Let's Shed No Tears for the Shark

It says plenty about the man's skill, his instincts, and his
bearing that Greg Norman could arrive at the Open Championship
without benefit of recent competition - and be there, leading the
pack entering play in the final round. It says plenty about his
legend that just as many that were surprised by his success
heading into the final turn, so desperately wanted the Shark
to prevail.
I was not among them. I was heartened by Norman's play in the
first three rounds - and heartened too that there was no evidence
of lingering shadowy gremlins from his Augusta meltdown
in '96. He played well...and that was good. It was good for
golf that without a Tiger someone else was there to refocus
the spotlight...someone like Greg Norman had to surface to
grab the headlines so the 08 Open Championship was not
remembered as the Open without "the star."
But if Norman had won it would have been the ultimate insult
to the current crop of international top golfers.
I was very happy when Padraig Harrington surged on the final
nine to repeat as Open Champion. Harrington doesn't get much
attention on this side of the Atlantic - and in earlier years was
often criticized for not seeking out the media spotlight - for
being too serious - for appearing not to be accessible enough to
those who cover the game. While others were granting endless
interviews, signing autographs, and posing for photo ops, Harrington
has worked on his game. With two majors to his credit, Harrington
is now arguably the best Europe has to offer...I like Harrington.
He's earnest, unpretentious, dedicated and focused. Like Tiger,
immediately upon having secured his second Open title, he talked
about his next job being to reset his goals...Padraig Harrington
is a worthy Major Champion indeed - interested most in getting
better - with his sights firmly set on whatever comes next. I believe
the Open 08 ended in the only fitting way it could.
The Canadian Open starts today at rain-soaked Glen Abbey in Oakville.
Every ounce of my being wants Mike Weir to shake off his loss to Vijay
when last the Canadian Open visited the Abbey - and become the first
Canadian to wear our crown since ...what...1954 ? It's not right.
Gotta go...need to go get a new pair of rain gloves...club championships
this weekend and Saturday's calling for....rain...could the Weather Network
be wrong ? Hope so..but I'll still get the gloves.
Happy Trials...