Archives for July 2009

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Final Round – Sunday, July 19, 2009

Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Bill Kratzert (analyst) and Jim Huber (reporter)

Baker-Finch on the chances of Tom Watson winning the Open Championship: “I think the chances are very good (for Tom Watson to win). I think if he continues to do what he’s doing…he’s driving it great, he’s making a lot of birdies, everything he’s doing is just fantastic. The thing I think about Tom is he has more experience than anyone else. He’s done this five times before, he’s been playing here since 1975, he’s only missed a couple. I think he’s got the world behind him, all of Scotland is behind him. Scotland has always taken Tom as their own, he’s won four of his five titles here. I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep doing it. He’s putting well and it’s only the putter that lets him down on occasion and the putter hasn’t let him down this week. He’s 59 years of age, but he’s been winning on the Champions Tour in the U.S. and won the Senior Open Championship three times as well. It’s not like he’s been away from the game, he’s been competitive and winning.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed former Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia and his wife Brenda, who serves as his caddy.

Brenda Calcavecchia on being her husband Mark’s caddy:  “I can’t lie, it is physically tough. But even when I’m not carrying the bag we talk throughout the round and I give him encouragement. This is a way for me to be out with him full-time and it works for us.  He did throw one club one time at the TOUR Championship. It almost hit my ring, I said, ‘if you break the diamond you buy a bigger one,’ and that was the end of that.”

Kratzert on the weakness in Ernie Els’ game: “The obstacle (Ernie Els) has to overcome it just trying to put it in play in competition.”

Baker-Finch: “Yeah, he’s just lost his mojo. It’s self-belief that you need. The swing is there, it’s not like he’s lost his swing. It’s just you work on it and you try to find a feel. Some days he just doesn’t feel like he’s out there, doesn’t understand why.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Ernie Els prior to his round.

Els on the possibility of Tom Watson, at 59 years old, winning a record tying sixth Open Championship: “Unbelievable, in the history of the game this could be it (the greatest feat). I know there have been great stories along the way in our sport; Bobby Jones winning the Grand Slam, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, a lot of great stories. Man, at 59 to win the Open Championship, that had to be a 10,000 to 1 shot that that’s ever going to happen, and it could happen today.  He’s been unbelievable to watch and a hero of mine. Great links player, probably the best of our generation, so he’s got a great change to win.”

Kratzert on why he loves the Ailsa Course at Turnberry as an Open Championship site: “The addition of 22 bunkers, the added yardage 247 yards, it now plays over 7200 yards. You have a great mixture, you have a long Par Three (on hole) six, you look out there on the 11th and that short Par Three, that is a spectacular hole, the views are just unbelievable. It’s the Pebble Beach of Europe. I think with the changes they’ve made, visually it’s more pleasing. And we saw on the first day, if the wind doesn’t blow it’s a golf course you can go out and pretty much shoot the grass off it. (If there is weather), it becomes a very difficult challenge and that’s what I like.”

Baker-Finch on the success of Steve Marino, who had a strong showing in his first links course and Open Championship ever: “It’s created another American player (Steve Marino) coming over from the PGA TOUR, the first time ever on a links golf course on this stage. He’s just going to have a love affair with it now and it will last forever.”

Johnson on John Daly’s hounds tooth pants: “Put these pants on with a Bear Bryant hat and you are stylin’.”

Baker-Finch on amateur golfer Matteo Mannasero: “Matteo Mannasero, just always remember this name, this kid can really play and he’s a great putter. You’ll see him at next year’s Masters, he’s still only going to be 16.”

Kratzert on Ernie Els’ ability to pitch the ball: “Is (Ernie Els) not the best? Is he not one of the top five pitching the ball? Unbelievable. You know he’s accelerating through the shot, but it’s not visually detectable that he’s accelerating.  It’s just so smooth through that there has to be that minimal amount of acceleration, otherwise he wouldn’t be as good as he is.”

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Round Three – Saturday, July 18, 2009

TNT’s coverage of the Open Championship concludes Sun., July 19 from 6 am – 8 am ET/PT.  Watch live video coverage on PGA.com

Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Bill Kratzert (analyst) and Jim Huber (reporter)

Baker-Finch on the absence of Tiger Woods’ coach Hank Haney and the poor performance of Tiger Woods which caused him to miss the cut of the Open Championship: “Tiger told me that Hank (Haney) is going to work with Tiger leading into the majors and not come to the majors so he can just go out and concentrate on this game and concentrate on golf. Hank watches from home, I’m sure Hank’s seeing exactly what’s happening on those bad shots. They’ll go back and they’ll discuss it. Tom Weiskopf had a great expression last night, he said he’s going to retool. (Tiger is) going to home and retool, work on the things that went wrong under pressure and come back stronger next time.”

Kratzert on Tiger Woods following a similar pattern this year that he did in 2007 when he won the PGA Championship: “We saw the same pattern the year he won the PGA at Southern Hills. He did not play well over here, he was frustrated, didn’t hit any balls. All of a sudden, he went to the practice range, he kind of figured it out on his own and went on and won at Firestone and then won at Southern Hills. All of a sudden that started that streak of seven victories in a row. So he’ll go home and he’ll figure it out. He’s really disappointed with his performance and it is totally unacceptable for him.”

Baker-Finch on teeing off on the 10^th hole: “You’re elevated, the water and the cliff to the left hand side, severe rough on both sides, bunkers to avoid as well as that left to right wind…if you’re going to fear a tee shot, that’s the one you’re going to fear.”

Baker-Finch on the lack of confidence Justin Rose has in his swing: “I played with Justin Rose for the first two rounds at the Colonial (Invitational) a couple of months ago and he’s just not quite there from a confidence standpoint with his swing. When the pressure’s on, it gets a little bit tighter.”

Kratzert on Steve Marino who started Round Three in second place: “(Steve Marino) is a feel player, is his golf swing technically sound? I would have to say no, but the fact that he putts the ball so well and the fact that he’s like a (Fredrick) Jacobson…there are a lot of players out on the TOUR that get the job done with quality and there are a lot of players who get the job done with quantity. I think Marino is one of these quantity players, but if he keeps the hot putter he’s going to stay in it.”

Baker-Finch on the classic 1977 Open Championship which featured a showdown between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus dubbed ‘Duel in the Sun’: “I just have seen that at least 20 times, I think it’s the best. There are a lot of great Masters moments, but I think that the ‘Duel in the Sun’ with (Tom) Watson and (Jack) Nicklaus is just the absolute classic. There was a period of time there from 1977 to 1982 when we saw Jack and Tom battling it out in a lot of major championships.”

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Round Two – Friday, July 17, 2009

 

TNT’s Round Three coverage of the Open Championship continues Sat., July 18 from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET.  Watch live video coverage on PGA.com

 

Quote of the Day:

 “That has to be one of the best moments in Championship history.  One of the greatest tournaments in history was in 1977, 32 years ago when Watson and (Jack) Nicklaus battled it out (at Turnberry)”

– Former British Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch on Tom Watson’s birdie on his final hole of the day:

 

 

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ian Baker-Finch, Bill Kratzert, Jim Huber, Terry Gannon, Tom Weiskopf, Paul Azinger, Peter Alliss, Mike Tirico, Curtis Strange and Judy Rankin

 

Baker-Finch on Nick Faldo’s ball rolling into the bunker at Hole #17: “That’s how bunkers should be. I’m really disappointed with the way the trend has become in Australia and the (United) States now where most fairway bunkers are in the rough, you don’t ever see that in the States anymore; a ball actually rolling into a bunker.”

 

Jim Huber interviewed Retief Goosen (-3) following the second round

 

Goosen on his play in the Open Championship: “I feel like I’ve been playing a lot better in the past six or seven months. If I can keep the putter going this weekend, then who knows.”

 

Baker-Finch on the key holes at Turnberry: “Those first ten or eleven holes today will be a real test of character and ability.”

 

Chief Executive of the R & A Peter Dawson joined Ernie Johnson and Ian Baker-Finch

 

Dawson on the Open Championship returning to Turnberry: “Turnberry is such a scenic venue. It’s a favorite among the players; they love the golf course, they love the hotel. It’s just a stunning location; the most beautiful place in golf. We are delighted to be back, it’s been too long.”

 

Dawson on Tom Watson doing well in the first round: “Tom is an adopted Brit. He’s won five of our Championships and the British golfing public love Tom Watson. He’s one of our favorites. I hope he keeps it together today.”

 

Dawson on golf becoming part of the Olympics: “There are seven sports biding for two spots in the Olympic Games for 2016. We’ve presented golf as best we can. All of the tours around the world are in support. The governing bodies are in support and the top players support both the men’s and women’s game. I’m very hopeful golf will succeed, but there are no guarantees.”

 

Johnson on John Daly’s colorful pants: “I wonder if you get an air sickness bag with that pair of pants.”

 

Alliss on Japanese teen phenom Ryo Ishikawa handling the media circus surrounding his first round: “I thought he did remarkably well (dealing with the media). The younger players play so much golf when they are of a high caliber and come from a country where golf is big stuff. They get used to traveling and going to other countries, experiencing other food and going through the customs. They get mature very quickly.”

 

Baker-Finch on the conditions at Turnberry: “At sea level the wind plays more of a factor because it’s a heavy wind. It was only 50 degrees when we came out here this morning and they sky was dull. It has brightened up a bit and I still think 70 to 72 is a good score.”

 

Baker-Finch on the Japanese photographers following Ryo Ishikawa possibly following the lower scoring Kenichi Kuboya: “Maybe some of those photographers will leave (Ryo) Ishikawa and come over and watch (Kenichi) Kuboya.”

 

Baker-Finch on Steve Marino’s bright future: “(Steve Marino) a birdie machine; one of the good, young players. Really, really good talent. He has only been on tour for a couple of years, but I think he will be a prolific winner. “

 

Curtis on Ryo Ishikawa’s youth: “(Ryo Ishikawa) is very, very talented, but very, very young at only 17 (years old). He has a lot of good years ahead of him.”

 

Azinger on how the weather is affecting the second round of the Open: “Some of these holes are playing four club differences compared to yesterday.”

 

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Mark Calcavecchia (-4) following the second round

 

Calcavecchia on his performance on Day #2: “I’m happy with my score.  I’ve been playing good, so it’s fun. This occasion brings out my best.”

 

Azinger on the crowd helping Tiger Woods find his golf ball: “There isn’t another player in the field who is afforded the luxury of 100 people looking for his golf ball.”

 

Baker-Finch on Tom Watson: “He is so good in the wind. He is confident in the way he’s striking the ball.”

 

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Kenny Perry (+3) earlier in the week

 

Perry on playing while his mom is suffering from cancer: “If you dwell on it, it gets tough. You’ve got to live and keep moving in this world.”

 

Rankin on Sergio Garcia’s second round: “(Sergio Garcia’s) humor has been good all day. He’s had a smile on his face and enjoyed the day. He’s picked himself up from a couple bad things.”

 

Johnson on Wood’s performance: “This is so unexpected. Based on what we heard from players and others who had seen him in the practice rounds. The zone that he was in, they said to watch out.”

 

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed tournament leader Tom Watson (-5) following his second round

 

Watson on leading the Open Championship after two rounds: “I made two no-brainers there, ‘field goals’ as my dad called them.  Something is on my side right now and things are happening my way.”

 

Watson on his made long putt on the 9^th green: “That (putt) turned me around.  Lady Turnberry had her gloves off and I hadn’t put in a good counter-punch until then.”

 

Watson on his second round: “It was a special day.  I don’t have many years left to play in the Open Championship but I’ve had some wonderful memories and maybe I can make one more memory here.”

 

Watson on if he thinks he can win the 2009 Open Championship: “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could.”

 

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed co-leader Steve Marino (-5) following the second round

 

Marino on the change in conditions from Day One to Day Two: “Yesterday was absolutely perfect for scoring and today was a total grind out there.  The wind was totally opposite from yesterday.  It was cold and there were bouts of rain every now and then.  It was very, very difficult.”

 

Marino on if he had any expectations playing in his first Open Championship: “To be honest, I didn’t have any expectations.  I wanted to come over here and enjoy myself, enjoy the experience and do the best I could.”

 

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