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This has left me very excited about going to the Open. I have tickets for Saturday. Having never been to a golf tournament as a spectator, what's the best way to get the most out of the day - pick a hole, or follow a match?

Loosieloo, it depends whether you want to see all the players, or see the whole course with one. Personally I think you get a better sense of the open doing the latter, but it could be tricky on Saturday when the course is more crowded and there are fewer pairs to watch. My suggestion for the latter would be to pick a pairing going out reasonably early on the Saturday and follow them; you should get a view all the way round, and then later you can pick a spot out perhaps to watch the later players at one hole. It might be too late for a seat, but you should be able to find somewhere. Have a ball. The Open is something special to be at.

loosieloo, i went to practice days on Sunday and Monday and i got into the habit of following someone who i wanted to see earlier on and then finding a seat on one of the latter holes. however, it is really likely that seats will fill up fast and so its up to you as to whether you can walk for a long time or not!

Loosieloo, I`ll be watching from Chicago and wish I was with you. My plan would be to follow someone early to get round the course and then get a seat on the 18th grandstand when your group finish. At this time there should still be seats available since the stand is huge. Then relax and watch all the groups come in. It will be a long wait but once the last groups come in the atmosphere is electric and you will be glad you sat down early. Enjoy yourself

I was ball spotting the drives on the first today. All the drives were drifting left. Found 4 new Titleist just out of bounds. It'll be a tough hole this week.

Chatted to many of the players as they came up - Els, Vijay, Westwood, Scott (and Butch), Garcia, Larrazabal, Watson, Beem, Monty and Rose. Also spoke to Ken Brown about the 17th green - he's done one of his little pieces on the borrows.

Good day. Early start for the next three days. Please don't rain.

I'm looking forward to watching the Open from my easy chair in Florida. It would be nice for someone like Boo, or another golf journeyman, to win golf's greatest prize. And when it is all over and the winner is being interviewed, all I ask is that that stupid perennial question, "What went through your mind when......." is not asked of the guy holding the trophy.

I was working this morning in the press tent at the open and was finding it increasingly annoying as the day went on over the fact that each player that came into the interview room was bombarded with questions and comments about tiger and how he wasnt there and what affect did the players think it would have!!?? surely the matter should be closed and the golfers be allowed to talk abotu other more pressing matters like how good birkdale looks and how much of an interesting week it is going to be!

The Open atmosphere is fantastic, I have been lucky enough to go to quite a few over the years starting at Muirfield in 1980 age 10. My mother still talks about tracking me with her binoculars as I raced round the start of the back nine chasing Seve desperately trying to glimpse my hero. I have 2 abiding memories, the first at Troon in '82 and bumping into Sandy Lyle in the players car park (not sure what exactly I was doing there) and my brother thrusting a chewing gum wrapper towards him asking for his autograph. Lyle smiled, asked him if that was the best he could do and signed the wrapper and then told me to turn to p78 in my program and signed for me across his photo. The second was at St Andrews in 84 when I was torn between Seve and Watson as to who I would follow on Sunday afternoon. It all came down to the last 2 holes and I was up on the road by the green at the 18th to see Seve pumping the air at holing his putt. I have never felt excitement in a crowd like it. Once Seve had received the Claret Jug and was ready to be interviewed by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ a wag next to me shouted "Oim here from Irish TV, bad luck Seve".

No Tiger is a disappointment, but the golf and the excitement will be unchanged. I'll be glued to US coverage from Boston.

Re: Boo's razor-sharp observation of Scotland "ain't got no fried chicken"...

Not strictly true Boo - check out any number of chip shops in the country and you'll happily find "chicken" sharing the same deep fat frier as pizza, haggis, black pudding and even the odd Mars Bar.

We're not Heart Attack capital of Europe for nothing my learned American friend.

Good luck on Thursday though......

The Lakeside can be traversed in 11 paces. Ha! No way is that the smallest pub in Britain. Try the Nutmeg in Bury St. Edmunds. 4 paces maximum. And they serve Greene King, the finest beer in the world.

Unfortunately, I'm missing out on the Open this year for the first time in a few years. I would say the best way to view play would be to follow a group early on all around the course so you see it all and take it in, then pick a grandstand and watch all of the other players come through. That way you see everyone and everything. Last year we scored by getting a seat in the 16th grandstand at Carnoustie which gave a fantastic view of the 1st, 2nd 17th and 18th. Ideal for the play-off. Not a better sporting event in the world to be at, the buzz around the course is fantastic. One last thing, don't miss out on the Open Arms, situated what seems like every 4/5holes around the course, brilliant if you fancy a potter!

Nice blog, I hear that Birkdale is beaut.

Just want to point out that there is a factual error in your picture slides which states that Birkdale has hosted the second most Opens after St Andrews. Given that St Andrews only became the most prolific Open venue in 1999, this is clearly not the case.

Darobsta - As I am bored, I thought I would do some quick google research and found the following:

Carnoustie – 5
Muirfield – 15
Musselborough – 6 (Last was in the 1889)
Prestwick – 23 (last was 1925)
Princes – 1 (1932)
Birkdale – 9
Cinque Ports – 2 (last in 1920)
Hoylake – 11
Lytham st Annes – 10 (next due in 2012)
Portrush NI – 1 (1951)
St Georges – 13 (next due in 2011)
Troon – 8
St Andrews – 27 (next due in 2010)
Turnberry – 3 (2009)

So you are right as Prestwick is number 2 on the list. However it could be that he means courses on the current roster.

as an aside, I am quite amazed that Turnberry has only been used 3 times.

Enjoyed reading the article, apart from a nagging voice at the back of my mind which kept asking, "why does a golfer's wife need a bodyguard?"

Birkdale Memories:
As a thirteen year old boy I was lucky enough to be taken to the 1983 open at Birkdale by some family friends who at the time ran most of the hospitality catering. This meant we had access to behind the ropes areas and spent a memorable week on the course from around 6 in the morning to 8 or 9 at night. The trip also included an eye opening introduction into the world of professional sport.
Graham Marsh was a friend of my hosts and had a particularly good tournament that year. We were there on the first tee of his first round when his brother, the legendary Aussie wicketkeeper Rod Marsh strolled up. After nearly knocking me out with a gentle pat on the head he proceeded to work his way through the case of beer that was perched on his shoulder as he followed his brother’s fortunes whilst regaling us with tales the whole way round. He then repeated this trick on each of the subsequent days regardless of tee off times. He made sure that wherever we stopped that we had good vantage points and could not have been nicer to us impressionable young lads.
If I remember correctly the weather was fantastic all week as well.
Looking forward to a great open and have a strong feeling for a European win, fiver each on Garcia and Westwood.

Colinbgood - Mrs Mickelson needs a bodyguard because she is about 2ft 9', a good sort and attracts a lot of conversation on the course. We saw her at Hoylake in 06 and she was a real gem, (i) having her picture taken with blokes who had by the look consumed her body weight in lager during the day and (ii) giving some Mickelson branded golf stuff to young kids. It was all good fun but it only takes one goose to spoil the party.

Thanks OzBolts - That nagging voice tells me it is satisfied with your explanation.