It only took one round over the nastiest course along the Open rotation to prove that the British Open will be the best of the Majors of 2007. Does the PGA even get a nod? NO, NO, NO! Why not? Two words: Southern Hills. Bad course in a furnace. Back to Carnoustie and my reasons.

1. Obligatory amateur near the top. They used to have these in the US Open and the Masters. Rory McIlroy found a way to shoot -3 on Thursday at ‘Noustie. When did we last have an amateur make waves in the other two? I’m thinking 2004 at Shinnecock and Spencer Levin, along with the same year, Casey Wittenberg, Augusta.

2. Top players don’t blow up. The highest score by one of the big five was +1, where Ernie and Vijay currently reside (Mr. 81, Stephen Ames doesn’t count.)

3. You can shoot a -6 and not have the entire staff up in arms. Actually, they don’t have a staff at Augusta or USGA, just Franco and Mussolini.

4. Players other than Tiger can perform well after other major success. Cabrera took his US Open game to Carnoustie and tossed a -3.
Maybe someone else can find a way to a first major here.

5. Rural Floridians can make a move as well. Boo Weekley found the course to his liking, posting five birdies against one double to match Cabrera in the T3 slot. Woody Austin is not a rural Floridian, so he would not have done well.

6. No one is afraid of runs of birdies, nor eagles on short par fours. Augusta lengthens its par fours to infinity, USGA protects them with barbed wire and electrified fences, but the R and A allows Daly to go drive and chip for eagle on a four par.

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