CARNOUSTIE WILL BE "TOUGH BUT
FAIR" FOR OPEN THIS TIME, says
R&A CHIEF PETER DAWSON
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson, pictured right, told a Press Conference at Carnoustie today that the course for this year's Open would be "tough but fair," although no R&A person has ever admitted that the 1999 Carnoustie track was beastly unfair.
"We are not seeking carnage," said Aberdeen-born Peter Dawson. "We are seeking an arena where the players can display their skills to the best effect."
Having said that, Carnoustie is a true monster of a course, if only in its length.
At 7,421 yards the course will play 60 yards longer than last time. That makes it the longest in Open history - just 24 yards shorter than Augusta was for the Masters a month ago and only 140 yards less than the major record set by Medinah for last year's US PGA championship.
"Carnoustie deserves its reputation as the toughest course we use," added Dawson and Martin Kippax, chairman of the championship committee, stated: "The players understand what Carnoustie is. Everybody knows what a severe test it is."
What is likely to reduce the number of criticisms come July is that the forecast of a hot summer and less than average rainfall should reduce the amount of rough.
In 1999 it was some of the fiercest ever seen, with the 156-strong field finishing the week an amazing 3,746 over par.
Jean Van de Velde's closing triple bogey 7 - the drama for which the championship is most remembered rather than, regrettably, Paul Lawrie's terrific come-from-behind winning effort - meant that the winning score of six over par for 72 holes was the highest in the Open since 1947 and the highest in any major since 1963.
Not surprisingly, Paul Lawrie did not mind one little bit. He was the one who capitalised on Van de Velde's self-destruction, winning a play-off which also featured American Justin Leonard.
But Tiger Woods shot 10 over par and yet still finished as high as 10th, while Sergio Garcia, who a month later was to run Woods so close at the US PGA, had rounds of 89 and 83 to crash out on 30 over par at the halfway stage.
And not many people remember that first-round leader Rod Pampling with a 71 plummeted out of the championship only 18 holes later with and 86.
R&A CHIEF PETER DAWSON
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson, pictured right, told a Press Conference at Carnoustie today that the course for this year's Open would be "tough but fair," although no R&A person has ever admitted that the 1999 Carnoustie track was beastly unfair.
"We are not seeking carnage," said Aberdeen-born Peter Dawson. "We are seeking an arena where the players can display their skills to the best effect."
Having said that, Carnoustie is a true monster of a course, if only in its length.
At 7,421 yards the course will play 60 yards longer than last time. That makes it the longest in Open history - just 24 yards shorter than Augusta was for the Masters a month ago and only 140 yards less than the major record set by Medinah for last year's US PGA championship.
"Carnoustie deserves its reputation as the toughest course we use," added Dawson and Martin Kippax, chairman of the championship committee, stated: "The players understand what Carnoustie is. Everybody knows what a severe test it is."
What is likely to reduce the number of criticisms come July is that the forecast of a hot summer and less than average rainfall should reduce the amount of rough.
In 1999 it was some of the fiercest ever seen, with the 156-strong field finishing the week an amazing 3,746 over par.
Jean Van de Velde's closing triple bogey 7 - the drama for which the championship is most remembered rather than, regrettably, Paul Lawrie's terrific come-from-behind winning effort - meant that the winning score of six over par for 72 holes was the highest in the Open since 1947 and the highest in any major since 1963.
Not surprisingly, Paul Lawrie did not mind one little bit. He was the one who capitalised on Van de Velde's self-destruction, winning a play-off which also featured American Justin Leonard.
But Tiger Woods shot 10 over par and yet still finished as high as 10th, while Sergio Garcia, who a month later was to run Woods so close at the US PGA, had rounds of 89 and 83 to crash out on 30 over par at the halfway stage.
And not many people remember that first-round leader Rod Pampling with a 71 plummeted out of the championship only 18 holes later with and 86.
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, May 01, 2007
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