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Perry odd
Because the British Open is such a great event, I don't get Kenny Perry. He's ranked 20th in the world and has two wins this year, and he's not going to play the U.S. or the British Opens? I understand his argument about Torrey Pines. He wasn't a fan of the course, and he wasn't exempt. Well, he's exempt for the British, and he's going to play in Milwaukee instead? As well as he's playing, how can he not think he could win the British? It sounds as if he's been getting advice from his good buddy Scott Hoch. At 47, how many more chances is Perry going to have to win a major? If he does, I guess it won't be the British.
Royal runaround
I'm sorry I can't give you a scouting report on Royal Birkdale. I've never been there and don't know a thing about it, other than when the British was last played at Birkdale, in 1998, Mark O'Meara won his Open in a playoff with Brian Watts. Some guy named Tiger came in third. I've heard good things about Birkdale, but St. Andrews is my favorite Open site because of ... everything. You can walk past the 18th fairway right into town and get something to eat. Plus, it's the home of golf. There's no place like it.
Drive, he said
The obvious pick would be Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the World Ranking. But Phil usually struggles with the wind at the British. Plus, it's tough for me to get past his performance at Torrey Pines. Could you make a more asinine decision than to play a 7,600-yard Open course without a driver? After one round during which you didn't hit your three-wood well, wouldn't you think, Hey, let's get the driver back in the bag? How long does it take to get the message after you watch Adam Scott and Tiger blow it 50 yards past you and make birdies and eagles on 12 and 13 while you struggle for pars? Until Saturday, apparently, which was too late. The U.S. Open isn't the time to experiment. Phil has played with two drivers, no driver, five wedges — I'm sure he'll concoct another interesting game plan for Birkdale. Phil should just hit it and chase it and forget all the rest.
Good bets
My dark horse pick was going to be Perry, but instead, I like Hunter Mahan. That kid is good. He's cocky, which is a positive, and he would make a heck of a first-time major winner. He was 18th at Torrey Pines and tied for second the following week in Hartford. He's on top of his game.
I also see Justin Rose playing well at Birkdale. He has to have good vibes from '98, when he was a teen amateur and holed out from the rough on the 72nd hole to finish fourth. He has a lot more game now.
And the winner is...
I think it will be a European. I know that's not exactly going out on a limb, especially since last year's Open featured two Euros in a playoff — Padraig Harrington over Sergio. But I don't think either one of those guys will win this time. The Open greens are slower than in the U.S., but I don't like a shaky putting stroke on greens of any speed, and I'm not sold that Sergio has solved his putting problems.
My pick is Lee Westwood of England. He has been playing well (I noticed that he was driving the ball great at Torrey Pines), and more than anything, he was really stroking his putts. He got rid of his belly putter and went back to a face-balanced mallet. He was accelerating better using a cross-handed grip, and he's holing more short putts. He hung in there pretty well [third] and finished a shot out of the playoff. Westwood has been playing better all year and is flying under the radar. He has rededicated himself — losing weight, working out — and has made one heck of a comeback. I think it's his time and place.
