British Open Week – Bob Geismar

Bobby Jones – #3 in Bob’s top 10 golfers of all time

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The single most dominant player of his time and he never turned professional.

He won the grand slam in 1930—at that time the 4 majors were the British Amateur and Open and the U.S. Amateur and Open.

Upon that amazing feat, he promptly retired from active competition at the ripe old age of 28.

He had a dynamic powerful swing and backed it up with an equally adept touch.

Jones co-founded the Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters Tournament.

Did you miss the rest of the top 10 so far? Here they are: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4.

Any guesses for #2 and #1?

Ben Hogan holds #4 on Bob’s top 10 countdown

4. Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan, 9-time Major Champion – is included as one of only 5 men who have won golf’s grand slam. Of course he’s in the top ten of all time, especially considering he overcame a near-fatal car crash to come back even more prolific. When other golfers stop hitting balls on the range to come over to watch you hit balls – you are revered – and Ben Hogan is tops in that category.

Did you miss the rest of the top 10 so far? Here they are: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.

Any guesses on who #3, #2 and #1 are?

Arnold Palmer created an American Invasion as #7 in Bob’s top 10 golfers of all time

7. Arnold Palmer

The winner of 7 major championships and a total of 62 PGA Tour events Palmer made golf fashionable to play and watch on television. He came along when TV and golf were not yet united as they are today. His charisma and charm made him a universally loved player—simply stated everyone adored Arnold Palmer. He transcended generations and was America’s golfing hero. In addition he revitalized the British Open as Americans had virtually stopped going over to the event but Palmer created an American invasion starting in 1960 that continues today.

It is Open Championship Week

British Open week ( I still like to call it the British Open although the name was officially changed to The Open Championship in 2011, o.k. I succumb, it’s simply The Open).

The year’s 3^rd major is here and it is being contested at one of the world’s greatest golf courses—the venerable Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. This will be the 16^th time The Open Championship has been played at Muirfield and it promises to produce a truly superior major champion. The past champions at Muirfield is a virtual golf’s who’s who—including H.H. Hilton, Harry Vardon, James Braid, Ted Ray, Walter Hagen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and the last time the Open championship was contested at Muirfield Ernie Els in 2002.

I look for some of the same this week—primed and ready is Phil Mickelson fast coming off his victory last week at the Scottish Open, a rested Tiger Woods, Masters Champ Adam Scott, and the rest of the world’s greats a list too long to complete here but the cast of characters is formidable. I do not foresee a relative unknown winning here at Muirfield—the winner will not only have to control his nerves but also the many types of differing shots required to conquer Muirfield.—no I indeed believe the winner will be a man who has already won a major championship.

Muirfield requires the golfer to be able to play right to left, left to right, high shots, low shots against the wind, with the wind, across the wind you name it and Muirfield requires it! The front nine goes in a clockwise direction and the incoming nine goes in a counter clockwise direction making the shots completely different. The winner will truly be the Champion Golfer for the year 2013!

You may recall I did pick Justin Rose to win the U.S .Open at Merion last month so here goes on my 3 picks to take home the Claret Jug:

Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell. All past major champions and all primed to win the world’s oldest tournament dating back to 1860 atPrestwickwon by the great Willie Park Sr.

I can’t wait until Thursday morning when the distinctive voice of the legendary starter Ivor Robson announces the names of the players on hole number 1 and the contest is on.