The Royal & Ancient has decided to lengthen St. Andrews’ famous “Road Hole” for the 2010 Open Championship.

Nothing like fixing something that ain’t broke.

The R&A says they want to make it more challenging. But in fact, by lengthening the hole, I wonder if they won’t make it somewhat easier. As it stands now, it seems as though you would have to hit it straight, or fade the ball to hit the fairway, requiring a stick other than the driver. Moving the tee back 35 yards further back from the restrictions on the right hand side could have the geometric effect of making it less tight, and thus actually easier for the big hitters who draw the ball.

But does it matter for the Championship? Only for second place. Tiger owns this course.

In the wake of Y.E. Yang’s victory at the 2009 PGA Championship, a GolfBlogger reader asked if one Major Championship had produced more “one-hit wonders” than another. That depends, I think upon your definition of a one-hitter—and that’s a very subjective mark. Still, I looked at the last twenty years of major winners, and came up with a list of winners that could fall in that category.

PGA
Shaun Micheel
Rich Beem
Wayne Grady

The Masters
Zach Johnson

US Open
Michael Campbell
Steve Jones

Open Championship
Todd Hamilton
Ben Curtis
Paul Lawrie
Ian Baker Finch

I’m sure I’ll get a lot of arguments about this. All of these men are fine players, and all have more than one tour victory. Still, I’d have to say that the ones on this list didn’t (or have not yet) lived up to the stature of a major championship winner.

This past season may be one time when people actually will remember the runners-up in the Majors.

Kenny Perry at the Masters, playing for his legacy.

Phil Mickelson at the US Open, playing for Amy; David Duval, trying to make a comeback.

Tom Watson at the British Open, playing for all time.

Tiger Woods, choking for the first time.

There is a great deal of sadness this evening at GolfBlogger World Headquarters. I’ve never cheered for a player as much as I cheered for Tom Watson this morning and afternoon. And to think that he came just a par putt from becoming the biggest golf story of all time.

But alas, it wasn’t to be. And as sad as it makes me, I can’t imagine how Tom Watson feels. His comments after the round were heart wrenching:

“It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn’t it? It wasn’t to be. It tears at your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It’s not easy to take.

It was an almost. The dream almost came true.

Yes it did.

Jack Nicklaus’s website has some comments by The Greatest Golfer of All Time on the recent achievements of his friend Tom Watson:

5. How does Tom deal with the lead overnight and into tomorrow, even though he’s been there many times?

JACK: I think he will deal with it; he’ll deal with it fine. Whether or not Tom plays well tomorrow, whether or not he wins, it doesn’t make a difference. Of course, we would all love to see Tom win, but what he has accomplished already is a phenomenal achievement.

6. Does experience outweigh age?

JACK: Oh yeah, especially in his case. Absolutely. Not many people at his age can take the swing he has. He has always had such a beautiful, full turn and it hasn’t changed. This week, he has also made the putts when he’s had to make them. How many times in the last two days has he dropped behind only to come back? He drove the ball beautifully today; he’s hit some great golf shots and he’s making putts when needed. The thing Tom will realize is that this golf course is not very easy. No matter what every body else does tomorrow, they will make mistakes. He will, too. And he knows that. The key for him is to just not let the mistakes multiply or manifest themselves into a bad hole. If Tom plays smart golf tomorrow, he is the favorite. And l do not anticipate him playing anything but smart golf.

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