When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
McIroy In Twitter Tiff Over His Course Management
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After a one-under opening round in the Irish Open, Rory McIlroy and BBC radio commentator Jay Townsend exchanged some thoughts on the day. From a BBC report, courtesy of reader Lloyd:"The only thing I thought of all day was the 17th."
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John Strege in his weekend roundup has several items of note, including this on the island green follies that broke out during Sunday's windy Nordea Masters final round at Bro Hof Slott Golf Course.Bubba Has New Knickname; Still Can't Figure Out Links Short Game
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Brian Keough reports that Bubba has become known in Europe as "Blubba Watson" after his French Open complaining, and that Bubba denies snubbing a fellow player needing a ride. And you might want to note this if you were contemplating putting Bubba on your fantasy team this week.Castle Stuart Got Double The Normal July Rainfall In One Day!
/In this week's Pond Scrum, John Huggan and Steve Elling talk about last weekend's golf and in the midst of considering Luke Donald's chances this week, Huggan noted this about the Scottish Open rains.
Bubba Makes Amends, Issues Apology And Desire To Learn French Pronunciations
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Lawrence Donegan with the always frank Bubba Watson speaking at length about his disastrous visit to Paris, suggesting he was not showing disrespect but simply could not pronounce certain landmarks. He also said he has a fear of large crowds, explaining his issues with the security and expressed a desire to return.2011 Scottish-Deere-Women's Open Open Thread
/Weather has disrupted what should have been a nice 1-2-3 day, but you still have the potential crowning of champions in all three, with Steve Stricker going for a third straight John Deere Classic.
Read MorePride Or Self Interest? Monty Slams Shortening Of Scottish Open
/I'll just say he does have a tendency to think of himself from time to time, but you also have to admire Monty's feeling that his nation's national championship deserves a full playing after freak storms caused the loss of Saturday play at Castle Stuart.
Read More"Links golf without wind is generally pretty low scoring. Is that a bad thing?"
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Ewan Murray, reporting from Castle Stuart, where the scores are low and 36-hole leader Graeme McDowell says that's just fine for a number of reasons."I expect the winner of next week's British Open will be in the field this week."
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Lawrence Donegan previews the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart and says the players are already raving about the course and the return of links style golf the week prior to the Open Championship.Meet The Anti-Ugly American!
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Sean Martin talks to Brendan Steele who played last week's French Open and is in this week's Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. Steele spoke highly of the tournament operation in Paris and had no issues like a certain someone else. And as for why he's venturing abroad?
"Bubba In Paris" Reviews Are In!
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I thought the media reaction was a mountain out of a mole hill until I heard about the courtesy car.
Castle Stuart Primer: "The best course built in the British Isles since the Second World War."
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That's John Huggan's declaration in his column previewing Castle Stuart, host of this week's Scottish Open marking a return to links golf after years at Loch Lomond.
Huggan focuses on the course's impressive width and the potential for a variety of setup opportunities should the European Tour staff see fit to use them. Included in the story are extensive quotes from co-architect Gil Hanse on the potential for low scores if there isn't much wind.
"So many architects get fixated by the notion of making really good players look bad. I don't want that at all. I want to see them making birdies and showing off their skills. And I want our course to lend itself to all of that. If that means low scores, so be it. Besides, if top players playing well can only shoot, say, 69 then there is something wrong with the test presented to them.
"It is odd that so many people don't appreciate how interesting and difficult short grass can be when used as a hazard. My mind always goes back to the play-off for the 1989 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Greg Norman had missed a green but had nothing but short grass and a bank between him and the hole. He stood there and thought about it. Then he switched clubs. Then he thought about it more. Eventually he just chunked the shot. The best player in the world had been perplexed by the subtlety of what was in front of him. His mind was full of doubt."
And Huggan says the three short par-4s will be the holes to watch.
As for which holes are likely to provide most entertainment, subtle or not, Hanse picks out four: "The three short par-4s - the third, ninth and 16th - will be, for me, the most interesting. I can't wait to see how really good players tackle those holes. There are so many choices off each of those tees.
You may recall that Castle Stuart's evolution has been well-chronicled on this site due to my affiliation with Hanse and Jim Wagner, the co-creators of the links with developer Mark Parsinen.
But as a refresher, here are some of the past links.
Grow-in photos.
YouTube videos on the making of the course...
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4 (making of the bunkers)
And after the course opened, images from John Kemp, one of the talented lads who helped build the place.
"It's Paris, Bubs, not the dark side of the moon."
/Site reader and Golf Channel European tour commentator Jay Townsend will be appearing on Monday's Morning Drivel to discuss the Bubba Watson situation and promises some insights into what was happening and just what Bubba's appearance deal was. I know you all have it on auto record but just an FYI in case.
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