×

Top Links:

Get A Golf Handicap

UK Golf Guide

Golfshake Top 100s

Find Golf Travel Deals

Golf Competitions

Search

Community Forum

Course:

Tee Times | Search | Reviews

News:

Gear | Tour | Industry Insider

Tuition:

Video Library | Tuition Sections

Community:

Join | Log In | Help | Useful Links

×

Open Reflections - A worthy Champion, Old Course Frustrations and Coverage to Forget

By: Golf Shake | Tue 21 Jul 2015


Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements


HE MAY not have been the champion most of us had predicted, but Zach Johnson will prove to be a worthy holder of the Claret Jug. He was dignified and emotional during his winner's speech, struggling to hold back the tears as he realised exactly what he had just achieved.

Minutes earlier, the tears flowed as he beat Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in a four-hole playoff to secure the 144th Open Championship. It brought the curtain down on a week that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Torrential rain on Thursday night/Friday morning caused a delay of more than three hours as an army of greenkeepers performed heroics to get the course playable - thousands of gallons of water had to be swept from the Old Course. It meant that the second round could not be completed on Friday, so 42 golfers returned on Saturday morning to finish business. Well, that was the plan.


Zach Johnson proved himself a great champion on Monday at The Open

Zach Johnson


After a matter of minutes they were all taken off the course as the wind howled across the links, and they didn't return until 6pm. The R&A decided that The Open would be completed on a Monday for only the second time in the tournament's history.

And at the end of the third round, Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day led on 12 under par. But the story of the week was that alongside them was Paul Dunne, a 22-year-old amateur from Ireland. He was trying to become the first amateur to win since Bobby Jones back in 1930.

So we came to the final round. Sadly, Dunne couldn't keep it up. But what a final round we had, with birdie putts dropping all over the place. Jordan Spieth, going for his third successive major, finished one shot behind despite a double-bogey on a par three. Adam Scott produced a stunning run that took him to the head of affairs. Padraig Harrington took a share of the lead after a sensational start.

On it went. Johnson raced to the turn in 31, as did Leishman. In the end, Johnson and Leishman finished tied for the lead, but Oosthuizen produced a grandstand finish to join them, thanks to a great par save on the notorious Road Hole, the 17th, and then birdied the final hole. Leishman three-putted the first of the four holes in the playoff, while the other two both had birdies. In the end, it was Johnson who came through.

So there would be no Speith Slam, and Jason Day must wait for another chance to land his first major. Life will never be the same again for Dunne, who will surely turn pro after the Walker Cup, along with fellow amateur Ashley Chesters, who finished the week nine under par.

As we reflect on the tournament, there is no doubt that the greenkeepers deserve special mention for keeping play going on Friday. However, and I know it is sacrilege to suggest this, I do find myself wondering if the Old Course really is still fit for purpose. I am not suggesting that The Open should not be played there any longer, but there are some issues that need to be put out there - there are seven double greens and, inevitably, that leads to delays as players on one part have to wait for those on the other side to putt out. Further delays are also caused by players deliberately driving onto adjoining fairways.


A grandstand view of the 17th green and 18th tee

The Open


Then there is the logjam that occurs at the 1st, 17th and 18th. Players on the 17th green routinely have to wait for those coming down the first to play their approach shots before they can putt out. And when they have finished and march to the nearby 18th tee, the players waiting back in the 17th fairway cannot drive until the 18th tee is cleared because so many of them deliberately aim their second shots at the area around the 18th tee.

And let's not kid ourselves about the Old Course and its suitability to accommodate tens of thousands of spectators every day. They are restricted to the perimeter, which means that the views they get of the action are restricted at best. The only way to watch The Open at the Old Course is to find a grandstand and stay there.

This Championship also brought the curtain down on the career of Ivor Robson, the much-loved starter, after 41 years. And Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, is also standing down. He was condemned for selling TV rights for The Open to Sky. Quite frankly, after the BBC's latest dreadful performance at St Andrews, perhaps we will end up thanking him.

This was an extraordinary golf tournament, one of the most exciting and most improbable Opens I can remember. I can't help but feel that Rory McIlroy would have walked away with it had he been fit, and I wonder what he felt as he sat at home and watched it. Make no mistake though - Zach Johnson is a worthy champion.


The oldest & most prestigious major, a trip to The Open is a must for every golf fan. From tickets and transfers to hospitality & golf, Golfbreaks.com can build the perfect package to help you experience The Open in style.


More Open Coverage


What do you think? post your thoughts and feedback on the Golfshake Forum: https://forum.golfshake.com/




Scroll to top