It's Official: 2019 British Open at Royal Portrush

That's right, one of the worst kept secrets in golf has now been officially confirmed by the R&A. I don't have too much to say about it, considering I said most of what I needed to say more than a year ago. But it's about time. About time they took the Open back to Portrush, and about time they made it it official. I mean, 16 months since it became basically public knowledge, that's kind of ridiculous.

Sometimes, Professional Golfers Just Lose It

There have been many occasions throughout golf's history where someone who was at the top of their game loses that magic. It happened to Ian Baker-Finch after he won the 1991 British Open, it happened to David Duval after he won the 2001 British Open, and it looks like it happened to Anthony Kim.  Sure, he wasn't a major winner, but he had won multiple times, and he was a big part of the American victory in the 2008 Ryder Cup.  His story might be even more complicated then we might have thought. It's an interesting read, and even if he hasn't lost his game, I can understand why he wouldn't want to come back.

British Open 2013

I can't believe the day has come where Phil Mickelson won a British Open.  At Muirfield no less, probably the least forgiving course of his particular brand of erratic play.  I've been watching this tournament for 13 years now, and every time I took comfort in the thought that Phil Mickelson would never win a British Open.  I'm sorry, but I don't care for him.  He's got the world's goofiest smile, and it just bugs me.  It's unfortunate, because otherwise I could relate, we both play an aggressive game and rely on our ability to recoer.  Of course, he does it a little better than I do.  And I suppose I have to give credit where credit is due, he shot a 66 today, so he won it fair and square.  It might have been nice if everyone else hadn't choked and given him a run, but I think Phil does deserve this one.  It pains me to say that.  The golf course looked spectacular, brown and fast, the way a links course is supposed to look and play.  The past few have been green fests, and frankly that makes for a less interesting British Open.  I'm sorry country club golfers, but you're spoiled.  Fast and firm conditions are just more fun, I honestly look forward to seeing my home course brown out in the summer because it makes it more challenging and more interesting.  I'd love to see conditions like it more often on the Tour.