The Week: Open Season at Olympia Fields

A declawed Tiger? A defrocked spectator? A hero caddie? Villainous blue coats? Here's our report from an unlikely national championship

By Alan Shipnuck

The talented Byrd, 25, took off. Al Tielemans GOLF PLUS EXTRA Big Play: Brad Redding Teeing Off: Reconnecting with Tom Watson TRUST ME Jim Furyk is going to win another major or two. His airtight game is well-suited to all the Grand Slam venues -- he has at least three top 10 finishes in every major -- and at 33 he's only getting better. NEXT UP PGA Tour: Buick Classic Champions Tour: Farmers Charity Classic LPGA Tour: Wegmans Rochester LPGA PGA European Tour: Diageo Championship INSTANT POLL Which 2003 major was the best? The Masters The U.S. Open The British Open The PGA View Results

WINNERS

Mother Nature. Forget space-age equipment, shrinks, Pilates and protein shakes. The biggest factor in scoring, as always, was the elements.

Parity. Rich Beem, Mike Weir and Jim Furyk have now won the last three majors. Each of these talented thirtysomethings has a bright future, but only Nostradamus could have predicted their consecutive breakthroughs.

Bruce Edwards. Yes, Tom Watson was swinging the club, but it was his longtime caddie who provided the inspiration. Edwards's march against Lou Gehrig's disease gave this Open its heart.

Annika. Not only did she just miss a third straight win on the LPGA tour, but she vexed Vijay Singh again, via a high-profile heckler.

Trip Kuehne. Thanks to a dazzling 67 on Friday, the 31-year-old equity salesman earned low-amateur honors, not to mention family bragging rights as little brother Hank didn't make it through qualifying.

Chad Campbell. Golf Plus's pre-Open cover boy withstood the extra scrutiny, going one under through three rounds, but the Sunday pressure finally caught up with him as he shot 76 to finish 35th.

Jonathan Byrd. The 25-year-old stud finished 15th, dazzling with a buttery putting stroke and a 383-yard drive on the 18th hole on Saturday.

Streakers. Glad to see that the esteemed British Open tradition has finally reached our shores.

LOSERS

USGA. The downside to a kinder, gentler setup is that when the weather doesn't cooperate, even a short-hitting grinder like Jim Furyk can obliterate records.

Tiger Woods. Slump is too strong a word, but Woods is definitely in a funk. He's been fighting his driver all year, and now the putter has disappeared too. Throw in his Masters' caddie critique, and the aura is waning.

Paul Tesori. Not only was Vijay Singh's longtime caddie dumped a week before the Open, but his old boss also went on to earn $64,170, of which Tesori could have expected the usual 5%.

Vijay. The PGA Tour's punching bag endured another week of abuse, but even more painful was a Saturday fade and a Sunday flop.

Jay Haas. The wily veteran figured to contend at Olympia Fields, but not only did he shoot 75-72 to miss the cut, he had to spend Father's Day at home with his son, Bill, who went 73-76 in his first Open.

Mike Weir. Yes, he tied for third, but say goodbye to the Grand Slam. And yes, Weir played great in his first important post-Masters outing, but Ian Leggatt nearly stole low-Canadian honors. Yes, but ...

Hale Irwin. Playing on a special exemption, the 58-year-old warhorse had to WD with back spasms -- and had to be carted off the course.

NBC. It blew a great chance to do some groundbreaking work with that 3-D swing-analysis technology.

O.B.: Tallying the Grand Slammed