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17th heaven - or hell?

Rob Hodgetts | 16:01 UK time, Thursday, 17 July 2008

Old TW may not be here this week but his presence is still felt.

There's not many "you got its" or "appreciate its" doing the rounds, but if I've heard one of his other favourite sayings "it is what it is" once this week, I've heard it a thousand times.

So, with that in mind, after all the ballyhoo surrounding the relaid in the run-up to the Open, I thought I'd take a wander down there to see this monstrosity for myself. "Is it what it is?" I wondered. And if not, what is it?


The resculpted surface attracted criticism from the likes of Lee Westwood and Geoff Ogilvy on Wednesday. "It's completely out of character," bemoaned Westwood, while Ogilvy said: "You could get some really crazy putts going on there. Funky bounces, too."

The multi-tiered surface swirls this way and that, with plenty of nuances and subtle - and not so subtle - slopes. A bit like the fabled Augusta.

It requires imagination and a deft touch, while a decent approach shot helps. That's pretty much links golf in a nutshell. But tricked up it is not.

From the reaction, you'd think all that was missing was a crazy-golf style windmill, but that's just being ridiculous and childish. A bridge and a tunnel, mind you...

It's also a fabulous place for spectators - a natural amphitheatre with mounds looking over the green, two grandstands and uninterrupted views back down the fairway to track the approach shots.

"They're only moaning because they can't play it properly," one marshal told me.

But playing downwind as it was on Thursday, the 572-yard par five is the easiest hole on the course with about 80% finding the green in regulation and a scoring average around the 4.7 mark.

That Westwood three-putted is his fault, not the green's. Same for Monty, Mickelson, Casey etc. Mike Weir found the upper level with his second shot and drained the eight-footer for eagle. So what's the problem?

The bottom line is - deal with it. It really is what it is. As are most things. Including this blog.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    The most exciting 'Open' in my lifetime.

    The lady 'Hazel' was excellent in her presentation of such.

    Which added to my day as I watched the game to conclusion.....and beyond

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