Par For The Course: Difference among players on PGA Tour narrows

Todd Hamilton (Open Champion) and now Pete Oakley (Seniors Open Champion); who would have banked on those two names winning the 'major' golfing Opens in Britain this summer.

But today's game has certainly proved that the quality of difference between the 150 players who start PGA tournaments week in and week out is so small that anyone on their game can win.

Brent Rumford and Carlos Franco also personify that category as they showed this weekend when their 'A' games kicked in making their wins look very easy and comfortable.

But as the game's big stars still battle to knock Tiger from his perch as the world's No 1 golfer the debate of Hamilton's style of victory at Troon will be discussed greatly leading up to the final major of the season at Whistling Straits.

But probably spectator's more than actual players were stunned by the way in which Todd Hamilton won the British Open. Players were not surprised in the way Hamilton carried himself over the closing stretch of holes for someone, who has won numerous times on the difficult Japan tour and then the break into the PGA tour with a maiden win at the Honda Classic earlier in the year.

This week's article stating 'Should Hamilton be in the Ryder Cup team?' was really aimed at 'one hit wonders' being selected but the fact remained when the pressure was on down the back strait at Troon and in the play-off, Hamilton was equal to it and that must bode well for the heated Ryder Cup battle in September.

Also at the Open Championship this year was the Junior Open Championship held at Kilmarnock Brassie. The Championship is played every other year and brings together the very best juniors from all around the world and representing the UAE this year was Khalid Yousef.

After a disappointing first round of 85 Khalid got to grips with the conditions to record a second round of 80 and finished second in the UGA sponsored 'Middle East division.'

Standard of play

But such is the standard of play, the winner of the boys' Gold medal was a young 15-year-old playing off a handicap of plus 3! While in the girls' division was a 14-year-old playing off a handicap of scratch!

But seeing the current standard of juniors from around the world certainly gives organisers of junior tournaments and programmes a benchmark to what level they should be aiming for. What was also interesting was the winner of the Gold medal is only ranked 21st in the junior ranks in America!

But whatever standard either as a junior, aspiring amateur, touring professional or club professional the performance of Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, Pete Oakley and indeed Mark James, who won his first seniors title in the states, provides so much hope and belief that all the practice and dedication can pay-off at some time, but you've just got to keep working at it to succeed!