Reflecting on The Open Championship

McIlroy receives congrats from Lucas
Glover after Rory fires a 63.

Day 1

The biggest news from the opening round was the amazing 63 carded by Rory McIlroy. That was 2 strokes better than eventual champ Louis Oosthuizen. Another shocking development was John Daly. No, not because of his apparel, but because he fired a 6-under-par 66. All would agree that it was refreshing to see Daly go low.

And some felt the Same about Tiger as Woods took a 67 (-5) for his first round. The Old Course had to be taken today. Friday would produce a bizarre set of circumstances.

Really? Can it be?

Day 2

The biggest news from the second round was the catastrophic 80 carded by McIlroy. Well, the real news for the second round was the 1 hour, 6 minute wind delay. Balls were oscillating (how many times had you heard that word before this day?) in the fairways and on the greens. Really? A wind delay at The Open Championship? Really and those that were still playing paid a severe penalty (like McIlroy). Oosthuizen, Mark Calcavecchia, Rickie Fowler and Miguel Angel Jimenez managed to have their rounds completed by then and all shot 67. Oosthuizen stood at -12 and assumed the lead.

Don't try this at home.

Day 3

Everyone was waiting for Oosthuizen to wilt. It wouldn't happen on Saturday as he fired a 69 placing him (again) at the top of the leaderboard with a 15-under-par heading into the final round. McIlroy rebounded from his 80 to post a 69 and leaving him at -4. England's Paul Casey joined Oosthuizen in being double digits below par at -11 after he shot 67. That would set up Oosthuizen and Casey as the final game for Sunday. And they had the chance to run and hide from the rest of the field. Miguel Angel Jimenez provided the shot of the Open at the Road Hole. With his ball mere inches from the wall behind the green, Jimenez wedges his shot onto the green...by hitting his ball off the wall!

Casey looks for his line of sight after
driving his tee shot in the bushes at 12.

Day 4

Again, we wondered if Oosthuizen wilt under the pressure of winning a major. The first hole had Oosthuizen aiming for the middle of the green while Casey was well within birdie distance. One word would sum up Casey's putt...fail. But the tide would change on two holes. Following a bogey at #8, Oosthuizen drove the par-4 #9 green leaving him within eagle range, but it was a long putt of over 30 feet. Well, that didn't deter Louis as he drilled his putt into the heart of the hole. His fortunes would change for the better on #12. Pounding a drive to the middle of the fairway, Oosthuizen was only a wedge from the green. Maybe the pressure built on Casey as he aired his tee shot into the bushes and had to take an unplayable lie. Casey would claw his way for a triple bogey. Oosthuizen? He sent a wedge to about 18 feet from the hole and promptly drained his birdie putt. Game, set, match.

Can Louis avoid the "fluke" label?

Oosthuizen was deadly accurate from tee to green for all four days. His worst round, if he really had a worst round, was the 71 he shot in the final round. Considering the others had to go low and have Louis stumble on a hole or two, those chances were greatly diminished as the round played out. Tom Watson, Andy North and Paul Azinger all called Oosthuizen's performance "surgical". That might be understating how the South African played at the home of golf. This will serve as a tremendous boost in his confidence and I believe this is no fluke. This guy has game and all in golf should keep an eye on Oosthuizen.

He is very worthy of being called Champion Golfer of the Year.

The "Ol' Girl" will miss Watson, too.

Speaking of Watson, we may have seen him play his last round at St. Andrews. If this is Watson's final bow at The Old Course, we thank you, Tom. We thank you for all your great play and wonderful memories. You've handled yourself with amazing class and character. All the best for you on the Champions Tour.