British open?

Question

is a major a major without a dominant force like tiger there? when tiger is there you automatically have a guy who will have a chance at the championship but without him is there a favorite?

Answer 1

It is absolutely a major.  I guarantee whomever wins will lose no sleep over the fact that Tiger wasnt competing.  His name will go on that trophy and in the record books just the same.  And remember, Tiger has won "only" roughly one fourth of the majors in which he has competed.

Answer 2

Major championships are not defined by who shows up to play.  The reason for having qualifying rounds to enter tournaments is to ensure that everyone who gets in has a reasonable chance to win if they play their best.

Answer 3

Yes, it's a major.  It's THE major; the one with the deepest and most geographically diverse field.  It was a major 75 years ago, and it'll be one 75 years from now.

Given that much of Great Britain has had a wet spring and the course is lush (unlike the brown arid conditions at Royal Liverpool in 2006), not sure I'd have penned Woods as the favourite; none of his three Open Championships (the other two at St. Andrews under very mild weather conditions) have come in bad weather (which they're saying could be the case this week); his superior fitness (which surely helps him in hot and humid conditions) isn't a help in the Open.

Answer 4

A major is larger than any one player....................

Answer 5

Given the events of earlier this year, Kenny Perry and Anthony Kim seem to be favorites. Sergio Garcia is definitely a contender.

Or another unknown could win, like Zach Johnson or Immelman won majors out of seemingly nowhere.

Golf is one of the most inconsistent sports out there. Even though Tiger is a dominant force, he doesn't always win.

Answer 6

A major has always been a major when Tiger wasn't even alive, so of course it's a major

Answer 7

I think sergio garcia definitely has a change due to his great putting game

Answer 8

The Open Championship is the greatest golf tournament in the world. It is the only tournament with a truly international field. Seventy-six different players from twelve different nations have won the tournament over the years.

I believe Tiger has played in the Open Championship fourteen times and only won three. That means it has never been a sure thing even for the Great One.

Kenny Perry would be a favorite, but he will not be playing in the British this year, choosing to stay home and play at Milwaukee in an effort to ensure he qualifies for the Ryder Cup.

Sergio is playing well and finished second in a playoff last year. Stewart Cink is sixth in the world and playing pretty well this season. He's a great putter and keeps the ball in play. Anthony Kim is very hot and is looking at moving up in the world rankings (he's 13). Miquel Angel Jimenez of Spain is playing well on the European Tour and is always a threat. Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson of Sweden are both doing well on the European tour this year as well.

A major is not a major because one guy is there or not; it is a major because of tradition, the quality of the field, the quality of the course, the prestige of winning it and the esteem in which the other players hold winning the trophy.