British Open Coming Around as a Favorite

The British Open is coming around as a favorite on the sports calendar. What am I talking about? The Open was actually one of my least favorite golf events. Why? Because I grew up with color TV. That's why. The thing that initially drew me to golf was the beauty of various golf courses and how they showed on TV. Then HDTV came out and golf became even more awesome to look at. Take Augusta National for example. The aesthetics of perfectly manicured green grass, perfect greens, azaleas, and blue skies always pop off of a good TV set. Detail picture of the Hole Flag with The Open Logo prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) BRITISH OPEN GROWING ON ME The British Open, or The Open, as it is properly called, is not nearly as petty to watch as "American" Golf. The weather is usually ugly, gray, overcast and sometimes foggy. A lot of times it is windy and rainy. Golfers are bundled up in layered sleeves and rain gear. And the golf courses, in the region where golf was invented mind you, are usually brown and yellow wide open fields with very few trees. It appears they have never heard of sprinkler irrigation systems across the pond. And while American golf will always look nicer (in America we do things better) I've come around to appreciate that the haggard looking courses and the horrendous weather are what make The Open special, challenging and fun to watch. For all the latest on the British Open this week tune into to Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida from 2-6.