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Metro Junior to tee off Wednesday at Cedarwood
The Metro Junior Golf Championship begins Wednesday at Cedarwood Country Club. Considered the city's junior championship, the boys' trophy is named for former Charlotte golf pro Dick Tiddy while the girls' trophy is named for Dana Rader.
Rick Lewallen of Kannapolis is playing in the Senior British Open this week after he earned a qualifying spot last weekend. He qualified by shooting 73 at Kingswood Golf & Country Club, then he survived a playoff, becoming one of three to advance.
Lewallen made a par in heavy rain on the first extra hole to get into the Senior British Open. He is scheduled to play a practice round with Tom Watson Wednesday.
If you want to get ahead of the curve, you can now purchase 2014 men's and women's U.S. Open logoed merchandise at Pinehurst Resort. As part of the first-ever back-to-back Opens at the same venue, there are three logos.
The men's Open features the familiar Golf Lad hugging the championship trophy. The Women's Open logo features a cardinal and the resort's Carolina Hotel, and a dual logo features the two championship trophies side by side.
BRITISH OPEN BIRDIES AND BOGEYS
Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. The three biggest names in English golf failed to make the cut at Royal St. George's last week. You could see one of them having an off week but all three of them? Double bogey.
Phil Mickelson. He and links golf had never gotten along well until the left-hander showed up at Royal St. George's intent on keeping a positive attitude. Maybe there's something to that. He finished tied for second. Birdie.
Weather. Conditions are a part of what makes the Open Championship what it is, but 30-mph winds and heavy rain squalls lose their charm in a hurry. It would have been better had Mother Nature toned it down a notch. Bogey.
Rory McIlroy. He arrived at the Open Championship as the player to beat but was never a serious factor. His game wasn't sharp and the pride of Northern Ireland admitted he doesn't like playing in cold, windy conditions. His links victories have come in calm conditions. He prefers 80 degrees but isn't likely to rejoin the PGA Tour. Bogey.
Royal St. George's. All the pre-tournament talk was about how goofy the place is and how luck plays too big a role in what happens. It might not jump to the top of anyone's list of favorites, but a good set-up helped the course earn new respect. Par.
American golfers. Uncle Sam trails Northern Ireland 3-0 in major championship wins since June, 2010. However, five Americans finished seventh or better. Par.
Anthony Kim: He'd become the forgotten man among young American players, it seemed, but he picked up a tie for fifth at St. George's. Now if he can build on it ... Birdie.
Royal Portrush. There's been a push for the Royal & Ancient to take the Open to Northern Ireland and it could happen. R&A boss Peter Dawson said the organization is going to study Portrush outside Belfast as a possible host. It's one of the world's great links but there are concerns about the political climate in the area, Dawson acknowledged. Birdie.
OBSERVATIONS
Miguel Angel Jimenez's pre-round workout became a daily fixture on the BBC broadcast as the pony-tailed Spaniard went through his routine of club twirls, deep squats and knee swirls, all while keeping his cigar clenched between his teeth.
If you haven't seen it, hunt it down on the internet. Who knows, it might become all the rage.
THE LIST
Players who have made the cut in all three major championships this year:
Bo Van Pelt, Ryan Palmer, Steve Stricker, Gary Woodland, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Jeff Overton, Bill Haas, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, Y.E. Yang, Charl Schwartzel, Edoardo Molinari.
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