The Open Is Open For Business

Filed in archive Golf News on July 20, 2007

Courtesy: Getty Images

The break is over; other golf projects are near completion now, so it's time to pick up a great deal of slack and begin writing this blog once again.

Apologies to those who have come each day looking for something new only to find nothing for more than a week.

It's been an interesting last week or so. I had the chance to play Angus Glen North where the Canadian Open will take place next week.

I recall at Davis Love's press conference at Angus Glen last month (see our video at either angusglen.com or ontgolf.ca) at which Love said if the conditions are fast and dry, it should be a tough course to play.

Well, last Saturday when I played the course in a tournament, the heavens opened just before tee-off and the rain came down in sheets for 13 of the 18 holes.

To its credit, the North Course drained easily and quickly but the greens were softened. More rain this week has further softened the greens which, frankly, I didn't find that tough to read. Nor were they very fast - by PGA standards.

Perhaps the greens will be shaved a little further in the days leading up to the Canadian Open but if it continues to rain hard, the scores might be very low.

However, the focus right now is on The Open at Carnoustie where Sergio Garcia was the first round leader.

A surprise? Not really. Garcia has led majors before. He just can't lead on Sunday down to the wire. Don't expect the likeable Spaniard to win. Frankly, I don't think Sergio will win a major unless and until he can find the fire in the belly to do so.

The big surprise at The Open came from President's Cup captain, Gary Player who claims he knows a top player taking steroids.

Player says the professional golfer revealed his secret and Player further claims that "somebody else told me something...that verified others had done it".

Here's the problem with this: it is hearsay, it is unfounded and it is unproven. Therefore it must be taken with a grain of salt, no matter how much Player says it's true. And believe me, he'll be pestered on this until well after the President's Cup in September.

But it does turn the spotlight once again on the PGA's lack of drug testing.

The South African's only hint was this: "...he told me what he did and I could see this massive change in him". Now try and think of a golfer whose body has gone from good to great this season. I have my thoughts but I'll keep them to myself; they're worth about as much as Player's.