An afternoon tee time, please

By PAUL NEWBERRY, Associated Press

Last update: July 18, 2008 - 7:57 AM

SOUTHPORT, England — John Daly shot another 80, and it wasn't even worthy of a chuckle.

Heck, Ernie Els shot 80. So did Vijay Singh, who's never been videotaped hitting balls off a beer can or playing a round of golf sans shirt and shoes. And, if anyone comes across Sandy Lyle or Rich Beem, make sure they know how to get out of town.

Luck is a big part of golf's oldest championship, and that was never more evident than Thursday's opening round at the British Open. Tee times were just as important as the clubs in the bag — maybe more so, given the dramatic turn of the weather that essentially turned one day into two.

If you were unfortunate enough to be sent off in the morning, well, the reward was a steady, sometimes driving rain and a howling breeze off the Irish Sea that occasionally gusted up to 35 mph.

Which was a big reason Els signed a scorecard that including a devilish stretch of holes — 6-6-6 — among its 80 strokes, the worst Open score ever for the Big Easy. Which is why Singh actually talked of playing pretty well after putting up the second-highest score of his Open career. Which is why Phil Mickelson thought anything in the 70s — even a 79, which is what he shot — would be a pretty respectable score

"It was miserable, miserable, miserable weather," moaned Singh, who just couldn't get off that theme. "It was just a miserable day," he added.

Now, if you were one of those assigned a tee time with a "p.m." attached to it, things were much different. While Royal Birkdale didn't suddenly transform into sunny, balmy Florida, the showers dried up and the wind tapered off — which, for a golfer, is about all you can ask for at a links course along the Irish Sea.

"We did get the better side of the draw, no doubt about it," said Greg Norman, who was one stroke off the lead after shooting 70. "When you watch it in the morning, you feel sorry for the guys, but there's times when you say, 'Well, I've been there before.' I've been on that side of the draw, too. You've got to take it. It all balances out, and you have to take advantage of it."

The late starters sure took advantage of their meteorological advantage.

Rocco Mediate, Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby were tied for the lead at 69. All played in the afternoon. Norman, Adam Scott and Bart Bryant found themselves deadlocked one shot back. Guess what time of day they played?