Woody Austin

[neil]

What's your opinion on Woody Austins decision not to play in the Open Championship?
Apparently ,he says he "doesn't understand that kind of golf" and doesn't want to make a fool of himself.

Comments?

[efnef]

this comes from a guy who publicly beats himself over the head with a putter? That's not foolish?

[Seanmx]

Incredible decision

I can’t understand this at all. Not taking up to play the oldest major championship on one of the best golf courses on the rota. He may regret this when he has retired.

I’m sure Woody has the talent to hit low shots as required and the brains to realise that it’s better to run the ball in than to aim at the pin on some greens. If you can do that you can play links golf.

In fact in my experience the most important thing to do in Links golf is to hit the fairways. i.e. stay out of the knee high stuff and pot bunkers. If you can do that your normal game should do just fine.

[neil]

Personally i think it is a little bit of the Van der Velde factor when carnoustie was set up tough.It is a shame because it is a wonderful golf course in its natural condition.
I suppose you could say Woody has given a place to an alternate from qualifying who will probably have the experience of a lifetime.

[6bmike]

Don’t get me wrong, the Open is my Favorite Major, but when did Woody qualify for the Open? Financially it cost an arm and a leg to attend and on short notice (under a year) even more. Somebody needs to fill the card in Milwaukee or why hold it. I have no problem his Woody’s decision not to go.
The Open will be great this year.

[Seanmx]

Financially it cost an arm and a leg to attend and on short notice (under a year) even more.

I'm sure someone who has won $1.7million in prize money this year could afford to play in the open

[6bmike]

No doubt, but why spend money foolishly. Especially if it is a two day event (MC) with another event to prepare for next week.

Pay ALL the taxes, your caddie, travel, hotel expenses, past bills and take care of the family, add to savings- it adds up against that winning check. I'm sure everyone in Carnoustie isn’t offering discount the week of the Open. Who does at any seasonal event? Weekly expenses for the Tour are not cheap. In fact even if you earn a card, you have to prove to the Tour that you can afford the everyday expenditures.

Woody is free to make any decision he wants – I think he made the right one given he thinks might do poorly.

Do I think money is the number one reason? No, but going to play the Open is about 5-10 times the cost of a regular event depending on how you do it.

[300Drive]

Everybody doesnt have to feel "the same way" about every aspect of the game. For HIM, its not the priority that others think it should be for him. I think Woody got it right. Not feeling it (for Whatever reason), dont go.

Now, slap yourself in the face and keep on trucken Woody.....

[Seanmx]

No doubt, but why spend money foolishly. Especially if it is a two day event (MC) with another event to prepare for next week.

Pay ALL the taxes, your caddie, travel, hotel expenses, past bills and take care of the family, add to savings- it adds up against that winning check. I'm sure everyone in Carnoustie isn’t offering discount the week of the Open. Who does at any seasonal event? Weekly expenses for the Tour are not cheap. In fact even if you earn a card, you have to prove to the Tour that you can afford the everyday expenditures.

Woody is free to make any decision he wants – I think he made the right one given he thinks might do poorly.

Do I think money is the number one reason? No, but going to play the Open is about 5-10 times the cost of a regular event depending on how you do it.

True it would cost him a few bob to play and it is not free to play on the tour.

But wouldn’t it be nice to think that just four times a year that they could play for the love of the game in the major championships. In the case of the open there is the potential to get their name on a trophy next to Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and many more in between. Now what could be sweeter than that?

Anyway its none of my business where Woody Austin choses to play or not play. As an Irishman playing in The Open Championship was a boyhood dream of mine and its pretty hard for me to understand someone giving up the chance to play in it.

PS

It was nice to see Tom Pernice fly out in the last minure when we was promoted to first alternate. He got his place in the field when Olazabal had to withdraw through injury

[6bmike]

True it would cost him a few bob to play and it is not free to play on the tour.

But wouldn’t it be nice to think that just four times a year that they could play for the love of the game in the major championships. In the case of the open there is the potential to get their name on a trophy next to Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and many more in between. Now what could be sweeter than that?

Anyway its none of my business where Woody Austin choses to play or not play. As an Irishman playing in The Open Championship was a boyhood dream of mine and its pretty hard for me to understand someone giving up the chance to play in it.

PS

It was nice to see Tom Pernice fly out in the last minure when we was promoted to first alternate. He got his place in the field when Olazabal had to withdraw through injury

As a descendant of County Meath, I would never miss the Open, even if it isn’t played in Ireland. I still dream I could play in the Irish Open.

For Woody, and the likes of Hoch and Lietzki it is a long expense haul to rack up a big number. Even Bobby Jones dismissed the style and courses in his young ignorance. Many winners like Hogan came but just once or twice. Even Arnie didn’t make it every year after being credited in 1960 for his role in bringing colonists to the Open. Trevino didn’t play some Masters (for a whole different reason). I’m sure Woody as Lietzki has, will regret his decision one day. I think he is more concern about solidify his Tour card for many more years.

"We shall not fear the trumpets and the noise
Of battle, for we know our dreams divine,"
Joseph Mary Plunkett _ Poet-Martyr