Thu 07 Jul 2007Woods casts long shadowGOLF:This time, it's different; the beast has been
muzzled, and everyone is happy. Sure, the weather could be better,
but there's no whingeing or moaning about unplayable rough and, in
contrast to the last time that the British Open was staged on the
Carnoustie links in 1999, players are entering this latest edition
of golf's oldest major championship without fear in their
hearts.Ironically, this course, lengthened to 7,421 yards, is the
longest ever played in the British Open. But, in these days of
drivers made from the same metals as spacecraft and golf balls that
travel with the velocity of bullets, length is not what puts fear
into a professional golfer. To do that, as we found out eight years
ago, you need to grow rough so thick it resembles a jungle.