
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