Open Championship, 2013

I am still a golfer at heart. The hundreds of hours that I practiced to build a game worthy of high levels of competition taught lessons still at work every day.  The places traveled, the people met, the opportunity to test self against some of the best; the experience was worthy.

Annually, this week is special on the golf calendar.  The Open Championship, determining "The Champion Golfer of the Year", has it's run at The Honourable Company of Ediburgh Golfers.  You know, Muirfield.

One change I've noticed over the past few years is how British greenskeeping methods have come to match American methods.  Greenskeeping methods were a lot like my attitude toward my lawn: If God wants it watered, He'll do it.  The fairways and greens are becoming more green every year.  The fescue rough has become shorter and looks less like places and undersized caddy could be lost.

One thing that will never change is classic golf course architecture.  Bunkers that seem to be nowhere in play catch someone off guard.  Slopes requiring pitons to scale.  Rodean par three holes requiring play away from the hole.  Once the ball is on the ground, it is not safe: it can still roll to peril.  Seems like golf as it was originally played by the shepherds who used the pole marking the hole as a place to keep their lunch.

The early returns from Murifield say the golf course is firm and fast.  Knowing where to hit the ball will be paramount.  When the winds strafes the links land, knowing WHEN to hit may be just as important.  Putting the ball in the hole is the bottom line.

Phil Mickelson may be due.  He comes in from winning the Scottish Open.  He spent the week in contention at both majors earlier in the season.  In his early forties, maturity is on his side.  Muirfield  honors that trait.  Jack Nicklaus won his first Open Championship here, a very mature twenty-six year-old.

I would like to see some real Open weather.  High winds and rain would make an interesting tournament.  As long as they don't Americanize their tournament operations.

So...am I off base?