Thursday, July 14, 2011

British Open 2011 Leaderboard: Royal St. George's Will Eventually Weed out Weak

Befitting of an Open Championship course, Royal St. George's in England is the type of gnarly, heartbreaking and downright mean nightmare that can drive any golfer batty.

It's continuously windy, has fairways that can send any ball flying past the flag and has head-high bunkers which make it appear as if you will be trapped in the sand forever, slowly sinking until you lose all confidence.

It's not fair, can punish good golf shots and at times seems like some virtual world where physics are slightly altered.

In short, it separates the men from the boys, or at least the men from the crybabies.

It's no coincidence that Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time who holds a record 18 major championships, is one of but a few who actually has proclaimed his love for the course.

If you love Royal St. George's, you're either winning or you're crazy, one of the two.

It has the deepest bunker in championship golf on the fourth hole and there are many times where you can't even see the hole.

But, in all its ugliness, in all its brutality, Royal St. George's is one of the most glorified, historic courses in the world's history because of these very attributes.

Royal St. George's tests every bit of a player's mental fortitude. If you have personal demons, they will all haunt you on the course. If you don't, you will find some along the way.

The current co-leader through one round knows this all too well.

Thomas Bjorn, who shares the lead with Tom Lewis at 5-under-par 65, had a chance to win the 2003 Open Championship.

After 69 holes of championship-level golf, Bjorn had a two-stroke lead headed into the final three holes.

One bunker shot later on the 16th and Bjorn was done for.

That's how quickly it can change at Royal St. George's.

If you aren't a tough, headstrong player at Royal St. George's, you may as well not show up.

-Ryan Rudnansky

Maria Sharapova Lindsay Price Zoe Saldana Rachel Perry Mary Elizabeth Winstead

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