Misc. Open Monday Reads

Most of the inkslingers are mailing in press release rubber stamp specials on how the newly lengthened holes will keep the Old Course up-to-date. And then there’s John Huggan, who, pondering the absurdity of players actually be teeing off from outside the Old Course boundaries, provides a fun and cranky pre-Open column.

Has there ever been a more damning condemnation of the game's administrators? How embarrassing is it that golf's most notable and enduring landscape has been deemed inadequate when faced with the modern professional and his bazooka-like weapons? (The answers are no and very for those of you keeping score).

Such discussions and arguments are sure to take up an inordinate amount of space in newspapers over the next few days. In the absence of any real action until Thursday, be prepared to read the opinion of almost every member of the 156-strong field.

Here’s the PGATOUR.com story on Jason Gore's Nationwide win . And this AP story has the news on Brad Faxon qualifying and Sean O'Hair apparently getting a passport, so he's in too. O'Hair also credits his win to purchasing two Nicklaus instruction books that gave him a swing thought.

An Independent story on 33-1 Luke Donald and his thoughts on the Old Course, Jack Nicklaus and Luke's boring style of play. Here's a preview of the U.S. Amateur Public Links and Michelle Wie's quest to get into the Masters this week. The USGA's David Shefter reports that the USGA's Open web site got more than 50 million page views during the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago when Wie shared the lead heading into the final round.

Mike Aitken writes that there won't be changes to Loch Lomond to despite the low scoring. And what about going to a links? "We have to be very considerate of what our sponsors want and Barclays are comfortable with the championship at Loch Lomond," said Keith Williams of Loch Lomond. "This course fits the profile for them.”

Here's Golf World's take on the lengthening of Augusta National . A club source says that the Masters ball idea is still definitely NOT off the table. And finally, the sad news that Ben Crenshaw is leaning toward not playing the Masters after hearing the news about the latest lengthening.