Perfect conditions today greeted the early starters in the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry – but few were taking full advantage.

Perfect conditions today greeted the early starters in the opening round of the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.

IT was an inquiry regarding an Open Championship long ago, the 1999 debacle at Carnoustie. Wasn’t it Davis Love who said something to the effect that championship officials got the winner they deserved, meaning that a tricked-up course couldn’t help but produce a winner (Paul Lawrie) deemed as undeserving?

TURNBERRY, Scotland. Honestly, after a good 15- 20-minute laugh, the thing that came naturally was . . . well, to laugh again. Only this time for a half-hour.

GRAEME McDOWELL has come up with a novel way of preparing for the start of the 138th Open Championship.

The 2009 European Tour and the inaugural ’Race to Dubai’ will feature a record 53 tournaments in 26 destinations – including at least two events being played twice.