As late-afternoon rolled around the Eastern time zone on Sunday, the sun was setting several hours away in England, although it had already set far behind Adam Scott hours before.
Coming into the final four holes on the last day of the Open Championship, Adam Scott held a promising lead as he ventured to his first British Open victory.
The lead was so promising that I left the room after seeing he was 4 strokes ahead of Ernie Els heading into the 16th hole. And a mere hour later I would find out from an alert on my cell phone that Scott had blown the lead and Els had taken the win.
It was unimaginable that a professional golfer who only needed to par one of the final four holes to settle for at least a sudden death chance against Els would let that chance slip out of the grip of his club.
In a mere sense, a man whose made a living exceeding exceptions amongst the most predominant golfers in the World, needed to be average for one hole in the final four, and failed.
Scott bogeyed each and everyone of the final four holes of the Open Championship, handing the prestigious trophy over to the hands of long time veteran, South Africa's Ernie Els.
Although Els performance, whose long, respected career should not be mistaken for nothing but excellence, played well enough to deserve the trophy after posting a final score of -7, after a sensational two shots under Sunday performance.
While golfers such as Scott finished Sunday with a 5 over par performance, Tiger Woods and Brandt Snedeker, both finishing tied for 3rd place, posting Sunday scores of 5 over par (Woods) and 4 over par (Snedeker), Els' performance on Sunday needs to be respected as victorious, and well deserved.
As the age of many professional golfers of todays day seem to become younger and younger, the competition for major championships continues to increase as a mere toss-up to whose ever is on their A game that weekend, and whose mistakes turn into misfortunes.
While Els did not post a score of a tremendous fete in any day of the Open Championship, he appeared to be the least likely to fail in anyway of the four day tournament, as his worst day of the weekend he finished an even par.
However, with three majors down in this years golf season, the players, as well as fans, look forward to August for the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup in late September. And like every tournament thus far this season, the possibility of victory remains unanimous until the final hole on Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
"Your Sox Will Always Be Red"
After a June 25th trade to the Chicago White Sox, third basemen, Kevin Youkilis exchanged his pair of red sox and a slice of Italian from the North End for a pair of black sox and a deep dish pizza. After a promising career in Boston, winning two World Series and a Gold Glove after switching from third to the other side of the diamond, Youk's eight year career in Boston came to an abrupt end after the emergence of highly prospected third basemen, Will Middlebrooks.
However this past Monday, July 16th, Youkilis made a much anticipated return to the park and city he once called home.
As I looked forward to the first at-bat that Youk would take, I started to imagine the response in which Youkilis would receive. Although I had imagined the sea of fans that filled the seats of Fenway on monday would show their appreciation of the eight year career that Youk spent, I was interested in keeping a close eye on the reaction of his ex-teammates.
Batting second in the line-up, it was a mere two minutes after the first pitch of the game until Youkilis would step into the box. As imagined, the crowd gave Youk a welcoming home applaud, in which he respectively deserved.
The fans stood, applauded, and Youkilis removed his batting helmet in respect. As NESN surveyed the Red Sox dugout, all of the players which accompanied Youkilis in a Red Sox jersey throughout his career joined in the applause.
As the camera began to continue through a crowd, I saw a young fan holding a home-made sign that read, "Your sox will always be RED!"
Clearing my mind of the drunk fans screaming, players applauding and the announcement of number 20 approaching the plate, my mind could only process the home-made sign of a kid no older than 8 years old.
However, before I could imagine the career that Youukkkk had in Boston any longer, he had lined a single to centerfield and eventually scored a run by an aggressive style of base-running that Youk had always exhibited.
Kevin Youkilis always wore his heart on his sleeve. That's if you could look past the dirt covered uniform.
He is the epitome of what a baseball player should be. And will continue to be that in a different color pair of sox.
Welcome home Youk.
However this past Monday, July 16th, Youkilis made a much anticipated return to the park and city he once called home.
As I looked forward to the first at-bat that Youk would take, I started to imagine the response in which Youkilis would receive. Although I had imagined the sea of fans that filled the seats of Fenway on monday would show their appreciation of the eight year career that Youk spent, I was interested in keeping a close eye on the reaction of his ex-teammates.
Batting second in the line-up, it was a mere two minutes after the first pitch of the game until Youkilis would step into the box. As imagined, the crowd gave Youk a welcoming home applaud, in which he respectively deserved.
The fans stood, applauded, and Youkilis removed his batting helmet in respect. As NESN surveyed the Red Sox dugout, all of the players which accompanied Youkilis in a Red Sox jersey throughout his career joined in the applause.
As the camera began to continue through a crowd, I saw a young fan holding a home-made sign that read, "Your sox will always be RED!"
Clearing my mind of the drunk fans screaming, players applauding and the announcement of number 20 approaching the plate, my mind could only process the home-made sign of a kid no older than 8 years old.
However, before I could imagine the career that Youukkkk had in Boston any longer, he had lined a single to centerfield and eventually scored a run by an aggressive style of base-running that Youk had always exhibited.
Kevin Youkilis always wore his heart on his sleeve. That's if you could look past the dirt covered uniform.
He is the epitome of what a baseball player should be. And will continue to be that in a different color pair of sox.
Welcome home Youk.
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