"He’s started referring to next week’s extravaganza as — deep breath now — the ‘British Open,’ for heaven’s sake."

Derek Lawrenson searches for deep hidden meaning in Ian Poulter's Tweeting and also notes this:

That 15ft putt at Birkdale was actually the last time Poulter was seen in action on British soil. Never mind those spelling mistakes. Here’s something worth feeling horrified about: the lad has spent so long in America he’s started referring to next week’s extravaganza as — deep breath now — the ‘British Open,’ for heaven’s sake.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, would probably be well within his rights to take the Claret Jug back off him if he started any winner’s speech with those words.

Comments

[Jay Townsend]

Even I, as an American, would never do that!!!

hmmm, not good, the rest of my thoughts on this can't be posted ;)

[Scott]

Derek Lawrenson is being a little dishonest. He highlights some "tweets," but doesn't reprint the one where Poulter called it the "British Open." Why not?

As for the other crimes against humanity Lawrenson lists, Poulter didn't say he was washing the car himself, he said "http://twitpic.com/9hzy9 - My Ford GT having a wash, don't know why I bother, check the rain cloud in the distance.." No one would expect to see a photo of Poulter with a sponge in one hand and a chamois in the other.

It was called the "British Open" in the US until about 10 years ago. And in lots of places it still is. Does any American refer to Tom Watson's record as having won 5 "Open Championships?"

[Scott]

Why wouldn't you Jay?

It was routinely called the "British Open" in the 1920s, 1930s and 40s, by guys named Jones, Hagen, Sarazen and Snead.

The Brits introduced "the Open Championship" in the late 1980s or early 1990s as a marketing gimmick--to remind the world that they're the home of golf. It was all about prying Yankee dollars out of Yankee wallets.

Feel free to call it the "British Open." Most people do, including the defending champion. That must really irritate the Brits.

[Jay Townsend]

Scott

Yes, both Tom Watson and Peter Thompson have won 5 Open Championships

And, did you not see my wink ;) after that post?

[Hawkeye]

Scott, you are one ignorant yank. The fact of the matter is that it has been called "The Open Championship" since 1860, and the winner has been called "The Champion Golfer of the Year" since 1860. The reason behind this is simply that prior to its inception, there was no golf championship being played anywhere on earth. As it happens, a Champion Golfer of the Year was being crowned 33 times before the USGA even existed, and if the R&A can pry yankee dollars out of yankee wallets by referring to The Open Championship by its original name, so be it.

My bottom line is this: Call it "British Open" if you like, because just like "Wimbledon" it's in the vernacular. I do it myself. But its real name is, and always has been, "The Open Championship".

[Chuck]

Excuse me -- Ian Poulter has never before played Turnberry?

[Scott]

Yawn. Does anyone really care besides the Brit press?

[Chet]

I recall Jim McKay clarifying "The Open" very early on in his ABC broadcasting. Early 60's.

[Scott (the First)]

There seems to be 2 Scotts here. I'm the one who commented after Jay Townsend's first comment.

Hawkeye: I'm ignorant and yes a Yank, but I didn't noticed it being called "The Open Championship" on ABC until the last 10 years or so. I'm not saying the R&A didn't name it "The Open Championship" and that it's not known by that generic name in most of the world.

[Hawkeye]

But ABC is an American network, right? So that can't have been about Brits trying to cash in on a more perceived importance, or whatever.
In all fairness, the R&A themselves have been somewhat inconsistent through the years as well. Yesterday, I watched the official film of the 1977 Open, and guess what the caption says in the opening credits? That's right, "The British Open Golf Chapionship 1977".

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Wow, Hawkeye, they misspelled Championship? I too would be appalled! :-) Joking...

Who cares. It's the U.S. Open and the British Open. I've heard the U.S. Open referred to as "the Open" as well. Does any of this really matter? Call it what you want.

[Hawkeye]

I will never again complain about Ian Poulter's spelling mistakes.
I will never again complain about Ian Poulter's spelling mistakes.
I will never again complain about Ian Poulter's spelling mistakes.
I will never again complain about Ian Poulter's spelling mistakes.
I will never....