The oldest major in golf history started today. Defending champion Tiger Woods is playing in only his 3rd tournament since his dads passing. They are playing at Royal Liverpool for the first time in 67 years (I think) so it is a course I have never seen before.

There was some good golf played today, specially by Ernie (even though he is 2 shots back). Is he finally over that knee injury? Woods is 1 shot back with a big group of players. I have a sneaky feeling that Woods may just win this one.

My money was going to be on Trevor, but he pulled out so that he could be at the birth of his child. His wife gave birth yesterday to a baby boy.

So who do you all think is going to win the british open 2006?

No predictions as of yet, but there are some big and small names right near the top today!

Perfect conditions though, very unusual for the Open, no rain, no wind!

Course record was set I believe to 67?

Sorry about Faldo poor dude..

there were like 5 guys on 67. the leader shot a 66. hehe

didnt see that!

Well Done to Tiger. Yes he won it for the 3rd time and he is the first person to defend The Open since Mr. Watson did it a while ago. He has now won 11 Majors, and is now only 7 Major wins behind Mr. Nicklaus. Will he win 18 or more? Time will tell.

OMG I hate Tiger Woods >:(

And wtf is up with Trevor Immelman?!? He is winning a LOT of tounaments, and arguably one of the favourites going in to the Open... but he deecides to be at home when his wife MIGHT give birth... GET YOUR PRIORITES STRAIGHT... YOU'RE A GOLFER!!!

Dude. She gave birth the day before the tournament started. I don't blame him for wanting to be there. It was a pity that he missed the tournament, but I think he did the correct thing.

Well I don't >:(

Each to there own.

Hahaha, Im with Cyfer

Well done Tiger, it wasn't exiting golf, but whatever gets the job done, because we all know he is capable of really exiting golf should he feel like it!

I was reading an article the other day and the article quoted Ernie as saying he was very surprised at Woods' strategy for The Open. He says he thought that Woods, with his length would take the driver off the tee so that he would have short irons into most of the greens, and thus have more chance of getting closer to the pin off an approach.

However we all know that Woods is not known for his accuracy of the tees with his driver, and he knew that the rough would be deadly, and that bunkers would be costly, so he took the approach he did. Have to say it was the right one.

The scores were way too low.

The majors are supposed to make these guys suffer... scores better than even should be rare, not commonplace.

Something needs to be done IMO.

It is not about making them look bad. It is about appreciating good golf. Those scores may have been low, but those guys were battling. It was not that easy for them IMO.

If the course was easy, I could go and shoot par. Garunteed, if I had even better conditions, a coach, and a week at the course I couldn't do it. And I am a pretty decent golfer. You have no idea how good these guys really are, they just make it look so easy, and it is that which makes them great.

Think of a great guitarist, the most challenging pieces will look like childs play when he/she plays it, but is near impossible for even accomplished guitarists.

I am glad that the wind and rain didn't visit Liverpool this pat weekend, I am glad that an Open could have some decent weather for a change!

I think you have it wrong.

Do you think you could go to "The John Deer Classic" and score par? I doubt it... but the pro's are shooting 24 under! (What I'm saying is that easiness is VERY obviously relative... and is made to look different because of past results). For the pro's 24 under has become easy... not 10 under... 10 under has become the new :"OMG, this course is playing tough"... whatever... if it keeps up, I won't watch golf anymore :/

I don't want to watch a British Open that is reknown for it's difficulty and see the top 20 shooting under par.

I dont find difficult golf entertaining in the least.
I want to wach pro's battle it out to get the lowest scores. If I see pro's shooting par I think, damn, they have had a really shit day.

Personal preference Im sure, but for me, I would much rather watch them putting the ball as close to the pin as often as they can and getting birdies, eagles etc. Bogeys shouldn't feature if they are pro's.

Also, look at it from the perspective of the clubs themselves. Would you go play regularly at a course where Tiger Woods couldnt shoot par? Im pretty sure you wouldn't, because difficult golf isnt fun to play either. So what is the course supposed to do for the year between tournaments? Grow money?

How many people are going to go watch the tournament live if the pros are having a bad time. Not that many. Anyways, each to their own and I am sure you will get your tourney sometime HoI.

Well look at the great courses that are around... the pros get par to win, and somehow it seems that these courses DO grow money while the pros are playing elsewhere >_<

You guys are forgetting that most Major championships (excl. PGA championship) are usually really hard, and only about 10 players make it under par... and it has been that way for years. This British Open was the exception, and IMO it cannot be allowed to happen again.

So don't tell me about how you don't want to see players struggling in majors... 'cause they have done for ages, but somehow you have survived, because the directors spend all of their time focussed on the players under par.

If you want to see guys making nothing but birdies and eagles... watch the weekluy crap, and don't get surprised when they shoot 75's at the majors.

So, now you may ask: "WTF Was he moaning about in the first place?" I was referring to THIS British Open where IMO there were too many players shooting under par, and it will likely set an ugly trend.