A Day at the Open

The final day at The Open Championship is something all golf fans should attend. For £60 (or roughly $97) you get a full day of golf. Tee times begin at 7:25 am, and the final putt is holed just after 6:30 pm.
I certainly received my money’s worth during my travels around the Old Course on Sunday. I witnessed first hand many of the world’s top professional golfers on the most storied golf course. The only disappointment was the tournament was decided so early in the day.
My best purchase once inside the gates was that of a souvenir radio equipped with headphones. Golf on the radio can be quite interesting when you are on site. The radio broadcast also assisted with keeping up to date on happenings around the golf course. The best part–no commercials.
Louis Oosthuizen’s performance was simply outstanding. Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hy-zen) will be referred to as “The Champion Golfer of the Year”. Louis is well deserving of his title. A seven shot victory in golf’s oldest major is testimony to his world-class status. This was the 139th playing of the Open Championship and the 150th Anniversary of the tournament, which began in 1860 at Prestwick on the west coast of Scotland.
The shot of the day was at the ninth hole, appropriately named “End”, where Louis made an eagle two on the 352-yard par 4. Oosthuizen now had a 4 shot lead he would not relinquish. I was in the grandstand at the 11th green and with the use of my trusty laser yardage device / binoculars, saw Louis hole the putt for an eagle.
There were quite a few eagles on par fours Sunday. I wonder if the contestants had a “Deuce Pot” going; not likely, as professionals don’t play for that small change. For Oosthuizen’s effort this week he received a cheque for over $1,300,000. However, money cannot buy your name onto the Claret Jug or secure your place in golfing history. Winning at the Home of Golf – St. Andrews - will though.
Unflappable golf and an Oosthui”ZEN” like concentration was the key for the South African, whose actual name is Lodewicus Theodorus Oosthuizen. Louis also wished fellow South African Nelson Mandela a Happy 93rd Birthday during his very classy acceptance speech at the closing ceremonies.
The only part of the Open I did understand was why an army of blue clad course marshals halted the charge of the gallery up the 18th. The crowd was held back nearly 175 yards from the 18th green. I remember fondly my first Open Championship at Royal Troon in1989 and the charge of the gallery as the first ever four-hole playoff concluded. I somehow managed to slither my way near the front of the crowd for a great view of the final hole.
The “Auld Grey Toon” will now return to some form of normalcy as the thousands of visitors head homeward. I quite like this, as now I will be able to have an evening walk around the hallowed links. The sweetest walk of the week was Louis Oosthuizen’s stroll up the 18th fairway on Sunday with a seven-stroke lead.
Gord McGarva has attended The Open Championship five times.