Muirfield Has New Look for 2013 Championship

Muirfield Golf Club

Muirfield Golf Club, Hole 4

Next week, July 18–21, world golfers will gather in Gullane, Scotland, at the legendary Muirfield links course for the 2013 British Open or, as it's known in Great Britain, The Open Championship.

Muirfield Golf Club, Hole 13

The Open Championship was first held at Muirfield in 1892 and has been contested there fifteen times, most recently in 2002 when Ernie Els won the championship. Among the previous winners are Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Walter Hagen and Harry Vardon.

Muirfield Golf Club, Hole 3

Nicklaus once described Muirfield as "the best golf course in Britain." But the course Jack remembers has been altered by several subtle changes. Over the winters of 2010 and 2011, changes were made at fifteen holes to ensure that Muirfield remained a challenge for the world's best golfers. Those changes included several new bunkers in selected drive areas, moving greenside bunkers to tighten the entrances to greens, the enlargement of greens to provide more championship pin positions, and the introduction of six new championship tees lengthening the course to 7245 yards. Perhaps, the most noticeable difference involves the 9th Hole which is now a difficult par 5, particularly when playing into a prevailing wind.

The photos of Muirfield as well as other golf course posters can be found on my sports website sports.aceswebworld.com.

Tiger Woods: Running Without Juice

Let's put this issue to rest once and for all: The reason Tiger can't play any more is that he's no longer taking the juice, a/k/a PEDs, performance enhancing drugs.

Remember back to Wednesday, June 18, 2008 when el tigre announced that he was having season ending knee surgery? If you need to refresh your memory as to the reported details try this online article: Tiger Tamed: Surgery Will End His Season


Poor Tiger!

But, what wasn't reported at the time was the remarkable coincidence that PGA drug testing was going to begin thirteen days later on July 1, 2008. Related articles: PGA Tour drug testing should begin in July 2008 and Drug testing a necessary decision by PGA Tour.

Not to say that Tiger's ailments were mythical, they probably were not. But, it could very well be a testament to the efficacy of PEDs that he was still able to win despite these ailments. In any case, I propose that the reason he decided to drop out of competition at that particular time had more to do with the upcoming commencement of testing than it did with his ailing knee.

And his failure to regain his previous dominating form would seem to support that. So, let's end the debate about whether or not he will ever regain his former greatness or whether or not he will break Jack Nicklaus's record. The answer is simple: without the juice, he will not.