The Scottish Open is this week, along with the Women’s British Open. What a great time of year, where we golfers over the pond get to watch REAL golf for a change, links golf. Links golf is not the over-watered, over-fertilized, over-soft resort golf we have here in the USA. The ball bounces and rolls forever over there. Creativity and imagination are required to play well in real golf, unlike much of the dart board style golf we have here where we can hit 4-irons at the pin and the ball sticks within three feet…
Given how hard the ground is over there on Scottish courses, I’m not all that surprised at all that Rory McIlory could drive a par-4 green which was 436 yards. At Carnoustie last year I hit a 5-iron for my second shot on the par-4 15th hole from 255 yards. I was past pin high. Just imagine if you could tee off down the runway of an airport with a tail wind. That’s Rory’s shot. Still, the feat is very impressive. Here’s the video below:
McIlory apparently told Ian Poulter, who was in the group in front of him, that he hit 3-wood off the tee. Hehe. I still think when his swing is “on” and his timing is right, there’s no better ball striker on the planet than Rory McIlory.
Phil Mickelson won last year’s Scottish Open, prior to winning the (British) Open Championship. Phil is the only guy I can think of that can actually hit lob wedges on real links courses. Now there’s a video challenge of some sort where players see if they can flop one over a cardboard cutout of Phil:
Speaking of Phil and his short game, during a practice round a fan captured Phil hitting a backward flop shot. Unreal.
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