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Asterisk for British? Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - Baseball has home-run asterisks, one for sure and one a myth. Maybe it's time for such a five-pronged symbol in golf alongside the winner of next week's British Open, the first major without Tiger Woods since 1996. Recuperating from major knee surgery, Woods' absence means there is no true favorite for the gathering at Royal Birkdale. In Las Vegas, the MGM Mirage race and sports book made a line on four dozen players, grouped the other 100-plus into the "field" and decided that bunch of lesser knowns should be the favorite at 6-1. Normally, Woods would be 2-1 or so. Early each year, Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia takes a similar approach when making the line for future wagering on the Kentucky Derby. This year, he offered odds on 23 3-year-olds and made the field the heavy favorite at 5-to-2. Included in that group was eventual winner Big Brown, who had not had a race at 3 when the wager was offered. Proving himself in March and April, he emerged as the legitimate Derby favorite. Without Woods, there is no starting point in handicapping golf. Justifying the asterisk, note that Woods has won the British three times and never been outside the top 30 since 1996. The asterisk in sports is not original. Columnist Dick Young of The New York Times suggested attaching it to Roger Maris' 61 home runs in 1961. He reasoned that Babe Ruth set the record of 60 in a 154-game season and that Maris did one better in the final game of a 162-game season. Ford Frick, then the commissioner of baseball, was a long-time friend of Ruth, but never followed up on Young's suggestion - something he admitted in his autobiography. However, the myth grew and 30 years later, commissioner Fay Vincent ordered a committee on statistical accuracy to "officially" strike it from the record book. The other asterisk is very real and is branded on the ball that Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th home run. Fashion designer Marc Ecko purchased the ball for $752,467 in September and recently donated it to the Hall of Fame. In response to an Internet vote, he marked it with an asterisk to acknowledge the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds. No matter who wins next week in Southport, England, fans will wonder whether the outcome would have been the same if Woods had been around. Clearly, this is a window of opportunity for many, particularly those who swoon when Woods is a participant. The betting favorites - Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson - are suspect. Garcia is always about the putting. Els had chances at the U.S. Open and couldn't make a putt that mattered. Despite his home-course advantage, Mickelson was never a factor at Torrey Pines. Those three, Lee Westwood, and others are competing in the Scottish Open this week. By default, those who play well will get additional attention for the British. Royal Birkdale is not as quirky as some of the venues used in the British Open rota and the winner could be most anybody. Arnold Palmer won there. So did Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, and Mark O'Meara. If a PGA Tour regular prevails, American Anthony Kim might be the man. At 23, he is not afraid to win. The Australian contingent is formidable although Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby are under-achievers in the majors. I prefer Aussies Robert Allenby, Nick O'Hern, Geoff Ogilvy, and Rod Pampling. Asterisk or not, the winner will embrace the Claret Jug. ---- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
