Even the gods seem upset at Tiger's absence from the Open judging by the weather they have blessed Birkdale with so far this week. The first time I went to an Open was in '76 and it was a little different. The summer of '76 has achieved immortal status in the annals of British weather for two reasons; first the sun actually shone for more than twelve hours; and second it was hot - at least by English standards.
Dad took me to Birkdale for the first round, then played on a Wednesday and I vividly remember sitting in the stands under the blazing sun while the Lancashire Fire Brigade sought to douse a few small fires that had erupted in the rough due to the heat! Not much chance of that this week! The 1976 Open was of course the coming out party for a 19-year old Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros, who although he didn't win (Johnny Miller cruised home by six) gave ample notice of both his talent and his personality in finishing second. I remember watching him play a few holes and thinking that maybe in four years time I could play in the Open - I suspect I was suffering from a touch of sunstroke. I was also there in '84 when Tom Watson won working on the scoreboards with my darling wife, then my fiancee. It was hot that week as well and I was overcome by the heat while playing golf on the Tuesday with a friend and it took much ministering of cold towels by my bride-to-be and a few pints of England's finest (also now owned by the Belgian's!) to revive me in time for the first round.
This year the wind and rain have already changed the character of the course and I want Norman to win - he's owed after all those near misses and what a nice wedding present for Chrissie! Still I think either Padraig, Furyk or Scott will win - so lets see what happens...
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