WEBB STAYING HOME
Bamberger: Webb SImpson said this week the he will not play in the British Open because his wife is due in early August. Hogan, surely, is spinning in his grave, but what do you make of this new-age sensitivity? Yes, Webb will have plenty more Opens, but how many guys have won U.S. and British Opens in the same year? And yet it shows a remarkable set of priorities. Weigh in, please.
Van Sickle: Doubt if Hogan is spinning in his grave. He only played in the British Open once. Going over by ship wasn't exactly a fun time.
Morfit: I'm fine with it. Lots of British Opens; not gonna have that many kids. The British is not everyone's cuppa, anyway.
Lipsey: Four tournaments a year matter. A Tour player should drink major cups of tea at every chance.
Godich: Good for Webb. Can you blame someone for passing on an overseas event? Webb will have plenty of opportunities to play in the British.
Shipnuck: I'd like to see him go because he's on fire right now, and Lytham is a good course for his precise game. But I've skipped two Opens due to a preggers wife, so I understand his choice.
Hanger: I thought Bubba should've played the Players and had the newborn and Mrs. Bubba stay at the hotel, but this is different. You don't want to miss the birth of a child.
Rouse: When I think about Simpson, family man comes to mind immediately. I'm not surprised by this. Chris Bosh didn't get any flack for flying to Miami for the birth of his child during the playoffs. It's a pretty big deal.
Dusek: I will never, ever knock a guy for saying he wants to do something related to his family instead of playing a professional sport. I don't care if his wife isn't due during the Open Championship itself -- both my kids were born early -- I think his statement, "It's a decision I'll never look back on and regret" shows a lot of character.
Hack: I have no problem whatsoever with Webb skipping the Open.
Gorant: Obviously, we don't know all the details of the pregnancy, and a baby can come at any time, but the Open will end two weeks before the due date. Under normal circumstances that seems like a pretty solid cushion for someone who was really interested in playing.
Hanger: Totally disagree. Babies show up two weeks early all the time. I wouldn't leave town for a work trip that close to a due date, especially not an overseas work trip.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below: You OK with Simpson's decision to skip the British Open to attend the birth of his second child?
BRITTANY'S BREAKTHROUGH
Bamberger: Let's wrap up with Brittany Lang, the elegant Dukie who finally won this week. She's 26, no old lady, but her game is so solid that you would have thought it would have happened long ago. Who's ready to jump on the Brittany bandwagon with me?
Shipnuck: She's been great at the Solheim; it's about time she won. What's truly amazing is that this is the first-ever LPGA win by an alum of Duke, which is a golf factory.
Rouse: If she were just out of college and fresh on the tour, I would be on the bandwagon, but she's put in a good bit of time and has yet to deliver until now.
Godich: Not so sure about that Mick. Breaking through should give her a load of confidence. I just wonder if she has that killer instinct.
Rouse: Winning once obviously makes you more confident when you get in position to win again, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to go out and rack up 3 or 4 more wins in quick succession. Look at Rickie Fowler.
Godich: I don't disagree, but Lang has to be saying, Yeah, I can do this.
Rouse: I don't disagree either, but that is completely different from actually doing it.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below: Will this win lead to more victories for Lang?
