Official 2013 British Open at Muirfield Discussion Thread

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by ScouseJohnny

Yeah, I hope that never creeps into golf. My wife is American (from Florida) and a U of F fan. She can't say, "Discover Orange Bowl," with a straight face, but then, as I recall, it's the dreaded Seminoles rather than the Gators that have had the most recent success in that direction, anyway...

The names of bowl games have gotten out of hand. There are several old bowl games that are no longer known by their historic names, only by their sponsors. There are even some where the historic name (Peach Bowl) has been dropped altogether for the sponsor name (Chick-Fil-A Bowl).

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScouseJohnny

Yeah, I hope that never creeps into golf. My wife is American (from Florida) and a U of F fan. She can't say, "Discover Orange Bowl," with a straight face, but then, as I recall, it's the dreaded Seminoles rather than the Gators that have had the most recent success in that direction, anyway...

The names of bowl games have gotten out of hand. There are several old bowl games that are no longer known by their historic names, only by their sponsors. There are even some where the historic name (Peach Bowl) has been dropped altogether for the sponsor name (Chick-Fil-A Bowl).

It's a sad statement when the almighty dollar can trump all tradition.

[boogielicious]

Originally Posted by Chilli Dipper

We're talking about an Anglocentric nomenclature that exists with any sport that originated in Britain. The English national (association) football federation is not named as such; it is simply the Football Association. The big tennis tournament isn't the British Open, but The Championships, Wimbledon. They invented the game, their championship was the first, and they'll be damned if anyone tries to make it change the names now.

Problem is our English cousins have an annoying habit of giving things more than one name and having other people get stuck with it.  The term "Soccer" was an English term.  Americans did not name it soccer, but stayed with the name to differentiate from American Football.  There are two primary sets of units for measurement, metric (SI) and English units, not American units.  The metal "aluminum" was named by Sir Humphrey Davy, who was English.  He changed it to "aluminium" later so it would sound more like magnesium and other metals.

The Brits invented the following, tennis, badminton, ice hockey, field hockey, table tennis, rugby, soccer and a bunch of other sports come to think of it.  I guess they had a lot of free time on their hands.

[colin007]

I hope Tiger wins The Open next year at Pinehurst and then the British Open at Hoylake...

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by colin007

I hope Tiger wins The Open next year at Pinehurst and then the British Open at Hoylake...

Clever.

Wonder how the R&A; would respond if the USGA changed the US Open to "The Greatest Open Championship". I think sh*t would get real.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

Clever.

Wonder how the R&A; would respond if the USGA changed the US Open to "The Greatest Open Championship". I think sh*t would get real.

Would be hilarious. "The Open People Care About" would work, too.

Not that people don't care about the BO, but it would win at rattling nerves...

[TJBam]

Originally Posted by colin007

I hope Tiger wins The Open next year at Pinehurst and then the British Open at Hoylake...

[VOX]

While I agree that there are probably many US players who would be just as happy winning the Masters or US Open as The Open, I doubt that anyone anywhere would be as happy winning the PGA.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by VOX

While I agree that there are probably many US players who would be just as happy winning the Masters or US Open as The Open, I doubt that anyone anywhere would be as happy winning the PGA.

Depends. If they haven't won a major, I don't really think they care as much...they at least get that monkey off their back. If they're more established, sure...

[phan52]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

Clever.

Wonder how the R&A; would respond if the USGA changed the US Open to "The Greatest Open Championship". I think sh*t would get real.

The Greatest Champion Golfer of the Year.

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by phan52

The Greatest Champion Golfer of the Year.

The REAL Champion Golfer of the Year

or

World's Greatest Golfer

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by VOX

While I agree that there are probably many US players who would be just as happy winning the Masters or US Open as The Open, I doubt that anyone anywhere would be as happy winning the PGA.

Why? It's a major. Equal footing as the other three.

In fact, I can make the case that it has the toughest field. All professionals. No winners from 40 years ago (Masters) or Amateur Sectional Qualifiers (US & British Opens).

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOX

While I agree that there are probably many US players who would be just as happy winning the Masters or US Open as The Open, I doubt that anyone anywhere would be as happy winning the PGA.

Why? It's a major. Equal footing as the other three.

In fact, I can make the case that it has the toughest field. All professionals. No winners from 40 years ago (Masters) or Amateur Sectional Qualifiers (US & British Opens).

I think the PGA probably carries the least weight to casual golfers. But to professionals, I think it means a lot.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

Not that people don't care about the BO, but it would win at rattling nerves...

Are you ?

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by VOX

While I agree that there are probably many US players who would be just as happy winning the Masters or US Open as The Open, I doubt that anyone anywhere would be as happy winning the PGA.

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Why? It's a major. Equal footing as the other three.

In fact, I can make the case that it has the toughest field. All professionals. No winners from 40 years ago (Masters) or Amateur Sectional Qualifiers (US & British Opens).

Another way of saying what I think VOX meant is that the PGA is just a teensy bit less prestigious to them.  Don't get me wrong, it a MAJOR, so it's an enormous deal, but solely in relation to the other 3 ... it's certainly the "least" of the best in, I'm guessing, most everybody's eyes.  I know I've heard a million different people argue for the Masters, and either Open, as their ultimate favorite, but I don't know that I've ever heard anybody say that the PGA was their favorite.

Of course, if you just consider trophy size, then it has to be the best one!

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

I think the PGA probably carries the least weight to casual golfers. But to professionals, I think it means a lot.

Those are not mutually exclusive statements.  I could say that "the PGA probably carries the least weight to professionals, but to casual golfers, I think it means a lot"  and BOTH of them could be true.  In fact, I think both of them are true.  In general, I think that it carries the least weight of all 4 majors, but of course, it's still a major so its a huuuuuge deal.

(Of course, with the caveat that there are a some professionals out there who discount the British Open simply because they can't play it)

[Phil McGleno]

Theres a call for you on line two-Says his name is a Mr. Ben Hogan.[quote name="zipazoid" url="/t/68416/official-2013-british-open-at-muirfield-discussion-thread/234#post_871242"]He is the most resilient player in the history of the game. [/quote]

[iacas]

And this thread wandered nicely OT while I was away…

[geauxforbroke]

And this thread wandered nicely OT while I was away…

When Erik's away, the trolls will play. Plus not much else to say about The Open. Phil won, Tiger didn't.