The wind at St. Andrews this weekend was so brutal, it made Noriega look like Mother Teresa. Tiger and his massive biceps did their best to battle the elements, but came up short finishing at 3 under par and in 23rd place. The British Open became Tiger’s seventh consecutive tournament without a title.

More importantly to me, Tiger was caught using some ungentlemanly language after missing an easy putt at 13. I don’t if Tiger or BP has the harder working PR department. At least BP never had sex with Joslyn James. When reached for comment, John Daly said “that guy should really learn some manners,” then smoked a pack of Marlboro Red 100s, downed a bottle of Jack, and passed out face first into a pile of Hooters’ wings.

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Video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

The Old Course at St. Andrews is a lot like Jack Nicholson’s taint. It’s not that “The Open” has necessarily depreciated over time, but that all of these other, lesser-known tournaments are enjoyed under conditions to with modern enthusiasts have become more accustomed. Yes, I consider each hole having its own fairway and winds slower than 50 miles per hour to be better conditions. No one ever accused me of being a purist.

And so this guy, if I can read the card here, Louis Oosthuizen, wins the damn thing and I don’t know what to make of it all. I hate to say that I don’t care, because I’m really enjoying the Summer Of Sporting Events At All Hours Of The Day, but is the British Open still on par with the other big “majors” of golf?

Let’s do the math*: It’s better than the PGA Championship (because everything is), and possibly even less masochistic than the U.S. Open (if the national championship ever did feature a 100-yard green, it would have to be made out of concrete to meet the USGA’s torturous standards). It isn’t better than the Masters. When we think of the doily-white nature of the game, our minds automatically shift to Augusta National.

Perhaps I’m being too harsh. Watching John Daly’s amazing first round (and subsequent implosion) was fun. Hearing about Tiger’s travails (and everyone’s slow realization that OMG he might actually not win another major) was just as enjoyable. Those stories are amplified by their happening on golf’s most-storied course. One that, mind you, only hosts The Open every six years. The Old Course at St. Andrews won’t host another major until 2016. That seems about right.

*does not involve actual math.

This picture of British Open winners throughout the years has been making its rounds around the internet, and I would be remiss in my duties as a With Leather contributor if i did not photoshop it somehow. Man, John looks fantastic, and not hung over at all. I wouldn’t think he was a day over 150. All of those nights boozing have done wonders for his skin. Not to mention the jacket, it’s sure to get him the cover of GQ.

Who knew Gary Busey was a British Open winner?

In what may be one of the greatest group photos in golf history, John Daly rocks his own style at St. St. Andrews alongside fellow British Open winners Padraig Harrington, Tiger Woods, Roberto de Vicenzo, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

Daly won the 1995 Open at St. Andrews. Woods is trying to win his fourth British Open and third at St. Andrews. Watson, who finished second last year, has won the tournament five times and Harrington is the last back-to-back winner. –USAToday

Tiger looks like he’d rather give Elin the rest of that 750 million than stand next to John. I don’t know if it’s the jacket, the hang over, or because they’re Eskimo brothers. Thank God smiling Shiba Inu is there to relieve the awkward tension. He’s great at parties. Feel free to write a caption in the comments, or don’t, it’s completely up to you.

In his infinite wisdom, Larry David has a theory on the origin of neck injuries. He hypothesizes that there are only two ways to injure you neck: a car accident, or cunnilingus. But when Tiger Woods is the subject with the neck injury, the origin is less clean than a Barry Bonds drug test. Putting the context of how he obtained the injury aside, Tiger answered questions on his neck at the Memorial’s press conference this morning, where he will be defending his title this weekend.

Where he’s at with his neck injury: “Actually, my neck feels pretty good. It’s still not where I want it to be. It’s a little sore. The range of motion is pretty good.” How has he progressed since dropping out of the TPC? “It was about a week before I picked up a club, then this past 5-6-7 days it’s been pretty good.” –USAToday

According to Tiger, his neck was having a noticeable effect on his swing. He also believes hat he is good enough to play, but the time it will take him to make a complete comeback will “hopefully be short.” Tiger is already scheduled for the US Open and British Open. So he has made the decision to not rest until the US Open later this month. That’s a pretty bold move by everyone’s favorite fairway philanderer, considering that he said this morning that his Masters comeback was premature. Whenever I feel something premature coming, I incorporate the Lt. Frank Dreben technique. I just think about baseball.

'Alo bonnie lasses, anyone for a shag?

Despite an injured neck and crippled public image, Tiger Woods has added the British Open to his scheduled tournaments. The Lothario of the Long Drive is once again presented with a statement comeback situation as he can become the first golfer in history to win at St. Andrews for a third time. Woods previously won the 2000 and 2005 British Open titles, and undoubtedly celebrated both by taking his wife and kids to Dave & Buster’s for wholesome family fun.

Tiger withdrew from the Players Championship in the final round due to a lingering neck injury that he insists is not related to his Thanksgiving car accident. The injury has been reported as an inflamed neck joint, but Tiger insists it will not affect his ability to snog the wabs off some salty skirts, guvna.

Address both parties of Parliament, BBC Sport:

While Woods has not confirmed when he will return to competition, he is expected to make a full recovery from the inflamed facet joint injury which has troubled him since the Masters in April.

“I now need to take care of this condition and will return to playing golf when I’m physically able,” he said last week.

El Tigre already has the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on his summer schedule, and he’ll defend his title at the AT&T National at Aronimink in Philadelphia next month. Woods will be competing for the first time without his longtime swing coach Hank Haney, who stepped aside last week and certainly not to distance himself from the troubled athlete and save his own career.

Despite his personal troubles and his less than stellar play at the TPC, Tiger remains the No. 1 player in the world, and he’ll need strong performances at these next few tournaments to stave off Phil Mickelson and the resurgent Englishman Lee Westwood. Without question, a great British Open matchup would feature Woods and Westwood going toe-to-toe on Sunday for the title and the world’s top ranking. They could call it Bangers and Mash.

(Banner Source)

Tom Watson’s magical run at the British Open came to a disappointing close today, as the 59-year-old gave away his lead on the 72nd hole and succumbed to Stewart Chink Cink in a four-hole playoff at Turnberry.  But that doesn’t scratch the surface of how sad it was to watch the collapse.  Watson needed to make a relatively short par putt on the final hole in order become the oldest player to win a major championship, but he muffed it and finished the day at -2 with Cink, who notched four birdies on the back nine to close the gap, including a clutch putt on 18.

And then the playoff.  Yikes.  Watson suddenly became allergic to the fairways, bogeying #5, saving par on 6 thanks to a miracle blind chip into the sun, then double-bogeying 17 after two shots in the rough.  Cink, meanwhile, birdied two of the first three holes, making 18 all but irrelevant.

So the Claret Jug goes to Cink, while sports fans and the AARP get a weathered, time-worn frowny face.  But cheers to Watson just the same — it was nice to root for someone besides Tiger Woods for once.