The Open Career of Maurice Flitcroft

I can’t help but take an interest in the scores of Regional Open Qualifying at this time of year.  I’d love to tell you it’s because I’m keen to see who’s qualified, who’s played well and who’s a rising star, but in truth it’s in the vain hope of finding a modern day Gene Pacecki, Gerald Hoppy or a James Beau Jolley.  Sadly, it’s always a fruitless search.  Gate crashing The Open clearly isn’t what it used to be. If you’re familiar with these names already, you’ll  know they were all aliases of…Read more …

The “Standards” at Merion

The first day’s play at the US Open at Merion Golf Club hasn’t even been completed yet, and already Merion’s wicket baskets have moved from quirky to notorious.  In scenes reminiscent of Tiger’s flag stick-to-water episode at The Masters (just without the now infamous incorrect drop), Lee Westwood suffered the misfortune of striking a Merion basket on the 12th hole, cannoning off and enduring a double bogey as a result.  He had been tied for the lead at the time so we can only hope it doesn’t come back to haunt him on…Read more …