The Open at Carnoustie!

 I think somebody fell in the burn at Carnoustie.

This weekend in Scotland, the British Open will be played at Carnoustie Golf Club.  The last time the Open was played at Carnoustie was in 1999.  If you don't remember what happened, you need to be reminded.  Frenchman Jean Van de Velde led by three strokes on the 72nd, and last, hole.  Van de Velde needed a double-bogey six to win the Open Championship.  He decided to hit a driver off the tee, which was a HUGE mistake.  That ended up in the rough, which he tried to hit for the green.  From there, he ended up in the creek (called a burn in Scotland).  From the creek, he went back into the rough.  Oh yeah, you get the picture.  Van de Velde took a 7 and ended up losing in a four-way player to Scot Paul Lawrie. 

 Van de Velde in the burn.

From all indications the course at Carnoustie is much easier than it was in 1999.  The rough is nearly gone which will allow Tiger to smack the living snot out of every drive and not have to worry about landing in 4 foot tall rough.  Look for Tiger to win his third Open in a row this weekend.  Jim Furyk could be a sleeper pick. 

More importantly, Van de Velde has been ailing and will not be able to attend the Open this weekend.  For the past few months, the Frenchman has been ailing from a mysterious illness that doctors in France have not been able to pinpoint.  Losing a three shot lead on the 18th hole at Carnoustie didn't ruin van de Velde.  He realized that life was bigger than golf and wouldn't have changed what he did or how he played the 18th.  Good for him.  We need more athlete's like him.  I wish Jean van de Velde all the best with his health now and in the future. 

** Read more about van de Velde here.