10 Reasons The Open Championship is the Best Major

Tiger Woods just called it “my favorite major.” While I don’t condone some of Mr. Woods’, uh, questionable off-the-course activities, I agree with second best golfer never to have won 18 majors.

Here’s why I love the Open Championship:

1. You absolutely have no idea who’s going to win. While so and so might be playing great going into the tournament, it’s the player that adjusts to the conditions and course the best who ultimately wins. It’s not necessarily a big name, either. Ask Todd Hamilton, Paul Lawrie and Ben Curtis.
2. It’s not played on some tricked up U.S. Open course that constantly has announcers saying, “Ya know, par is a great score on this hole.”
3. With ESPN’s early morning coverage (starts at 5 a.m. Thursday and Friday) you get to rise in darkness and relive your old newspaper delivering days.
4. It encourages golfers to hit a variety of shots rather than driver, short iron, over and over again.
5. You receive lots of history from announcers and commentators but not the annoying lovefest you get when they drone on about Augusta National and the Masters.
6. It’s so enjoyable to see how peeved the Brits get when us Yanks refer to their Open Championship as the British Open.
7. Different weather conditions make golfers change strategy on a day-to-day basis.
8. Something about the Claret Jug. Is it me, or is it the best looking  trophy in sports?
9. We get to hear British golf commentators like Peter Alliss use terms like brolly (umbrella), buggy (golf cart) and trolley (pull cart).
10. Watching British Open Courses on television is inspiring and makes me want to practice and play more golf.