Golf Links: Sunday, July 16 news and notes
Now It’s Justin Timberlake
First it was Charles Barkley’s swing and now it’s Justin Timberlake’s ministration to a fan who was hit by a golf ball that’s keeping the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in the news.
Timberlake was playing with Tony Romo and Steph Curry – quite the threesome.
Fred Funk’s Ace
Fred Funk’s not in contention at the Constellation Senior Players Championship – that distinction goes to Bernhard Langer – but you don’t need to be in contention to enjoy an ace! Congratulations, Fred! Nicely done!
McIlroy Goes to Royal Birkdale a Few Days Early
Rory McIlroy is in a period that’s testing his patience. After missing the Scottish Open cut, his third missed cut in his last four starts, he headed to Royal Birkdale to hit some balls and get in some extra practice time.
Is McIlroy in a slump? He’s not using the S word when he explains what’s going on, but others could start whispering it if he misses the cut next week.
"I’m just waiting for something . . . some sort of spark. Just something to go right, and the last couple of weeks haven’t been like that. Just got to keep plugging away and hopefully it turns around next week.’"
Is Age an Advantage at The Open?
Golf Digest’s Joel Beall has been doing some interesting background research in advance of the Open. Let me give it to you in a nutshell: over the past 25 years, 32% of The Open champions have been 38 or older, considerably higher than the 10% average over the other of the game’s major men’s championships. Since 2007 only two Open champions, Rory McIlroy and Louis Ooustheizen, have been younger than 32.
Beall’s research gives some traction to Brandel Chamblee’s observation about The Open:
"It’s a great tournament for the older players . . . it’s like the movie ‘The Night At The Museum.’ The dinosaurs come to life, and they’ve got a chance."
I wonder how Mickelson and Stenson feel about being compared to dinosaurs.
Next: NFL stadium transformed into 9-hole par-3 course
Who are you following today at Dundonald Links? At Trump National? At Deere Run? Even as this week’s events come to a close and the trophies are hoisted, at ProGolfNow we’re looking forward to Royal Birkdale and the 146th Open Championship.