Dare We Dream?

This could be a magical day.  There are so many things that could happen at the Open today.  It isn't like the days when Tiger dominated, and there was a certain inevitability to his winning.  He would secure the lead after three rounds and then grind out a win, the challengers, if any showed up, falling away one by one.  Then, along came a relatively unknown character named Yang, and there have been no more foregone conclusions for us to make.

Phil has had a pretty good run as well, with his Masters victories, finally an Open and a PGA championship, or is it two?  I can't recall, because, for me the PGA has never really felt like a Major, at least not the way the others do. I never seem to get really excited about it.  In fact, for me it's the Open and the Masters that are the big ones.  Not being American, the U.S. Open isn't quite so special, I suppose.  But, it's got history, and esteem, and every great player wants to win one. The same can be said for the PGA championship, I guess, but it has just never seemed to get me where I live.  Has any kid ever stood over a putt on a practice green and said to himself, "This one is to win the PGA championship?"  It's always the other three.  I don't know why.

But only one Major entitles you to be called the champion golfer of the year.  Today, we will learn who that is.  I have to admit that I've hoped to see Spieth win.  I picked either him or DJ to win this week, but also had this feeling that either Oosthuizen or Branden Grace might take it.  King Louis is right there, tied for the lead, and a win would be wonderful for this meek, unassuming character with perhaps the sweetest swing in the game.  Two Open wins at St Andrews would put him in some very select company.  It would be historic.

Spieth, completing the third leg of the Grand Slam, would be historic, and remove all doubt, if there still is any, that we are looking at a great of the game, and the dawning of a new era in golf.  The scary thing is, I think he's going to do it.  Did I just say that?  I just don't want to jinx the kid.  I daren't think it, I daren't let people know I actually believe it.  A year ago, would any of us have dreamt we'd be looking at anyone, other than a revived Tiger Woods, or Rory McIlroy, with a chance to win the first three Majors of the year?  I just hope he can do it.  I really do.

And then, there's this Irish kid, Dunne, ranked 80th in the world.  Sorry, not 80th in the world, he's 80th in the world amateur ranks, and he's leading the Open after 54 holes.  Am I dreaming?  Could this kid actually win the Open?  I must admit, I seriously doubt it, but we can dream. 

I love what I've heard from Louis, Jordan, and Dunne in their post game interviews.  They all look like they actually believe they can win, and it's what they believe that's most important.  Spieth is making no bones about it, he's going out there today to win.  Dunne admits he will just be hoping to make contact with the ball when he stands over his first tee shot, but he's going to pick a score to shoot for and go after it, because the ball doesn't know who's hitting it.  It's true, but really?  As for Louis, he just loves the place and he knows he can win there.

There is a possibility that, someday, they could be making a movie about this week.  It could be historic.  It could be magical.  Dare I dream?