Is Bobby Mac’s win tainted by that very questionable drop that was allowed? Asterisk win in my opinion. @mkloetz
I agree it felt egregious but professional golfers have always been aggressive in taking advantage of the rules. We’re gonna run out of asterisks if we give MacIntyre one and then apply the same smell test to all of his colleagues. Bottom line: The rules can help you as much as they can hurt you. Fans and reporters can kvetch about the spirit of the game but, in general, the pros are less sentimental; they go by the letter of the law. Bobby Mac’s drop was legal and therefore he is unbothered.
Should national opens be separated from tours and handled differently? I just feel that a national open should not be considered a “tour event.“ It tends to denigrate it. @StryderJa39237
I, too, am sentimental about national championships. They have so much history and gravitas. But, in the new golf landscape, I think it helps these proud tournaments to be aligned with a major circuit, specifically the PGA or European Tours. Just look at the better fields and increased buzz and exposure the Scottish Open has enjoyed in the last couple of years after the “strategic alliance” made it a full-blown PGA Tour event. Same goes for the Mexican Open. Conversely, look at how the Australian Open struggles to attract top talent despite its incredible history and venues. I would love to see the PGA and European Tours become more invested in the once-proud Opens that are now languishing, like the Japanese and South African. It would elevate the tournaments and tours.
What needs to happen at the Open to make this an A or A+ major season? Redemption for Rory? Bob wins on home turf? Scottie laps the field? @Q_Brunk































