Sports Then and Now

Thomas Levet will miss the British Open thanks to an injury suffered during this celebration jump after winning the French Championship.

Paris-born golfer Thomas Levet might be feeling a little bit silly today, after his over-enthusiastic celebration at the French Open Championship left him with an injury to his lower leg. Levet, who finished seven under par to win the contest, one shot ahead of closest rival, Thorbjorn Olesen, fractured his shin jumping into a lake with his manager, Patrice Bartez.

Speaking about the painful injury, the Frenchman said, “I will be off for six weeks”. The length of Levet’s hiatus means that he will not be available for the start of the British Open, which begins next week. The 42-year-old is the second high-profile golfer to be forced out of the Open, following the news that Tiger Woods’ injuries have consigned the American to a sun lounger for the immediate future. Those following the British Open betting will have noted their withdrawals with interest.

The Open Championship will be contested at the Royal St. George’s Golf Course for the first time in almost a decade. Levet finished tied for 2nd after a playoff at the British Open in 2002. Read the rest of this entry →

Seve Ballestros brought flair and passion to the game of golf.

The golf world lost a superstar with the death on Saturday of five-time Major Champion Seve Ballesteros after a long battle with Cancer. Known for his style and passion on the course, the Spaniard was not only one of the best players of his era, but he helped foster the international flavor of golf and turn the Ryder Cup into a major event.

Only 16 when he turned pro in 1974, Ballesteros emerged on the radar just two years later when he led the 1976 British Open by two strokes after three rounds. Though he faded with a 74 in the final round, he still finished tied with Jack Nicklaus for second behind Johnny Miller.

He went on to lead the European Tour money list that year, something he would do six times, and by 1979 was recognized as one of the up-and-coming stars in the golf world.

During the 1979 season he claimed his first major championship by winning the British Open by three stokes over Ben Crenshaw and Nicklaus. Only 22 years old, Ballesteros was the youngest winner of the British Open in the 20th Century and the first player from continental Europe to win a major title since 1907.

The following year, Ballesteros won his first green jacket with a four stroke victory at the Masters. He led by as many as 10 strokes during the final round before ultimately winning by four strokes. He was the youngest Masters Champion until Tiger Woods broke his mark 17 years later. Read the rest of this entry →

Luke Donald shot a final round 69 at the British Open.

Luke Donald was all smiles as he finished positively at St Andrews to end up as one of the highest placed British players on the leader board.

After four days where he his form has been inconsistent, Donald saved his best until last as he completed his round with an eagle at the 17th and a birdie at the 18th for an impressive score of 69.

Speaking about the final stages of his tournament, Donald joked that he could “sell that finish for quite a few pounds to anyone in the last two groups”. It was a finish he enjoyed enormously and one which made the hard work of the previous days worthwhile.

It was a spectacular ending to what has been an average few days for the Englishman. He has performed solidly, without ever excelling – with the exception of the final two holes of course. The golf betting odds never had him challenging the leader. Read the rest of this entry →

Louie Oosthuizen, the 54th ranked golfer in the world, ran away from the field to claim the 2010 British Open.

American journalists spent most of the weekend struggling to pronounce his last name, but no matter how you pronounce it, Louis (Louie) Oosthuizen is a major champion after his dominating performance during the 2010 British Open.

While all watching kept waiting for the 27-year-old South African to remember that he is only the 54th ranked player in the world, Oosthuizen cruised around the famed course at St. Andrews for four days as if he were the champion of all champions.

His opening round score of seven-under par (65) was generally overlooked because of the record-tying 63 posted by Rory McIlroy. However, Oosthuizen seized control of the tournament with a 67 in round two and never looked back.

While other more distinguished players took turns falling victim to the winds, bunkers and other challenges of St. Andrews, Oosthuizen just kept plugging away.

After starting his third round with a bogey, Oosthuizen settled down and posted his third straight round in the 60s to enter the final round with a four stroke lead.

Even in the final round when he lead shrunk to three and it looked like Paul Casey might cut the lead even further, Oosthuizen responded with an Eagle that pretty much sealed the tournament.

By the time he finished his one-under par round of 71, Oosthuizen had a grin that stretched from ear to ear and a dominating seven-stroke victory.

His victory marks the fifth time in the last six majors that a first-time major winner has been crowned. Read the rest of this entry →

Tiger Woods is aiming to win at St. Andrews for the third straight time.

Tiger Woods is aiming to make history this weekend as he attempts to become the first ever player to win three successive Open Championships at St Andrews.

After his opening round, online betting odds believe he still has a chance of achieving this and remind people that he can make the headlines for his golfing ability rather than his personal life.

Woods finished day one four shots behind early leader Rory McIlroy after a five-under-par round of 67. It was a solid round from the World No.1 and one that will encourage him as the tournament progresses.

Conditions were certainly favourable for early starters like Woods on Thursday and it was important that he stayed in touch with the leaders at the very least. Had he been further back that tied for 8th, golf betting pundits would have probably written him off considering his form since returning to the sport.

The American is still very much in with a chance of making history though and it will be very interesting to see how things develop for him on Friday and then over the weekend.

One positive from his opening round, according to the man himself, was the new putter he selected for the tournament. Woods said that he was ‘very pleased with it because the balls come off faster’.

Another encouraging moment for him was the reception he received from the crowd in Scotland. He described the galleries as ‘respectful and enthusiastic’, something which will help him along as he bids for yet another British Open victory.

Tom Watson

Evidently the only person at the British Open (referred to as the Open Championship in England) who doesn’t know that Tom Watson is nearly 60-years-old is Watson himself. Playing against a field of golfers in which many are half his age, Watson enters the final round of golf’s oldest championship with a one-stroke lead.

Now there was a time when Tom Watson leading after 54-holes of the British Open surprised no one. After all, the only player with more Open Championships than the American is Harry Vardon, who last won the title in 1916.

However, just in case you weren’t sure, this is 2009, not 1977 or 1983. Watson is no longer the young golfer who won his first major championship at age 25 and all eight of his major championships before turning 34.
Read the rest of this entry →