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The Week: Looking Back

Winners and losers from a wild week at the British Open

By Alan Shipnuck

Hal Sutton, like other Yanks, went the wrong way at well-bunkered Muirfield. Fred Vuich

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Ernie Els is going to achieve his stated goal of winning the career Grand Slam. Despite what Jack Nicklaus and other old-timers think, Els has as much heart as game, and his stout victory at Muirfield should finally convince Big Easy that he can thrive even in the age of Tiger.

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Ernie Els hoisted the claret jug and David Toms finished DFL with an 81-75 weekend, but there were plenty of other newsmakers last week at the 131st British Open.

WINNERS

Jean Van de Velde. He's no longer the sole poster boy for nutty Frenchmen. Thomas Levet showed a lot of heart on Sunday but little brains, twice pulling his driver on the 18th hole on his way to bogeys while stirring memories of Wrong Way Jean.

Gary Evans's mum. The endearing Englishman stole the show on Sunday, playing the most inspired golf among the contenders, but his shout-out to Mom on the 17th green was the most memorable moment.

Bobby Jones. Turns out the Grand Slam isn't a gimme. Jones's greatest legacy survives intact, at least for another year.

Muirfield. The timeless links played at a mere 7,034 yards, but it proved a stern test. Note to aspiring course architects: Well-placed bunkers and penal rough are more effective deterrents to scoring than mindlessly adding yardage. (Of course, 30-mph gusts are also helpful.)

Sergio García. He didn't mount a big final-round charge, shooting a ho-hum 69 to tie for eighth, but conquering his waggles was a victory in itself.

Rocco Mediate. It may have taken a public scolding by Arnold Palmer and a free ride on Phil Mickelson's plane, but Mediate made the right call by playing in the Open, despite finishing 47th. This veteran is too talented to even think about skipping golf's biggest tournament.

BBC viewers. Van de Velde may not be able to crack an egg anymore, but he was a delight as a guest commentator. ABC's resident Virginian, Curtis Strange, should take lessons on how to pronounce "Levet."

The Duffy. With apologies to Els's 29 to start the second round, the most outrageous nine holes of the tournament was Duffy Waldorf's back nine 32 during Saturday's tempest, which followed a 45 on the front. Beneath that dumpy physique and those tacky clothes is a surprisingly hard-nosed competitor.

LOSERS

Tiger Woods. For the first time in his career he was overwhelmed by the moment. Bonus points, though, for conducting himself like a champ despite a shocking 81.

Americans. Only one Yank placed in the top 13--Scott Hoch, 46, who bogeyed the 72nd hole when a birdie would have secured him a spot in the playoff.

Aussies. Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington both bogeyed the last playoff hole to fall by the wayside, shades of Greg Norman in 1989.

PGA Championship. No Slam, no buzz.

Colin Montgomerie. After tying the course record with a second-round 64--on home soil, no less--Monty had a sporty 84-75 weekend to finish second from last. Then he loosed a truly nutty diatribe, blaming the press for his woes. We'd say he's finished, but you already knew that.

Phil Mickelson. Riding a recent tear in the majors, Mickelson opened with a 68 but then faded badly, finishing 66th and running his record in Grand Slam events to 0 for 41. Meanwhile, another talented 32-year-old, Ernie Els, won his third major.

O.B.

Tiger Woods made his annual pilgrimage to Ireland the week before the British Open, along with David Duval , Scott McCarron and Mark O'Meara . The heavyweight foursome holed up at the K Club, outside Dublin, and journeyed to Portmarnock, Mount Juliet and the European Club in a helicopter that was parked conspicuously on the hotel's back lawn. However, the trip wasn't just about golf. Had you strolled past room 679 on the afternoon of July 12, the open front door would have revealed a shirtless Duval sharing a game of cribbage with a friend, as well as a bottle of Wild Turkey. Later that day a solitary figure was spotted casting a line on one of the lakes that dots the K Club's front nine. Woods got a couple of bites.

Mike Weir was also on hand at the K Club, enjoying his own golf adventure with his caddie, Brennan Little , and two other friends. No choppers for this group, though. "We're making do with a car and driver," Weir said.

With apologies to the residents of Greywalls, the best accommodations of Open week belonged to Rocco Mediate , Phil Mickelson and Chris Riley , who rented Luffness Castle , outside Gullane, which dates to the 10th century. Riley, a last-minute arrival thanks to his tie for fifth at the Western Open, spent most of the week poking around the castle's library, which was stocked with books published in the 17th century.

From the Love of the Game Dept.: Following the third round of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond two weeks ago, Brad Faxon sneaked in a round at Western Gailes Golf Club, a cult classic in Ayrshire. Faxon pulled his own bag on a trolley. "It was just for the experience," he says.

LPGA rookie Catherine Cartwright made her first cut of the season, finishing 77th at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, and promptly gave away her $1,800 check. Cartwright had long ago pledged to donate her first paycheck to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which aids children of servicemen who have been killed in the line of duty. She is also donating $25 to the fund for every birdie she makes this season.

Another LPGA rookie, Natalie Gulbis , is only 31st on the money list but is already considered an indispensable box office draw by Ty Votaw . The commish denied Gulbis a release for next week's Norwegian Masters, which was offering an appearance fee as well as covering travel expenses for Gulbis and her parents. If Gulbis wants to compete next week, she'll have to tee it up at the Wendy's Championship in Dublin, Ohio.

Issue date: July 29, 2002

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