The McWoz Harmonic Convergence

In my earlier post “Hoylake Predictions” here, I gazed into my crystal ball for the results of the 2014 Open Championship and forecast in the “Likely” category that “Rory McIlroy will open with a first round 68 and follow it with a second-round 78.”  Not even close.  In the “Unlikely” category I prophesied that “Rory McIlroy will open with a first round 68 and follow it with three more subpar rounds, hoist the Claret Jug and bawl uncontrollably as Caroline Wozniacki bolts from the crowd and hugs him like they were betrothed.”   Well, at least I got the first half right.  But he was hugging his Mum, not the Woz on the 18^th green.  Although, as fate would have it, as Rory was trouncing the field at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Sunday, Rory’s former fiancée was defeating Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-1 to win the WTA Istanbul Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.  Coincidence?  Perhaps, though I am decidedly not a big believer in coincidences.  I prefer to think that the personal link between the two sports stars may still be converged in the firmament somewhere.  Time will tell.

                              

McWoz In Happier Days

                                                            

AMDG^TM

© 2012-14 R.E. Kelly

Champion Golfer of the Year

Rory McIlroy’s official title as winner of the 2014 Open Championship is “Champion Golfer Of The Year”.  (If you don’t believe me, check here.)  This quaint title is derived from the Claret Jug itself.  Don’t you know, the Claret Jug has a formal name.  The Claret Jug’s proper name is the Golf Champion Trophy.  The Golf Champion Trophy dates back to 1873, when the original silver Claret Jug was hallmarked.  Ever since then, the Champion Golfer Of The Year has hoisted the trophy at the conclusion of the Open Championship, perhaps none more proudly than Ireland’s son with a few of his friends this year.  Champion Golfer of the Year, indeed, perhaps Champion Golfer of a new era as well.

Champion Golfer with a few friends

A Game With Which I Am Not Familiar

Bobby Jones, the iconic golf figure of the first half of the 20th century, said after watching Nicklaus win the Masters in 1965: "Nicklaus played a game of which I am not familiar."  

The same could be said of Rory at Hoylake.  Good grief, 360 yard drives down the middle of the fairway.  252- yard 4-irons, followed by 239-yard 5-irons knocked ten feet from the hole.  Come on.  When Rory is on his game, no active golfer today can claim to be familiar with it.  Not even Tiger.

 

Rory and Friends (and the Claret Jug 2014)

Open and Shut Hoylake Predictions

The Open Championship 2014 is upon us.  Here are some predictions for the tournament.

In the “Likely” category:

-It will rain

-Tiger will make the cut

-Tom Watson will make the cut

-A European golfer will win the Claret Jug

-It will be windy

-There will be more brown grass than green

-A golfer coached by Butch Harmon will win The Open Championship

-Phil Mickelson will defend his title by finishing close to the top of the leaderboard but not winning.

-Rory McIlroy will open with a first round 68 and follow it with a second-round 78. 

-The term "Liverpudlians' will be uttered  on the television broadcast incessantly 

In the “Unlikely” category:

-An American will hoist the Claret Jug 

Not Likely For Phil (Maybe for Butch)

-Tiger will not make the cut

-Tom Watson will stun the world, make up for Turnberry 2009, hit the correct club into the 18^th green at Royal Liverpool and win the 143^rd The Open Championship

-Phil Mickelson will defend his title by missing the cut

-Rory McIlroy will open with a first round 68 and follow it with three additional subpar rounds, hoist the Claret Jug and bawl uncontrollably as Caroline Wozniacki bolts from the crowd and hugs him like they were betrothed.

What will happen:  Phil misses the cut, Tiger barely makes the cut but never contends, Rory lingers but finishes 10th, Lee Westwood remains a bridesmaid, and a golfer with no previous major victory breaks his maiden and hoists the Claret Jug. 

AMDG^TM

© 2012-14 R.E. Kelly

Addicted to Golf 2014

ESPN’s Shelley Smith published a pierce on ESPN’s Outside the Lines entitled “Addicted to Golf” on July 11, 2014.  Check it out here.  As luck would have it, Addicted to Golf was a song  the original Golf Album recorded in 1986 and was also included in one of the first posts on The Golf Album Blog, here.  Sing along again with the late great Robert Palmer, but please,  as the ancient Greeks used to say, “meyden agon”, nothing to excess.

 

You're Gonna Have To Face It...

To fully enjoy the following parody, jump back to circa 1984 and picture the late, great  Robert Palmer, in homage to his pioneering music video,  crooning before a foursome of gorgeous models bedecked in pink and white see-through golf gear from head to toe, including plus fours, swinging various unfettered body parts as well as clubs somewhat in rhythm to the beat.

ADDICTED TO GOLF

(Words and Music to Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer;

Copyright claimant Bungalow Music N.V.)

The sprinkler’s on, but you're not home

Your mind is not your own

Your hiney sweats, your booty shakes

Another round is what it takes

You can't eat, you can't sleep

If there's rough, you're in deep

Your grip is tight, you can't breathe

Another round is all you need

Oh, you like to think you're immune

to the stuff, oh yeah

            Its closer to the truth to say you can't get enough

            You know you're gonna have to face it -

            You're addicted to golf

You see the signs, but you can't read

Your swing's at different speeds

Your heart beats in double time

Another loop, and you'll be mine

A one-track mind; you can't be saved

Eighteen holes is all you crave

If there's sun left for you

You will ask to play through

Oh, you like to think you're immune

to the stuff , oh yeah

It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough

You know you might as well admit it -

You're addicted to golf

AMDG

©  R.E. Kelly 2012-2021