Lytham Head Pro: "They threw the ball up in the air and that's just not how to play a seaside green."

Tom Pilcher talks to longtime Royal Lytham professional Eddie Birchenough and he was not impressed with the way the world's best played his links.

"The overall thing that surprised me was around the greens, the short shots, they threw the ball up in the air and that's just not how to play a seaside green," he said, shaking his head gently.

"You need to get the ball on the ground and I thought several of them were guilty of not doing that."

PGA On Kiawah Through The Green: "There is no clear definition of where such sandy areas stop and start."

I'm not surprised that the PGA of America is playing the sandy areas at Kiawah as "through the green" since it has done so in previous events there. But what did surprise me was the explanation since the issue at Whistling Straits was somewhat similar.

Jonathan Wall explains:

If you're wondering how a course could play all sandy areas as "through the green," it's because, as the PGA of America noted, "the sand is natural to the surrounding terrain and in many cases there is no clear definition of where such sandy areas stop and start."

Dustin Johnson sure wishes they'd thought of this a two years ago.

Phil's Been Lethargic, According To Phil

Interesting video clip from CBS This Morning of Phil Mickelson talking to Charlie Rose in the days after the Open and says he's come to the conclusion he has been lethargic. I couldn't see it at the Scottish Open where his energy levels seemed high until Sunday, whereas at the Open he definitely did seem to be slightly off.

He also has some interesting things to say about Bubba Watson's Masters recovery shot and spin and Augusta.

State Of The Game Podcast: Lorne Rubenstein

Due to technical issues I wasn't able to join Rod Morri and Lorne for this Canadian Open week episode that covers Moe Norman, the state of the game and Lorne's retirement from the Globe and Mail.

Give it a listen here or via iTunes where you can also listen to all previous episodes.

A Closer Look At Tiger's 2012 Open Championship Week

I had the task of tracking Tiger for Golf World and I was fascinated by his conservative approach, something detailed in my story. Reading it again after filing Monday morning I probably reported a little too much blow-by-blow of his final round, but he still had a chance to win after his unlucky triple bogey.

However, the inability to fight the wind with a draw at 11 and the stubbornness to play safe at 13 and 14 when he need to shake the reins and press the pedal, took him out of the tournament as much the triple did.

Anyway...here it is.

This Month's Slow Play Induced Violent Episode Involves A High School Vice Principal

David Ruiz reports on vice principal Robert Rappleye who lost it over slow play.

A husband and wife in the group ahead approached Rappleye to talk about the problem. Witnesses say the husband became angry when Rappleye used foul language directed to the husband's wife, according to the release.

The argument turned violent when Rappleye swung one of his golf clubs at the husband, the press release said. The husband tried to block the swing with his left arm, injuring him. Rappleye swung a second time with the husband turning his back to defend himself. Rappleye struck the husband's left shoulder blade, the press release said.

Second Nagging Question: Would Tiger Have Won This Open If Not For Anchoring?

I know it's totally hypothetical and not answerable, but I wonder if he would have won last week at Lytham if not for the belly putterers in front of him?

There is no harm in speculating!

“Bobby Jones used concave-faced clubs for some of his major championships. They were outlawed later."

Martin Dempster had a super write-up of the Monday R&A press conference and included this from Peter Dawson, which would be an answer to my first Open question.

Dawson was adamant that the controversy surrounding long putters hadn’t detracted from Els winning a dramatic event – he came from six shots back with nine holes to play as Scott dropped shots at each of the last four holes – to claim the Claret Jug for a second time.

“No, absolutely not,” he said. “The championship is conducted under the rules of play at the time, and it doesn’t detract in any way from the winner as long as he obeys the rules of play at the time.

“Bobby Jones used concave-faced clubs for some of his major championships. They were outlawed later. Bobby Jones’ victories are in no way demeaned as a result of that and I see this in exactly the same way.”

At Lytham, in a field of 156, Els was among 16 players wielding a belly putter while Scott was one of 27 using a long one.

“At one tournament last year, the R&A reported 21 per cent of players had long putters in their bag.”

The First Nagging Question From the '12 Open: Will This Win Eventually Have An Asterisk Next To It?

I don't want to rain on Ernie's parade, but this was a question brought up by my colleague John Huggan when we thought Adam Scott would win and make it three of the last four majors claimed by a player anchoring a putter against their torso.

A major is a major, and I would contend Barry Bonds was facing fellow steroid users when there was no drug testing, so no asterisk. And Ernie has won the Open along with two U.S. Opens with a traditional stroke, so his credentials are hardly suspect.

Still, with all the talk of a rule change, a career resurrected admittedly by an act of "cheating" in Ernie's view and the increasing likelihood that we may see something happen by 2016, will this and other recent wins be viewed differently by history because the winners used a non-stroke stroke?

Oops...Engraver Caught Giving Scott The Medal

From Yahoo's Jay Busbee.

Bookmaker Feeling So Guilty About Open Winnings It Is Refunding Adam Win Bets

See, out of the tragedy of Adam Scott's crushing loss comes a story of hope and punters dreams come true.

For Immediate Release...dateline Costa Rica!

Adam Scott’s Meltdown No Big Loss for Bettors: Sportsbook Refunds Those Who Picked Aussie to Win British Open

Major upset after blowing a lead won’t affect sports bettors who bet on Adam Scott to win at online sportsbook

San Jose, Costa Rica– July 23, 2012 – For Australian pro golfer Adam Scott, losing the Open Championship after leading by four strokes with just four holes to play will forever sting. But for those who put their money on him at this online sportsbook, the financial loss won’t be as painful.

SportsBettingOnline today announced that management is refunding all players who lost money betting on Adam Scott.

"With so many of the favorites including Woods not cashing, it was a good day for sportsbooks. But that wasn’t the case for those who dropped money on Scott,” stated Dave Johnson, head oddsmaker for SportsBettingOnline.ag.  “We feel it’s our duty to refund the players for taking such a bad beat. His collapse was historic and we know the bettors who had him must feel as awful as he does.”

Adam Scott virtually imploded on the green, bogeying the last four holes. He ultimately lost by one shot to Ernie Els. Odds on Scott taking the Open were listed at 45/1 at the sportsbook. That means every $100 bet would have paid $4500 had the Australian taken the title.

This is the second time in just over two months that this company has refunded sports bettors. Last month, the online sportsbook refunded everyone who lost money on the Pacquaio-Bradley boxing match after the controversial results handed Bradley the win.

Paying members cash for losing bets is fairly commonplace at SportsBettingOnline.ag. Members receive 10% cash back, every week, win or lose.