Stewart Cink’s dramatic British Open win at Turnberry can be taken as evidence that fairytales rarely happen in sport. Tom Watson was one putt away from becoming the oldest ever winner of a major tournament, which would perhaps have been the biggest upset in golf history. The golfing gods had other ideas.
Watson’s near-miss came just a year after Greg Norman nearly tore up the form book at Royal Birkdale. Norman let slip a two-shot final round lead, seemingly confirming that veteran champions returning for one last shot at glory do not prevail.
However, golf does a habit of producing unexpected winners. It is 10 years since Paul Lawrie, the unheralded Scot, won a play-off against Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard at Carnoustie after making up a 10-shot final round deficit against the Frenchman.
Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel were genuine outsiders in winning the 2003 British Open and US PGA titles, whilst Cink himself was far from a favourite at Turnberry, having missed the cut in three of his last four majors.
Major upsets are of course not restricted to golf – Goran Ivanisevic winning the 2001 Wimbledon title and New York Giants upsetting New England Patriots at the 2008 Super Bowl spring to mind – but the sport certainly lends itself to unexpected results.
Golf is the most individual of sports. Participants play against themselves as much as they do against each other, with weather conditions always a big factor. A sudden loss or gain in form in one weekend can upset the usual hierarchy.
It is ironic that recent golfing upsets at majors have taken place in the era that has been dominated most by one player. Punters should look a long way down the entrants’ list when they look for alternatives to Tiger Woods at next month’s US PGA Championship at Hazeltine.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
Watson’s near-miss came just a year after Greg Norman nearly tore up the form book at Royal Birkdale. Norman let slip a two-shot final round lead, seemingly confirming that veteran champions returning for one last shot at glory do not prevail.
However, golf does a habit of producing unexpected winners. It is 10 years since Paul Lawrie, the unheralded Scot, won a play-off against Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard at Carnoustie after making up a 10-shot final round deficit against the Frenchman.
Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel were genuine outsiders in winning the 2003 British Open and US PGA titles, whilst Cink himself was far from a favourite at Turnberry, having missed the cut in three of his last four majors.
Major upsets are of course not restricted to golf – Goran Ivanisevic winning the 2001 Wimbledon title and New York Giants upsetting New England Patriots at the 2008 Super Bowl spring to mind – but the sport certainly lends itself to unexpected results.
Golf is the most individual of sports. Participants play against themselves as much as they do against each other, with weather conditions always a big factor. A sudden loss or gain in form in one weekend can upset the usual hierarchy.
It is ironic that recent golfing upsets at majors have taken place in the era that has been dominated most by one player. Punters should look a long way down the entrants’ list when they look for alternatives to Tiger Woods at next month’s US PGA Championship at Hazeltine.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
