Golf Tips

TROON, Scotland (AP) — Craig Stadler has aced the shortest hole in British Open golf, the Postage Stamp at Troon, and earned a prize of 123 bottles of wine — one for every yard.

OAKVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Mike Weir gave Canadian Open fans what they came to see on another rainy day at drenched Glen Abbey.

It was announced Monday that Michelle Wie will compete once again on the PGA TOUR in the upcoming Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Annika Sorenstam is determined her final year on the LPGA Tour will not become a sentimental journey.

TROON, Scotland (AP) — Greg Norman used last week’s British Open as a warmup and almost made history. The warmup over, he is now setting his sights on the Senior British Open.

TROON, Scotland — If you are impressionable or sensitive to use of the S-word, you might not want to read the following. It concerns Tom Watson, the defending champion at the British Senior Open, and his confession that he … well, that he’s been … Oh hell, I’ll just say it: He’s got the SHANKS.

Padraig Harrington isn’t the only multiple British Open winner who’ll be dancing a jig tonight. His win clinches a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, which no doubt pleases Nick Faldo, who must soon decide how to two use his two captain’s picks.

They looked like kids, walking hand in hand one night around the Royal Birkdale parking lot, Shark with his big green-and-white throwback MacGregor golf bag on his shoulder, broad-shouldered and shaggy-haired and appearing ready for the surf, Chrissie in pigtails, one knotted off with a blue scrunchie, the other with a red. Two 53-year-old Hall of Fame newlyweds. You may know the routine: Hubby plays golf while the new wife, all smiley, walks along the side of the fairway, cheering him on. For a while the golf seems both important and inconsequential, which frees up the swing. Of course, no honeymoon lasts forever, so enjoy it while you can, right?

SOUTHPORT, England — The morning after an Open Championship is a time for summation and reflection. The R&A has just announced, for example, that a record 30,000 orders of fish and chips were sold this week on the grounds at Royal Birkdale. But no breakdown was provided, leaving me somewhat peeved that my own contribution to the record has been minimized.

(AP) — Fresh off a disqualification on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie has decided to tee it up against the men, again.

SOUTHPORT, England — It’s Justin Rose all over again.

The clubhouse at Royal Birkdale is a sleek, white, art-deco structure that stands out amid the stately courses of upper-crust British golf clubs like Ian Poulter in an Amish village. But for this week’s wind-blown British Open, the R&A should have replaced the Birkdale clubhouse with the Bates Motel, because it was a horror show out there.

SOUTHPORT, England — Maybe it was too much to ask for anyway, the tortured history too deep, the rust and the age and the demons too much to overcome. As Greg Norman made his way to the first tee at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, even his new bride, Chris Evert, wondered what the day would bring. Sundays, after all, have always been a little dicey for Norman.

Okay, hands up: who has ever heard of Simon Wakefield? Anyone?Right then, here’s a “Who’s Who?” for you. Or, more accurately, a “Who the Hell Is He?”

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Padraig Harrington’s wrist hurt so much he wondered if he could even play in this British Open. Well, it was strong enough to hoist the silver claret jug.

SOUTHPORT, England — Except for maybe Carnoustie, the Open is played in what the British call “holiday towns,” some more charming than others. This one has the requisite amusement parks, cotton candy in all the popular colors, a United Nations of cheap restaurants, pubs on every corner, all manner of guest houses and three big hotels.

Cool-sounding nickname from a predatory animal? Got it.

Here are some groups worth keeping an eye on come Round 1 of the Open Championship

Gambling and playing golf have been synonymous forever, but if you’re looking for a truly memorable round, these casino-owned tracks are a lock.

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So what’s the lowdown on the crazy Mickelson gameplan this week? First there was the two-driver strategy at the 2006 Masters, which he won. Then there was the no-driver strategy for the first two rounds of this year’s U.S. Open, which some other dude won with a one-leg strategy. In between, Mickelson deployed the five-wedges strategy at Colonial, which he won.

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Aaron Goldberg shot 6-under 65 and took the first round lead in the two-round stroke play qualifying of the 83rd U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship on Monday.

(AP) — Royal Birkdale has a reputation as the fairest of all links courses in the British Open rotation.

Sitting alone on the stage before a roomful of journalists, the press officer for the R&A taps his fingers on the table, fidgeting like a nervous student waiting for the principal. His unenviable task: hosting the loser’s press conference at the 2007 British Open. Sergio Garcia walks in, head bowed, jaw clenched. In the last few hours, he has lost his three-shot lead, bogeyed the 72nd hole when par would have won the Claret Jug, and fallen to Padraig Harrington in a play-off. He is irritable.