The Open Championship at Muirfield

I'm writing this as my first of hopefully many posts in "Mark's Thoughts (and how fitting)." The Open, considered by many the Championship of Golf, will begin with Peter Senior hitting the first tee shot at 1:32 am EST (how's that for an early tee time?) on Thursday, July 18th at Muirfield Golf Club, which is a private all male membership. The Open is often considered the Championship of golf due to the many variables a golfer has to overcome to hoist the Claret Jug.

The Elements

First, there is the overbearing pressure of a major golf tournament. To know you could make international history among the likes of Old Time Morris (designer of Muirfield), Harry Vardon (Hello Francis Ouimet), Bobby Jones, Jack Nciklaus, Seve, Tom Watson, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods infuses many golfers with a mixture of adrenaline and energy.

Second, the elements of the infamous foolish weather. The weather changes faster than an oil change at Speedy, which forces me to believe there's a revolving door for meteorologists in England and Scotland. And if rain isn't enough, please enter hurricane-force winds which never blow the same way twice. Note to caddies: don't bother throwing grass up in the air.

The weather consistently commands attention of golfers and fans alike,
making navigation of Open Championship courses very difficult.
Matt Dunham/AP

Lastly, the conditions of the golf course. Tell me what is more yellow, the grass or the rain slickers which you often see littered across Open Championship galleries? Augusta National's membership would have a hemorrhage driving down Magnolia Lane if they saw this much yellow. The fescue grass is a thing of beauty as it fits so perfectly with the design of the golf courses.

Oh,and don't think I forgot to mention the sand bunkers. Some can be described as a meteor landing site; they are so deep even a St. Bernand couldn't find you. As much as it sounds so dramatically different than the three other major golf championships in the United States, the greens seem to be the same: firm and fast.

Winning The Open Championship

When it comes down to the bare essentials of winning at The Open, you have to hit every shot in the book in each element to be victorious.

I will give you my top four picks to this year's Open:

Tiger Woods hasn't won a major
in over five years and last won
overseas in 2006.

• Defending Open Champion Ernie Els: Els won last year and also won the last time Muirfield hosted the Championship in 2002. At age 43, he still has game to conquer another one.
• Matt Kuchar: Kuchar is perhaps America's best shot besides Tiger Woods. He's ranked sixth in the world, has a consistent golf game, is a great ball striker, and can putt strongly despite his soon-to-be illegal belly putter.
• Tiger Woods: Do I need to explain? 
• Luke Donald: The adopted son of Scotland, an Open Champinoship would finally put the argument of Luke's validity (previously ranked no. 1 in the world despite never winning a major) to rest in one of those cavernous pot bunkers. 

But will a dark horse with the same dream that Ben Curtis or Todd Hamilton had rise to the occasion? It might just be the underachieving Ryan Moore's turn to hoist the Jug. He was the "can't miss" kid coming out of UNLV when he won the NCAA Championship, U.S Publinks, Western Amateur, and the U.S Amateur in his final year before joining the PGA tour. Moore has the game and I'm looking for him to shine through the rain drops and wind at Muirfield.

I hope you enjoyed my first blog contribution and hope it gives insight to a tournament which is over 150 years young.

Fairways and Greens,

Mark Cunningham, PGA

Mark is a PGA Golf Professional who turned professionally in 2001.  He has worked at many 

private clubs and is currently a manager at Golfsmith International.  He attended school at Webber 

International University in Babson Park, Florida where he graduated with a degree in Sports and Club Management and played on the golf team.  He is married and has two children.  In the winter months, Mark coaches high school ice hockey at Bishop Feehan.