[PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird]
As George Costanza would say, Royal Troon was angry on day one – like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli. The stats are still sorting themselves out, but it looks like this will be the toughest first round at the Open Championship in more than a decade. And it was particularly tough for one person.
No, we’re not talking about Cam Smith. Or Rory McIlroy. Or Bryson DeChambeau. Or Tiger Woods. All four stars struggled mightily in the first round, but none got quite the workout that one mystery man did.
We know this thanks to Min Woo Lee, who informed everyone on Twitter that The Open has someone following each group to rake the bunkers to help speed things up. But that there’s a specific person in charge of raking the bunkers on the famed par-3 eighth hole. And, boy, were there a lot of golfers playing out of the sand there in the first round.
The short “Postage Stamp” is surrounded by five pots, headlined by the treacherous “Coffin Bunker”, and all got a workout. The right bunker got the most use as golf ball after golf ball that drifted right rolled into the deep trap. But there was raking needed all around, including when Lee found the bunker to the right. Enough so that he issued a funny apology afterwards.
so if people didn’t know, theres a person that follows each group raking bunkers at the Open, but on 8 (postage stamp) there is a specific guy who does it. I feel bad for the fella, his arms are about to fall off. sorry from the pros out here plus me 😂 #brutal
— Min Woo Lee (@Minwoo27Lee) July 18, 2024
If it’s really the same person out there all day on the eighth, then they drew the short end of the stick with that assignment – especially being in the chilly wind and rain.
Anyway, that’s nice of Min, who got up and down on his way to an even-par 71, to give the person a shout-out. Even nicer, though, would be for the players to take up a collection for the poor fella.
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