Francesco Molinari won the British Open championship over numerous future legends during an exciting final round.

While Tiger Woods held the lead at the midway point of his final round, Jordan Spieth and Rory Mclroy were part of the story. It was an exciting and great for golf.

It should be noted Molinari is the first Italian to win the British Open.

“I hope there were lots of children watching,” mentioned the “champion golfer of the year.”

Kevin Kisner, who plays at the Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, was in the lead for much of the tournament and finished in a tie for second. Time in the lead of a major championship can be credited differently than regular events.

Incidentally, just so you know, the TV makes all events look similar, but they are not. The game and even many of the venues are similar, but the atmosphere is not.

It’s different and here is a simple analogy. Almost everyone remembers the first time they were getting ready to tee off and there were folks on the tee watching. Most catch themselves thinking about this fact and end up trying to swing thinking about what others are thinking of them rather than keeping the focus on their own shot and swing.

FOR SOME PLAYING

through, a group is difficult. People watching us play can be nerve-racking. Then, there are those who like people watching because the additional nerves it cause actually makes it more fun.

The players on TV probably are closer to the last category. I’m sure it’s already been brought out, but in my estimation, Molinari found that special edge because of his pairing with Tiger.

It’s a tough pairing because of all that’s going on with Tiger’s enormous galleries, however, the large numbers inspire extra adrenaline juice to flow.

In my opinion though, the biggest reason for Molinari’s victory is Carnoustie, a very old course that discriminates against average ball strikers. I looked at the top 20 finishers and could not find one player who was even an above average ball striker. Every one of these players were in the elite category of ball control.

My hope is those who lead our great game take notice and realize that the old traditional golf course can still be highly effective with even the greatest and latest technology and talent.

The game was created with the round ball that flies through the air and rolls. A rolling ball ads much to golf. I am tired of seeing a ball hit and stick like it’s landing on velcro. The great players want rain and wet conditions now because it makes golf so much easier.

A Final note on the British Open. It should be celebrated that a 60-year-old actually contended for the British Open. Bernhard Langer finished just seven shots back at one under par. Incredible.

IN REGIONAL AMATEUR golf, I visited Hilton Head Island to watch the Carolinas defeat the Virginia’s women’s golf Association at Sea Pines, at the Members Course. The Carolinas women, led by Lee Venerable, were to strong this year.

My recently married daughter, Mary Chandler Rainey, earned the privilege of participating and teamed up with Victoria Huskey of Greenville to win both of their matches.

In the last two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity of watching junior golf, men’s and women’s amateur golf, minor-league professional golf and PGA tour golf. Every week, I want to pass along information that could help anyone reading this article.

My lesson this week is to play and compete in character. In other words, play golf like the person you are. Too many people try to take on the persona of someone else or who they think they ought to be.

What I noticed about the women amateurs is they tend to play golf better and in character than each of the other groups mentioned. Having personal relationships with the people I have observed gives me an inside advantage to make such observations.

IN MY OPINION, the women amateurs seem to keep golf a game. Young and new to the game juniors “play in character” but many I am familiar with don’t act at all on the course as they do in life. Golf is simply a game and in my opinion games are played for recreational pleasure.

The women I observed this past week at Hilton Head had fun playing golf and, therefore, it was fun watching them.

In local Golf, Phil Canders matched his age at the Country Club of Lexington last week shooting 35-41-76.