12:32 AM
07/19/25
07/19/25
July 18, 2025
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
In the runup to the Open, I became captivated by the golf course at Royal Portrush.
I watched hole by hole previews filmed by drone cam in muted golden light and the place seemed utterly magical.
I could not conceive of how a long hitter would be able to keep a ball anywhere near in play.
I would just want to walk the course, to heck with hitting a wee ball about.
Fast forward to yesterday and today, watching the tournament on TV: the magic is not there, displaced by a dreary monotone of seacoast weather and players garbed in drab tones. They don't show much of the dramatic features of the golf course. Plus the scoring seems almost unreal against that topography. In some cases, boringly efficient. I've lost interest in it.
I'll give it another go after the cut is made, hopefully, my interest will be rekindled. It is indeed fun tuning in the tournament just as the first real rays of daylight are coming through our windows.