"Par at 70 is slightly ridiculous but that is the modern trend, knock a couple strokes off so nobody makes our course look foolish. And nobody has." **

Ah, I like sleeping in and leaving the live blogging to Van Sickle and Shipnuck. Here I was about to transcribe Peter Alliss' little rant about par-70s and they already have it up...

11:15: TNT is pretty much proving that eight hours of golf coverage is way too much. Paul Azinger provided some spark, and so did venerable Peter Alliss when he signed on after 11. Azinger and Alliss make a difference because they actually have things to say. Allis came on the air and immediately said, "Par at 70 is slightly ridiculous but that is the modern trend, knock a couple strokes off so nobody makes our course look foolish. And nobody has." Alliss is a gem. 

Update on 2008-07-17 16:56 by Geoff

**Peter Dawson shrugs off the comments to American players not being used to the conditions and the vagaries of seaside golf.

As for the sixth, Dawson shrugged.

"Six is 499 into the wind," he said. "It was a par-5 today, clearly. Treat it as a par-5. I don’t see it as an issue."

On the 11th, which is listed at 436 yards, the R&A moved the tee to the front of the championship box and shaved 10 yards off the length. Otherwise, the next available tee area was roughly 50 yards further up, he said.

In hindsight, Dawson said the R&A should have constructed another tee area between the champion and members' regular tees. Even with the extra 10 yards, some players couldn’t reach the fairway grass, a carry of about 210 yards over intermediate rough, straight into the breeze.

"It's another one into the wind," Dawson said stoically. "Links golf, tough day at the seaside."

In this Elling blog post, he also reports that Dawson wasn't too pleased with early WD's by Sandy Lyle and Rich Beem.

"I couldn't reach four fairways. You have to use common sense and they didn't. They put themselves in the league of the USGA at Shinnecock."

Steve Elling on the early massacre at Birkdale:

Despite assurances that the weather would be taken into account during the setup, the tees on several key holes playing into the wind weren't adjusted, causing as many complaints as bogeys. Specifically, players said that the par-4 Nos. 6, 11 and 16 were not reachable in regulation, even with 3-wood approach shots.

It used to be that the U.S. Golf Association was reputed as the most sadistic organization in golf, though their reputation has softened in the past couple of years. Not to worry, because the Royal & Ancient rushed to the fore to fill the Draconian, dunderheaded void.

American veteran Jerry Kelly called it the biggest gaffe he'd seen at a major, including the controversial 2005 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where play had to be suspended after a green became sun-scorched and unplayable.

"Worst course setup I've ever seen," said Kelly after finishing with an 83. "I couldn't reach four fairways. You have to use common sense and they didn't. They put themselves in the league of the USGA at Shinnecock."

Hey, is there an echo in the room?

"If it had been run by the European Tour, the tees would have been pushed forward a little bit," said overseas veteran Graeme Storm, who shot 76. "It's hard enough to hit the fairway, much less reach them."

"Tiger's drives were worse than Phil's, yet finished in better spots."

James Corrigan talks to Dave Pelz about Phil Mickelson's performance at Torrey Pines and the short game guru offers an interesting theory on the difference between Phil and Tiger's, uh, luck.

"I give Tiger all the credit in the world but I'm a stats guy," Pelz said at the opening of one of his renowned short-game schools at Killeen Castle in Co Meath. "I look at Mickelson's worst three drives and he made two doubles and a bogey and then I look at Tiger's worst three drives and he made eagle, birdie, par. Tiger's three-under, Phil's five-over. Tiger's drives were worse than Phil's, yet finished in better spots.

"When Phil hit his bad three woods they went in the deep six-inch rough; when Tiger hit his bad ones they went into the next fairway or the trampled-down dry dirt. So if you're going to miss, miss big and have a unique set of circumstances when your knee hurts so bad before the tournament that all you do in the build-up is putt all day, every day and go on to make 75 footers, 50 footers, 40 footers...

"That actually might not be a bad way to do it," he adds. "I mentioned it to Phil. Of course, it's not just luck. It is lucky when a 75-footer hits the hole and goes in, but it's not lucky that he hits it so near to the hole. It might have gone eight foot past but he probably wouldn't have three-putted as he was putting so fine.

Thursday Open Championship Clippings

Lawrence Donegan sets the table for Thursday's opening round:

An unseasonably wet spring has rendered the thick stuff thicker than it should be; a recent dry spell means fairways harder and faster than anyone would wish them when the rough is this harsh; and a golf course architect with a misplaced sense of humour has disfigured this jewel of a links with one green - the 17th - with all the features required for crazy golf save a miniature windmill. The R&A's stated intention over the next four days is to identify the champion golfer of the year but, come Sunday evening, the gentlemen in blazers could be handing the trophy to the last man standing.

Bob Harig says Mother Nature is going to play a big role in this one.

More than a few players limited their time on the course to just nine holes, figuring it was no use. Better to spend time putting and chipping -- facets of the game that will be put to the test -- instead of battling the elements.

"If it stays like this, the winning score could be double digits over par," said Ron Levin, who is caddying for Fredrik Jacobsen.

"Yeah, this is all you would want," said Masters champion Trevor Immelman. "In my opinion this is the toughest golf course I've played on the Open rota. It's very demanding off the tee. ... This is going to be a great test this week, especially with some of the weather that's been forecast. The guy who wins this tournament on Sunday is going to be very deserving of it."

James Corrigan quotes Padraig Harrington about the state of his wrist and the state of the course, which Harrington predicts will deliver "absolute carnage" while Corrigan drops the first '99 Carnoustie suggestion.

Steve Elling considers Lefty's chances and Gene Wojciechowski believes Tiger's absence puts more pressure on Mickelson.

John Daly was brought into the press tent Wednesday and a controversy erupted (I know, stunning). Seems Butch Harmon is now to blame for Long John's inability to get sponsor's exemptions.

Martin Johnson summarizes.

Bob Harig's take is accompanied by video of the press conference.

John Hawkins raises this fine point about the whole affair:

What boggles my mind is why Daly was even invited to the media center. The guy hasn't had a top-10 finish since October 2005 and has made just three cuts in 12 starts in '08. Apparently, the British press requested his presence, surely aware that when Long John Scapegoat gets anywhere near a live microphone, the ensuing maelstrom of unaccountability will produce several pages of tabloid-friendly grist.

Ewan Murray reports:

Daly was due to tee off at 9.42 today against doctor's orders, having suffered tendinitis in his left elbow and recently had a cyst removed from his right hand. "It's an Open and it is very special to me," said the Californian. "I told him [the doctor] I'm going to play, no matter what."

Californian? The piece also includes "Four things other than an outspoken coach that might have 'destroyed' John Daly's life 'for a bit'."

Richard Williams says the Open provides us a chance to imagine what the game would be like if Tiger was never invented. Well that's certainly a unique way of looking at things.

Regarding the other hot player not in attendance, he grew a little cranky today in Milwaukee. And not because he's in Milwaukee.

“I just don’t understand it. I don’t know why they’re ripping me,” Perry said before the pro-am Wednesday.

Claire Middleton tells us how much tennis Greg and Chrissy have been playing and asks him what he thinks of the 17th green.

A prolific course architect, Norman also had a view on the controversial 17th green here. "They could have done a better job," he said.

Warning! This could be great or a total disaster: Gary Van Sickle and Alan Shipnuck will be live blogging round 1.

Golfweek staff picks are in, too late I'm afraid.

Golf Digest's Mike O'Malley has been culling Birkdale related nuggets at GolfDigest.com (including today's quote above). They make for nice contextual setters in case you are still struggling to get in the mood for the Open. You can read them here, here and here.

And finally, Bob Verdi is one of the few to report on the golf-in-the-Olympics press conference today and writes:

Also, there are other sports vying for those two slots, including baseball and softball, which will be part of next month's Olympics in Beijing but are dropping out for 2012 and reapplying. The other candidates for 2016 are karate, roller sports, squash and rugby seven.

I asked Juan Antonio Votaw to explain rugby sevens, and he said, "It's a quicker version of the sport, which usually has 15 players per side, instead of seven." I guess it would be like having a basketball game of three-on-three instead of five-on-five. Votaw assured me, however, that if golf makes it, each match will last the regulation 18 holes, not nine, or six. Votaw concluded that he is honored to accept his new position, which does not mean he is severing any ties with the PGA Tour or moving to China.

Wait, and one more finally...the Principal is back, just in time for the Open. Look out Monty and the BBC!

Birkdale Clubhouse Description Watch, Vol. 2

Lynne Truss likes the clubhouse and jumps ahead of the previous entries with this enjoyable bit of fiction:

This great white ship supposedly “cruises through the sand hills” of the championship course, carving through the grassy waves despite its rounded front and emphatically lateral orientation — both of which features are historically disapproved of in the design of boats of all sizes.

Imagine the announcement: “I am creating a revolutionary ocean liner,” Samuel Cunard tells his shareholders. “It will have a rounded front and be wider than it is long. It will also have a tall clock tower, a bar, changing rooms and strict policies on spiked shoes, denim clothing and the admittance of people with two X chromosomes.”

“Sounds more like a clubhouse,” mutters a chap at the back, who is immediately ejected from the meeting. 

"I think you can expect to see something about this in the next three to four weeks."

Peter Dawson did double duty Wednesday, first sitting down for a joint Olympic bid press conference followed by an R&A Open press conference that was about as tense as a post-Oscar win Q&A session.

My eyes and ears report that this question was not asked by one of the wannabe R&A members writing for the British press:

Q. Unrelated to this week, how are you guys doing on the U grooves, V grooves thing? There's a perception in the States that it's the R & A that's dragging its feet on that implementation. Fairly or not, maybe you can address that and tell us when you see that coming on-line, if at all, and what the hold-ups and hurdles might be.

PETER DAWSON: Well, the current status of that is that there's been some additional testing conducted just in the last few weeks in the women's game, at LPGA Tour events, and the results of that are just coming through now, which I don't think has changed anything. And I think you can expect to see something about this in the next three to four weeks.

Q. A firm date for implementation?

PETER DAWSON: No, that was an announcement in three to four weeks. I'm not going to preempt what that says.

Well that's news, right? Until 3-4 weeks from now when we don't hear a thing.

Q. Peter, there's been one or two criticisms about the 17th green. I just wondered what your thoughts were on that.

PETER DAWSON: I think I flagged up very early on this year that the 17th green might attract some comment, and it has, very eloquent comment from some, not so eloquent from others (smiling).

The green is undeniably different from many others on the golf course. I've spent with others quite a long time on it in the last couple of weeks. With the pin positions we have in mind I'm quite happy it's perfectly playable, and we know the score; I'm sure the green will be reviewed after the championship to decide what its future is. But as far as this week is concerned, it's going to be perfectly playable.

Yes, he flagged it. Of course, having helped design it that's a bit odd.

"We have been in constant touch with WADA since the beginning of our effort and WADA has been very supportive of the construct of our programme."

Still waiting on Peter Dawson's transcript to appear to determine what kind of softballs were lobbed by the wannabe and current R&A members in attendance,  but in the meantime we learned that Ty Votaw has the unenviable task of trying to package and sell the IOC on what golf does not need: another 72-hole stroke play event once every four years.

In the first wire story that went out on this with Olympics-related comments from Peter Dawson, I couldn't help but notice this little nugget:

Potential stumbling blocks include the need to move the date of the USPGA Championship to avoid a clash in dates, and the difference between golf's newly-introduced drug-testing programme and the requirements of the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

"The distinctions between our policies and full WADA compliance are not significant," added PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

"We have been in constant touch with WADA since the beginning of our effort and WADA has been very supportive of the construct of our programme.

"There will probably be some issues, but we don't see any major hurdles in terms of reaching an understanding about what changes need to be made to bring us into total compliance."

Now, as you may recall it was pointed out here that Dr. Gary Wadler of the WADA was quite blunt in a recent New York Daily News story by Andy Martino that analyzed deficiencies in the PGA Tour's testing program.

For example, the drug salbutamol, found in asthma inhalers, is anabolic and can build muscle. Salbutamol is banned in the Olympics, but allowed in golf. Also, though human growth hormone is prohibited, neither tour administers the blood tests that would possibly detect it. All 33 WADA labs worldwide test for HGH, although the efficacy of the tests are in question.

Wadler also takes issue with the language used to describe the testing process. The PGA Tour manual says: "Once notified, you should report to the designated testing area as soon as possible. The collector may allow you to delay reporting ... however, you may be monitored."

"What do you mean, 'should' and 'may?'" asks Wadler. "These things have to be required. What if the player goes to the bathroom after being told to report? That's no good."

And here's where one can see this getting ugly...

In terms of public disclosure, the policy states that "the PGA Tour will, at a minimum, publish the name of the player, the anti-doping rule violation, and the sanction imposed" - a statement that is contingent on Finchem having sanctioned a player in the first place. Clearly, if a star player were to test positive for steroids, that player "may" face a punishment and public embarrassment - or he may not. Wadler also points out that amphetamines, commonly used as performance enhancers, are classified under the tour's policy as drugs of abuse, meaning that players, if caught using these PEDs, could be quietly sent to rehab. All of these shortcomings, Wadler says, could be cleared up if both professional golf tours would cede control of their programs to WADA.

I wonder how many PGA Tour players will be willing to see the drug testing program turned over to the much tougher WADA so that three Americans can play 72 holes of stroke play every four years? I'm guessing not many.

Ty, Will Ye No' Call Back Again?

Does this mean PGA Tour exec Ty Votaw won't have time to call editors, writers and bloggers to set us straight that, in fact, the FedEx Cup is exciting?

Say it ain't so Ty!

International Golf Federation Creates
 Olympic Golf Committee to Enhance Drive for 2016


PGA TOUR’s Votaw Selected To Coordinate Olympic Golf Initiative

The International Golf Federation, recognized as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, today announced the creation of an Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport’s inclusion in the 2016 Games. Organizations that will be represented on the committee are The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club.

During a press conference at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the IGF also introduced PGA TOUR executive Ty Votaw as the person who will coordinate the Olympic golf movement on behalf of the IGF’s Olympic Golf Committee and other golf organizations around the world. Votaw will serve in a newly created position as Executive Director, IGF Olympic Golf Committee and will work closely with the organizations involved.

Votaw, who will continue as PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Communications and International Affairs, will lead the Olympic effort until October 2009, when the International Olympic Committee votes on which, if any, sports to add.

“Considering his vast experience in dealing with international golf organizations and issues as a member of the PGA TOUR executive staff and as a former commissioner of the LPGA, Ty is uniquely qualified to lead this effort on behalf of the International Golf Federation,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Having someone of Ty’s reputation and expertise serve in this capacity certainly enhances our efforts to add golf as an Olympic sport.”

“There is a significant amount of work to be done between now and next October, when the IOC makes its decision,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “As the PGA TOUR considers this a very important initiative on behalf of the international golf community, we are pleased to provide Ty and the majority of his time to coordinate this effort.”

And now a word from the poor lad stuck who has to sell this mess man of the hour...

“Without question, golf’s international popularity has grown significantly over the past couple of decades and the sport continues to expand and develop in new countries,” Votaw said. “So the time is right to champion golf as an Olympic sport. It’s wonderful that this has become such a united effort among golf’s leading organizations. I’m excited about this opportunity and very much look forward to the challenge and, hopefully, reward of bringing golf back to the Olympics.”

Open Championship Clippings, We're-Still-Writing-About-Tiger Edition

The great thing about this Open is that we won't have to read many stories about Tiger, instead we're getting...wait, no, really?

Yep, will golf/The Open/the planet survive without him? Of course the answer is no, but everyone does their best to say otherwise.

Lawrence Donegan at The Guardian blog:

Less understandable and forgivable has been the rush in some quarters to argue that a victory this week will be devalued by Woods' absence, that Sunday's winner might go down as the "asterisk champion".

"Does the trophy engraver know how to do an asterisk?" joked Geoff Ogilvy when asked about the impact of Woods' absence on the week ahead. "He adds to every tournament he plays in. But the Open is the Open. If any tournament is strong enough to stand up when he is not around it is this one."

Ernie Els also paid homage to the player who time and again has stood between him and major championship victory, suggesting that the atmosphere around the course felt "very different" because Woods was not around. But, like Ogilvy, he preferred to make light of the subject. "I am not overly disappointed he is not around - as a player," he said, smiling. "But this is the first major he has missed since he turned professional and it feels different. We are going to miss him."

Mark Cannizzaro and Ronan Rafferty duke it out over what Tiger's absence means. Steve Elling (here) and Derek Lawrenson (here) also tackle the subject and quote various players.

Bob Harig files a killer column on the Open Championship betting fun, how it works, where you go and why it's kind of silly that we don't allow it here, sharing this from Lee Trevino:

"We gamble billions of dollars in this country, and the Internal Revenue Service doesn't get a dime," Trevino said. "Instead, they spend millions of dollars trying to catch these people. I don't see anything wrong with it. And I bet more players are doing it than will admit."

He also includes a follow up on the Tiger effect on betting this year, with an interesting quote from a bookie about the "premier betting situation of the whole year."

Peter Dixon offers a nice, succinct overview of the various ways players are preparing in the stiff breezes and based on what he's seen so far, suggests that it could get ugly if forecasted winds arrive.

Lynne Truss considers Birkdale's standing as a spectator course.

Rich Lerner, still waiting on his luggage to arrive (Kelly, can I borrow some foundation?") offers "hooks and cuts from Birkdale."

Gary Van Sickle makes his picks and installs Sergio as the favorite.

Matthew Syed profiles Nick Faldo and offers a few Faldo riffs on various subjects. This caught my eye:

“I learnt my lesson with my son, Matthew. I kept nagging him to let me give him a golf lesson, but he did not say yes until he was good and ready. That is why I have not been pestering the Ryder Cup players. Instead I said, ‘If you want me, call.' It is as simple as that. A couple of guys have taken me up on it. Nick Dougherty came to talk about Augusta before the Masters and Ian Poulter, pictured, also expressed an interest in meeting up, but it hasn't happened yet. Things won't really come alive until the end of August.”

David Dusek with a great little golf.com blog post about the disgraceful way Ian Poulter treated the Birkdale putting green.

And finally, John Garrity says all of the other greens should be rebuilt to look just like No. 17, and that's why he writes about courses instead of designing them.

Wednesday Open Clippings: 17th Green Edition

It's only Tuesday and Mt. St. 17th-Green-At-Birkdale is about to erupt. Just imagine the possibilities when the tournament starts and the wind blows!

Before we get to the articles and after a lengthy search (because Lord knows we need more photos of guys hitting out a bunker), I finally found a shot of the 17th green in Golfweek's roster of images from Tuesday (the volume lowering tool is in the lower right).
No. 17 at Birkdale, courtesy of Golfweek (click to enlarge)

....we have several fine stories full of all sorts of rich, compelling and incriminating detail.  Here's John Huggan quoting Geoff Ogilvy:

"If Birkdale were a one-hole course this green would be out of character with the rest of the course. It's out of character with the land; it's out of character with the hole.

"You can see from 250 yards away that something has gone wrong. Sadly, it could be a decisive factor in who wins the championship. You could get some really crazy putts going on there. Funky bounces, too. A guy could hit a great shot in and see his ball take a really weird kick left or right. It's fine to have a tough green, but it has to look right. It just doesn't fit the spot that it is in, or the hole that it is on, or the rest of the course."

But other than that...Huggan also shares this from Robert Allenby:

"The problem is that whenever they try to change these great courses, they always stuff it up by doing something like that. You can argue they do these things because of how far the ball goes these days, but this has nothing to do with that. It's a mess that has obviously been made by someone who doesn't know how to design golf courses. He's built a green that isn't even close to the other 17. It's just stupid. If they revisit it after the championship I hope they use someone else."

So Huggan went to the vision behind the green and well, Martin Hawtree probably didn't help matters with either the players or his architectural Godfather Peter Dawson:

"In previous Birkdale Opens the 17th had been the easiest or one of the easiest holes," said Hawtree, who will lay out Donald Trump's proposed new course near Aberdeen should the present public inquiry into the project give the go-ahead. "So it needed stiffening.

I will spare you a Viagra joke here. Continue...

We moved the green back to the point where the front of the new green is where the back of the old one was. Then we added another tier. In my original concept of the hole there was nothing at the back of the green. The two big dunes there create an amphitheatre effect so I felt that the green should run on into a hollow at the rear. I wasn't allowed to do that though; the R&A wanted spectator mounds. So now the green forms too much of a bowl shape.

"I'm taken aback by the depth of the reaction. It was a weak hole and demanded something be done. I have heard that the club want to redo the green complex after the Open. I'd be more than happy to move the mounds at the back and create my original idea."

Just guessing by the comments, the lack of a rear hollow seems to be the least of the problems here.

Mike Aitken in the Scotsman talks to the other culprit behind this mess, R&A Executive Secretary and in-house architect Peter Dawson:

"Well, this has caused a little bit of controversy," he said. "And, as a result of that, I'd like to say a few things about it. It's a par 5, so it's not as if we're expecting the green to be hit at with long irons. It's a green the pros are accustomed to facing on many of the courses they play.

"If you look at Augusta, there are probably 18 more sporty greens than this one."

Lee Westwood echoes some of his fellow competitors' concerns about the 17th green, which is described in the official course guide as a "tiny, two-tier target with extreme undulations".

"I think everybody has accepted that something has gone wrong with it," said Westwood. "It's just out of character with the rest of the course, (let's] basically leave it at that.

"It's not to the standard of the rest of the greens. The rest of them are brilliant."

Bloomberg's Michael Buteau also looked at the 17th green and shares this from Steve Stricker:

"You wish they'd just leave them alone because they're good for a reason,'' said Steve Stricker, the No. 8-ranked player. ``They've withstood the test of time, equipment and everything else.''

Buteau also shares the same excuse reply from Dawson and I thought by printing it again it would make sense, but it still does not.

Dawson said organizers weren't expecting many golfers to attempt to land their second shots on the putting surface.

``It's not as if we're expecting the green to be hit at with long irons,'' he said. ``We're aware that it's a green that could get away from us if we're not careful. We'll have to see how it goes.''

So if the green could be "hit at" with long irons, that would make it better or even worse? I really need Peter's book of design guidelines to help here, because I think he's really onto something.
Competitors such as Stricker said they wish they could roll back the clock.

James Corrigan files an excellent look at the controversy, also ends the piece with his breakdown of the "12 to follow" at Birkdale. But first, his take on the 17th green, using overheard player comments:

One labelled it "a sloping mess of mounds" while another concluded that it looks as if it's "contracted a severe case of mumps". Even those not totally anti the mogul run have agreed that it is not in keeping with the other greens that have help confirmed Birkdale's reputation as the finest and fairest course in England. In Westwood's opinion they should unload the shovels and start again. That is exactly what the members are planning. But perhaps not before next Monday.

Jack Nicklaus played here in April and was aghast. "You've got one of the greatest golf courses in the world, and they changed 16 holes because of a stupid golf ball," said the 18-time major champion. "That is just ridiculous."

Okay, how did I miss one of the best quotes ever? Where did he say this? Please readers, guide me!

Nicklaus was speaking for an ever-growing number who believe that the authorities should have placed limits on how far the modern golf ball travels. They failed to act, however, and now the only defence they appear to have to protect the dignity of old courses is either course lengthening or course toughening. Or in the case of the 17th, both. On occasions, the powers that be have gone overboard like at Shinnecock Hills at the US Open in 2004 when the greens were quick to the point of unplayable. The R&A is blessedly not the United States Golf Association and is not about to let their stubborn mistakes re-occur here. But they have created an eyesore. Slam, bam in the middle of golfing beauty.

I'm not sure about the USGA reference, since they didn't create the 7th green at Shinnecock. It's one thing go blunder a set-up, because with a little bad luck, bad planning and a steep green, anything can happen. But to make a mess of things before you even set the course up takes a special talent that takes things to an entirely different level.

This is yet another reminder as to why governing bodies should not design golf courses, particularly when it's in response to their own (continued) inability to regulate equipment.

Slow Play Files: It's Getting Ugly!

The Seattle Times' Sonia Krishnan reports that a 33-year-old man was booked into King County Jail after he struck a fellow golfer on the head with a six-iron. The Auburn Golf Course fight erupted over slow play.

According to police, Compton, his two stepsons and a friend complained to the golf course marshall because the group of golfers ahead of them was playing too slowly, court records show. Shampine was part of that group.

A heated argument then escalated between the two groups of men, and Shampine's brother and Compton got into a shoving match, according to court documents.

Shampine "snapped" and "charged at Compton to protect his brother," records show. He swung his 6-iron at Compton's head, "striking him hard." Officers noted that the club's shaft was bent, documents show.

Guess that's better than getting hit by a maple bat.

The fight ended immediately after Compton fell to the ground, and Shampine was arrested at the scene, said Sgt. Scott Near, spokesman for the Auburn Police Department.

Compton's wife told police her husband had suffered a broken cheekbone, skull fracture and had blood in the brain, according to court documents. His family declined to comment when reached today at Harborview.

Employees of the municipal golf course said they were still reeling from the incident.

"I've been in the golf business 30 years; I've never seen anything like this," said Chris Morris, the course's golf professional. "Occasionally on a hot day you'll get some yelling, but it never leads to violence. This was extremely shocking."

Tuesday Open Championship Clippings

Doug Ferguson talks to players about the lush conditions.

“This is the healthiest rough we've had in quite awhile,” Ogilvy said.

And...

“It's almost like a U.S. Open in that you've got 10 yards off the fairway to play with, and if you miss it beyond that, then good luck trying to find it,” former British Open champion Ben Curtis said. “I think you'll see more big numbers than the other Opens. If you're 15 yards off line, you'll see some 6s and 7s.

And regarding No. 17...

The most significant change was the 17th green, pushed farther back into the dunes, with severe contours and a steep change in elevation from the back of the green to the front.

This has not been well-received by most players, including Stephen Ames, who said, “It goes with a Pete Dye course.”

It was all new to Kim, who took last week off following his victory at Congressional. He played the front nine Sunday afternoon when he arrived from Dallas to help get over the jet lag, and those two hours made him feel even more tired.

“It beat me up,” he said. “Everything is tiny here. The fairways are tiny. The hole may be smaller, for all I know.”

Jim McCabe offers several interesting notes, including one on Jay Williamson qualifying through the Deere and Martin Kaymer playing on in spite of his mother's recent passing.

The only thing surprising about Justin Rose's comments on Kenny Perry passing up The Open is that he finds it amazing that Kenny Perry is passing up The Open. Hasn't he ever talked to him? This is not Henry Cotton we're talking about here! Mark Garrod reports:

"He's arguably the best player in the world right now and I find it amazing he's not here," said Rose, who three years ago was prepared to travel to two majors as a reserve but missed out each time. "It's obviously one less guy to beat, because you could pretty much guarantee he was going to be on the leaderboard on Sunday," he added.

Steve Elling talks to Rose about coming back to where he made his first splash, while John Hopkins files this video report with Rose recreating the famous hole out on No. 18.

James Corrigan questions Kenny Perry and also buries a lede of sorts, reporting that Luke Donald is all but out of the Ryder Cup for this year.

Lewine Mair profiles Geoff Ogilvy, who played golf at Hoylake, West Lancashire and Formsby before teeing it up at Birkdale.

"What other major is there," he asks, "that you look forward not just to playing the course but all the others around it?"

Mair also writes about the pairings, including the Monty-Boo-Weir grouping (what did Boo do to deserve that!?). Monty says:

"I'm different and Boo's different - and Mike Weir's going to feel different because he's normal," said Montgomerie, capturing the situation to perfection.

You can check out all of the pairings here.

Questions For Peter Dawson

The R&A's resident spinner will sit down before the scribes Wednesday to talk about the Open Championship, the weather and if we're lucky, his budding design business.

I'd love to hear what you'd ask the Executive Secretary, because I think you'll find that my questions pretty much all come back to the same point...no one ever said I was original.

• When justifying the R&A-driven changes to Birkdale since the last time it hosted the Open, you said that "the game has moved on somewhat since then." Does this mean that the R&A feels it is more convenient to change courses instead of issuing decisions that regulate equipment?
  
  
• There is a perception that the R&A's refusal to act is the reason that the planned-for 2009 U-groove-rule change did not happen. Why did the R&A decide that the golf world was not ready for this rule change and can you give us some idea when and if the R&A will be jumping on board with the USGA?
  
  
• You mentioned in April that pace of play was getting to be abysmal. Do you see this as the result of players getting slower, or is there some connection between the increased length, thicker rough, narrower fairways, increased bunker and other post "game-has-moved-on-since-then" difficulties similar to those we are seeing at Birkdale this week?
  
  
• After the 2005 Open Championship, you said "Hitting distances have reached a plateau. This is definitely happening; all this discussion that players are hitting the ball further is not true." If that is the case, then why are changes driven by distance gains continuing to be made at rota venues, and do you think these course renovations have a positive influence on the game?

"Our rules officials have finally realized that — duh! — course setup has a lot to do with pace of play."

As always I enjoyed the pre-Open Championship insights from SI's anonymous tour pro (thought it would be nice if he'd actually seen Birkdale!), including this on the relationship between PGA Tour course setup and slow play.

No doubt I'm wasting my time talking about slow play. One veteran told me that we had the same discussions 25 years ago. The Tour is trying to identify the slower players and work with them to get faster, but in the end we're probably only talking about picking up 15 minutes a round. Is that a big deal? Probably not.

Yes it is!

One thing I like is that the Tour is going to use ShotLink to tell us how long we take for each shot. Certain players who are slow and don't know the average time spent on a particular shot need to be made aware. Our rules officials have finally realized that — duh! — course setup has a lot to do with pace of play. It's not only the players who are slow. When you play a 510-yard par-4 with a semi-island green, you're going to take a while. It seems obvious, but apparently our officials didn't think of it. At some tournaments, like the Memorial, the setups are getting out of control. Guys don't want to play a U.S. Open-style course two weeks before the Open. What Jack Nicklaus had this year at the Memorial was way worse than Torrey Pines. Jack and Arnold Palmer, who's growing serious rough at Bay Hill, may want to have major-championship conditions, but they're in danger of winding up with bad fields. Six-inch rough, furrowed bunkers, greens running at 14 — some guys are going to think twice before coming back.

Good.

Reader Greg noted there was one problem with another the mystery pro's comments.

The Tour thinks that putting San Antonio in Atlanta's spot was a terrific swap because Valero is a great sponsor and that we might have a Texas swing: the Nelson, Colonial and San Antonio in successive weeks. The problem is that LaCantera, the Texas Open venue, is awful. None of the top players would tee it up there in the fall, and they won't play there in May, either. Anytime you can see a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel from a tee box — you can actually hear the people on the rides screaming in the background — that's a red flag. Has any great course ever been built next to an amusement park? Until the new TPC San Antonio is finished [in 2010], I don't see top players remembering the Alamo.

Technically, Pine Valley's next door neighbor is an amusement park too. But we understand his point.

“It's a lot greener than I expected and there is a lot of long, juicy and tough rough. It is not wispy."

John Hopkins issues this disappointing (for fans of links golf) course conditions report:

Birkdale looked impeccable in the strong sunshine, though there was perhaps a little too much green on the fairways and the rough was too lush. “It's very difficult,” Trevor Immelman, the Masters champion, said at the end of his first round over the Merseyside course.

“It's a lot greener than I expected and there is a lot of long, juicy and tough rough. It is not wispy. You had better drive the ball straight here because if you don't, there is no way you can contend.”

And regarding the 17th green...

Much has been made of the redesign of the 17th green by Martin Hawtree, and R&A officials have been defensive about it for months. Yesterday was too soon in Open week to expect definitive comments to emerge about it, though Nick Dougherty admitted that it is out of character with the other 17 greens on the course.

“But it is also a par-five and if you get on the green in two you should be tested,” the Englishman said. “They could be silly about where they put the flag but they won't be. It's great as long as you keep your ball away from the bits that are frightfully over the top.”