Turnberry Shows Its Teeth

With just 7 players under par after 3 rounds, the climax of the OPEN will unfold during Sundays final round. As a member of Turnberry Golf Club, it was gratifying to see Tiger Woods struggle around the coastal holes on Friday afternoon. Sometimes he seems to over analyze and over complicate his rounds of golf. He needs to be more flexible in his approach, after all golf is not a computer game, but an extraordinary sport, with so many elements of weather thrown at you on a golf links. One cannot predict what clubs to use off each tee prior to starting your round.
The weather on the Turnberry Links has had so many subtle changes of wind direction that it has made life hellish for all players and the occasional squally rain shower even tougher.

Tom Watson's love of the Ailsa and strong mind, has helped him defy all logic and at 59 years of age leads the event once again as he did after 3 rounds in 1977, 32 years ago, what other sport could throw up such a remarkable position. Imagine Rod Laver making the finals of Wimbledon!! His superb victory at the British Seniors 4 years ago, when he beat Carl Mason in a play off has also helped him believe he can win here again against all odds - something I witnessed at first hand.

I believe he can win here on Sunday but also believe that Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher must beware of the challenge that may come from behind them in the shape of Stuart Cink, Jim Furyk and a little further back - Angel Cabrera and Henrik Stenson. I disagree that the winner will come from the 7 players under par after 3 rounds. As a British supporter and member of Turnberry my heart says Fisher, Westwood or Watson will make us all very happy come Sunday night, but my head says one of the Americans or the giant Cabrera who seemed to sneak the US Masters this year and seems to have no nerves at the death of the Majors. His great friend Eduardo Romero, who is Angel's mentor won the British Seniors here just 2 years ago!!
I will be cheering Tom Watson more than Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher which is strange but what a dream if the 59 year old matches Harry Vardons 6 OPEN victories and what a massive story this will be in the 2009 OPEN Championship.
Meanwhile I will be looking forward to playing the Ailsa on Wednesday with the fast greens and the rough well trampled by the 150,000 spectators who have marched the links this last 7 days, I might even play to my handicap and break 80.
Elegant Golf Resorts are now selling golf breaks to Turnberry on our website - see our front page or just click on Scotland as a destination to find our feature.