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The Open: Day 1

Round 1 Recap

Phil the Thrill in Prime FIGJAM Form; Shoots Major Record-Tying 63

Thursdays of a major are always fun, but they are even more special when Phil is chasing history on the nicest day in Scottish history. After birding EVERY OTHER hole on the front to go out in 32, he kept it rolling on the back side converting 4 more birds including a few momentum saving Phil-specials for par. He headed to 18 with a chance to shoot the Johnny Miller-proof major record 62.

After Bones somehow convinced him 3-wood was the play, he skirted one passed one of Royal Troon’s absurd pot bunkers with a friendly member’s bounce leaving him 170-something in (forgive me as shot tracker doesn’t exist at major championships). One swing later, he’s staring down the barrel of an 18-footer for immortality.

Phil lined it up, took the putter back, and got it exactly on line with what appeared to be perfect speed. About a foot from the hole his ball looked dead center when suddenly it took the slightest of hops, jumped a hair right, caught the lip, and spun out leaving everybody who witnessed in person or on TV in disbelief. What’s crazy is how eerily similar it was to the putt he had at the 2013 WM Phoenix Open for 59. Only Phil!

He signed for a major record-tying bogey-free 63, the 28th in major history and just the 9th in Open history. Oh, he also broke the course record (64) previously held by Tiger and Norman, which I usually joke about doing so some day.

Phil goes out EARLY (3:25AM ET) tomorrow with Westy and Els, which should bode well given the impending weather forecast.

We feel you, Bones:

Phil Mickelson; doing the bull dance, feeling the flow.

Rory in DGAF Mode

Yesterday, Rory made some comments during his presser that weren’t exactly PC on non-controversial topics such as growing the game, the Olympics, and drug testing. To some, it was refreshing to hear honest feedback, but for the majority it was an attack on the human race.

He was asked about his comments after his round today:

“Look, it’s my opinion,” Rory said. “I think my opinion’s shared by a few people, but some people may think it’s wrong, and that’s fine. But I’ve spent seven years trying to please everyone, and I figured out that I can’t really do that, so I may as well be true to myself.”

Call me nuts, but I’m totally buying this. Granted, he’s got some PR work to do, but he’ll figure out a way to balance it now since he took the stand of no more Mr. Nice Guy.

He’s a 27 year-old bro who was on top of the world as evidenced by 95 weeks as world no. 1. Now he has to answer questions about 3 guys who have made it clear they don’t give a crap he’s got his own video game.

Meanwhile, there’s an epidemic going around on the PGA Tour where everybody has to at least appear to be boys with each other. Things such as going on vacation (#SB2K16), sharing secrets for the public to see on Snapchat, or simply going out to dinner, seem to now be the norm regardless if it’s a major week.

I’m going out on a limb here and will say, while I’m sure he’s good friends with these guys, he wants to murder them on the golf course. By taking a DGAF attitude into his presser, Rory has drawn a line in a pot bunker’s sand saying, “this was my tour and I intend to keep it that way.”

DGAF Rory won 4 majors. Frankly, I respect it.

Rhetorical Rules Question of the Day

How is this search party for DJ’s ball legal?

“You playing a Titleist 3? No? Mine now!”

Instruction by Coach Observation

Tweets That Made the Cut

Round 2 Essentials

TV Coverage (all times EST):

Golf Channel 1:30AM – 4:00PM  [Watch Online]; The Open app Livecast

Marquee Games:

3:25AM – Phil, Westy, Els

4:03AM – DJ, Kaymer, Knox

4:14AM – Sack Johnson, Adam, Stensonator

8:04AM – Grace, PReed, An

9:04 AM – Jordan, Rose, Lowry

9:37AM – Rory, Hideki, Gerry

Weather:

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http://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcmqq7pg0f1qino4lo1_500.gif

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