That '70s show tops the charts
British Opens of decade ruled by 'immortals'
Thirty summers ago a magical weekend of golf took place on the southwest coast of Scotland, a head-to-head battle between the most dominant major champion ever and a man who was the game's best back then.
Jack Nicklaus vs. Tom Watson at Turnberry. "The Duel in the Sun," is how writers referenced that dramatic and pulsating 1977 British Open. It was an epic weekend, one in which Watson shot 66-65, Nicklaus 66-66 to easily finish 1-2. Shane Grier, who lives on Cape Cod, caddied for Hubert Green back then, and laughs heartily at what he considers one of the great newspaper headlines ever.
"Watson wins battle of immortals, Green wins battle of mortals," said Grier, whose man, Green, finished third that summer and joked that "I just won the B flight."
Throw your support toward other priceless major championships -- the 1913 US Open, the 1954 Masters, the 1960 US Open, the 1986 Masters -- but it says here the 1977 sun-baked British Open is the yardstick by which all others are measured. In that belief, I'm not alone, but in glancing at the record books, not only was that affair at Turnberry the greatest tournament ever, but the British Opens of the 1970s were the best decade in major golf championship history.
OK, so it's one of those ticklish thoughts that could be argued forever, but there's little doubt in my mind that it has merit.
Consider the roll call of British Open champions, starting in 1970: Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Trevino, Tom Weiskopf, Gary Player, Watson, Johnny Miller, Watson, Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros.
In the battles for those 10 claret jugs, there were seven winners, and six Hall of Famers who combined for 238 career wins (we're using Ballesteros's total of 48 on the European PGA Tour) and 48 major titles.
"It's quite a string, isn't it?" said Trevino, when showed the list recently during the Champions Tour's
Yes, it is, and if fate had played out differently, it might have been a clean sweep of Hall of Famers, because Weiskopf had it all going for him.
"He was as good as Jack [Nicklaus], but he was in the shadow all the time," said Trevino, a reference to the fact Weiskopf followed Nicklaus at Ohio State. "But he was great."
Weiskopf fell in love with the British Open when he first teed it up over there and when he finally broke through at Royal Troon in 1973, he denied Miller. No worries, for Miller prevailed in 1976 at Royal Birkdale, finishing six clear of Nicklaus and a young, dashing Spaniard named Ballesteros, who was 19.
By the time the decade came to a close, Ballesteros was a mere 22, but in possession of the British Open title, thanks to a stirring win at Royal Lytham & St. Annes that came at the expense of another Nicklaus runner-up performance.
Strictly weighing major championships by those that were won by Hall of Famers, the 1970s British Opens shine through with nine. Only two other decades can match that number -- the PGA Championships of the 1920s, but those were won by only three players (Walter Hagen, who won five, Leo Diegel, and Gene Sarazen), and the British Opens of the 1950s, but again, only four players prevailed (Player, Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke, Ben Hogan).
For impact, it's hard to overlook the US Opens of the 1960s, in which seven Hall of Famers (Nicklaus, Trevino, Player, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Julius Boros, Gene Littler) won eight titles, but something about Orville Moody's win in 1969 takes away whatever appeal that 10-year span might have.
The Masters of the 1950s (six Hall of Famers won eight titles) is stalwart stuff and all six Masters in the 1930s were won by five Hall of Famers (Sarazen, Ralph Guldahl, Henry Picard, Horton Smith, Byron Nelson).
But whereas each decade has seen a lackluster major championship winner, you can't say that about the British Opens of the 1970s. Not only were Nicklaus, Trevino, Weiskopf, Player, Watson, Miller, and Ballesteros outstanding players, each was a colorful and memorable figure.
If we give credit to Palmer for helping reinvent the British Open in the early 1960s, it seems only fair to tip our hats to the winners of the 1970s for helping establish this mid-summer classic as the most flavorful and the best championship on the golf landscape.
Daly-Donofrio looks for rebirth
The stories examining how fatherhood will help or hurt Tiger Woods's golf career have been truly silly. It's as if these folks think Woods carried the child for the duration of the pregnancy and delivered Sam Alexis himself.If they were looking for that angle, try Heather Daly-Donofrio. She could tell you that it has been difficult to mix parenthood and pro golf, from the perspective of a mother.
"Trying to play while pregnant was tough, and getting back into shape to play after having the baby . . . I've struggled with that," said Daly-Donofrio, a 10-year LPGA Tour veteran who gave birth to her first child, daughter Hannah, last year. Although she feels she's done well to get into shape physically, mentally is another story.
"I'm finding it difficult to juggle the two," she said of being a golfer and a mother. "That's why I find it even more amazing how Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst have been able to do so well."
Compounding matters is back pain that has sidelined her lately. The injury arose after Daly-Donofrio returned to action for three events earlier this season after having played just five in 2006. Diagnosed with a herniated disk, she was told to rest, so she did just that for about nine weeks. She returned for the Wegman's LPGA June 21, missed the cut, and has sat out since.
Now, Daly-Donofrio is set to return for this week's tournament in Sylvania, Ohio.
The back, she said, "feels fine, and I have been practicing," but the time away from Hannah is another matter.
"I struggle with my concentration, because while I'm trying to focus on my golf, I can't stop thinking about the baby," said Daly-Donofrio, who insists she's committed to playing at least eight of the remaining LPGA tournaments.
Could Austin’s flawed decision lead to berth control?
There are those who take what should be a supreme privilege -- a berth in a major championship -- and make a mockery of it. Woody Austin's reason for turning down his exemption into the British Open?"I don't know how to play that type of golf and I would probably go over there and shoot two high numbers and make a fool out of myself," he said at the conclusion of last weekend's AT&T National.
That type of golf?
He makes it sound like they're playing with square holes and triangular balls over there in the UK, for goodness sakes, when, in fact, links golf is not only the most natural of all, it is the most demanding.
It puts a premium on ball-striking and creativity, two aspects sorely lacking on the PGA Tour sojourn. (Watch out, here comes another wedge from 135 yards that sticks and spins back.)
Austin's given the British Open just one go-round -- and that was in 1996. Though he missed the cut at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, his numbers -- 72-73 -- were hardly an embarrassment. Consider his decision sorely disappointing and here's a suggestion: Players who turn down exemptions into the major championships should be docked world ranking points and not be permitted to sign up for tournaments such as the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee, which will be played opposite the British Open.
On the flip side, cheers to Hunter Mahan, who embraced his last-minute exemption into the British Open and said: "Any time you can play in a major, it's good. I've been there two [times] and it's a ton of fun -- golf in its purest form."
Indeed.
Etc.
Clubhouse news: It wasn't until years after he had won the last of his five major championships and 52 PGA Tour wins that Byron Nelson got his clothing deal. Of course, Lord Byron didn't have a pink shaft on his driver.
Clubhouse view: If the guy in your foursome starts playing a florescent yellow ball with the word "practice" emblazoned, be discreet, but by all means call your local authories.
Jim McCabe can be reached at jmccabe@globe.com. Material from personal interviews, wire services, and other beat writers was used in this report. 