Movable O.B.(!?) and Other Tuesday Reads

Two for two this week on exclusives, Lawrence Donegan writes in Tuesday’s Guardian that "in a move without modern precedent, the R&A will introduce a 'moveable' out-of-bounds line between the 1st and 2nd holes at this year's Open in order to preserve the traditional boundaries of golf's most famous venue."

Donegan continues, "This will mean that players who hit the ball into an area to the right of the 1st green will be deemed to have sent their shot out of bounds, but if they hit a ball from the 2nd tee into the same area it will be in play."

What would a major run by an amateur governing body be these days without a distance related course setup boondoggle! Frank Hannigan has fun with the idea that the R&A has had to go outside the Old Course to find distance. John Huggan continues his fun thoughts on the matter, noting that it’s the first time the Open will be played on four St. Andrews courses and in general, he lambastes the R&A.

Here’s my Golfobserver column on the arrival of Tigerball and how some things may be just a little different for Tiger this time around. Peter Thomson likes the added length, but isn’t so fond of the 18-yard wide landing area on #4. And in this Telegraph story, he talks about the bunkers getting too deep, the ball needing to be rolled back and about his favorite place to play, Elie. "If I had my way I'd build Elies all over the world." Here, here to that! Elie is as cool and quirky as it gets.

And this is a link to John Hawkins's excellent St. Andrews preview story in Golf World . George Peper writes about his move to St. Andrews for the Times of London . Finally, a fun story on PGA Tour players getting free ipods and what some are listening too. Jonathon Byrd likes Christian music, Ray Charles and Van Morrison. How about that for an eclectic mix?