The Week: The R & A's Flying Circus

Monty tumbled? Tiger fumbled? The glass slipper fit, but rules officials did not acquit? Here's our report from one of the wildest British Opens ever

By Alan Shipnuck

Parnevik's pants cost Roe (above) a shot at the Open. Andrew Redington/Getty Images GOLF PLUS EXTRA My Shot: Wally Uihlein Big Play: Carl Lohren TRUST ME Tiger Woods does have a flaw-he can't play from behind at the majors. All of Woods's Grand Slam wins have come with a Sunday lead, but his brand of prevent defense precludes comebacks. NEXT UP PGA Tour: Greater Hartford Open Champions Tour: Senior British Open LPGA Tour: Evian Masters PGA European Tour: Nissan Irish Open INSTANT POLL Which 2003 major was the best? The Masters The U.S. Open The British Open The PGA View Results

Winners

Cinderellas First Rich Beem, then Hilary Lunke and now Ben Curtis. Have three major winners in the span of a year ever been more unlikely than this charming trio?

Royal St. George's Yes, a couple of fairways were too extreme, but this quirky gem provided links golf at its most unpredictable, and enjoyable.

Roberto DeVicenzo Until now he owned golf's biggest scoring blunder, having signed for the wrong score on the 71st hole of the 1968 Masters, which cost him a spot in a playoff with Bob Goalby. Now Divicenzo has company, thanks to Mark Roe (see below).

Colin Montgomerie He had to withdraw after injuring his hand in a tumble on his hotel's stairs. Klutzy, sure, but he wasn't going to win the Open anyway. At least this way he got some sympathy.

Kenny Perry Golf's hottest player left the comforts of home to play in only his second British Open and was rewarded with a tie for eighth.

Ian Baker-Finch The amiable Aussie was at his best calling the action for ABC from the tournament at which he had his biggest win.

Alex Cejka The German journeyman missed an exemption into the Open by one slot on the Euro money list; instead he played at the B.C. Open, tying for second to lock up a PGA Tour card for next year.

Bob Curtis Ben's dad was Sunday's most high-profile fan, a pretty neat trick given that he was at home in Ohio.

Losers

Superstars Davis Love III and Sergio Garc’a have a history of Sunday folds, but to see gritty closers Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Thomas Björn also come undone was stunning.

Olympia Fields Two very different Opens -- the British and the U.S. -- were a reminder that lushly manicured courses aren't always better.

Mark Roe The Englishman shot a career round last Saturday to get into contention, only to be disqualified for using Jesper Parnevik's scorecard. Bonus points, though, for quipping, "I must've been distracted by Jesper's aqua-colored pants."

Ernie Els Such a strange year for Els, with amazing highs and mortifying collapses. Coming off a rousing win at the Scottish Open, he had a worse Thursday than Monty, opening the British with an inexplicable 78.

Scott Hoch and Kirk Triplett Raspberries all around for the only players in the World Ranking's top 50 who didn't show up in England.

David Duval The 2001 Open champ shot 83-78 to miss the cut and extend to two years a slump that is now looking Baker-Finchian in scope.

Joey Sindelar He earned a last-minute spot in the British at the Western Open but instead opted to play in his hometown B.C. Open. Given his 39th-place finish, maybe Sindelar should've tried England.

Jos Vanstiphout The controversial sports shrink was last seen giving Björn a pep talk before the final round.

O.B.: Monty Never Saw the Sign