When last we saw Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie, he was crying in his mother’s arms after a first round 89.

It’s a safe bet that won’t happen again. He’s now an experienced player on the world scene and still has to be considered a threat at the Open—in spite of having failed to live up to his enormous potential. I think that, like Phil Mickelson, he’s just a good round or two away from breaking through and winning that first Major.

The Daily Record has a nice feature on the swashbuckling Spaniard.

The New York Times Reports that Carnoustie may not be as difficult this time around.

Peter Dawson, the Royal & Ancient chief executive, said the weather had given the Scottish links an odd combination of soft conditions and moderate rough.

“This has been the driest April we’ve had for a long time, followed by the wettest period in late May or June,” Dawson said. “Whilst the ground is wetter than we like to see, it hasn’t resulted in quite as much grass.

“Very unusual conditions.”

If it’s not so hard, I will be disappointed. 

A couple of recommended books on the British Open. Bothare in my personal library:

Curt Sampson is one of my favorite golf writers, and although Royal and Ancient: Blood, Sweat, and Fear at the British Open isn’t his best effort, it still offers many interesting insights into the game. It’s especially interesting this year, as it focuses on the 1999 Open at Carnoustie—also the site of the 2007 event.

The best part of the book is at the end, when he takes the reader through the notorious collapse of Jean Van De Velde.

Duel in the Sun: Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in the Battle of Turnberry by Michael Corcoran offers a look at the Open Championship through the lens of the 1977 duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson at Turnberry.

Here are the latest odds for the 2007 British Open Championship, provided courtesy of Bodog.Com, the world’s largest online sports betting destination.

I think I’d take the field on this one, at 11/4. I just don’t have a sense that any of the top players are a lock.

Here are the latest odds for the 2007 British Open Championship, provided courtesy of Bodog.Com, the world’s largest online sports betting destination.

Its no surprise that Tiger is at te top of the list, but I’m surprised to see Sergio Garcia so high. Els, I think is a good bet, but Phil and Vijay’s injuries at this point would scare me of. I’m also surprised to see just four Americans in the top fifteen.