“Beauty and the Beast” Lives Up to Her Reputation
Golf fever has struck with a relentless vigor, with the final conclusion of another great U.S. Senior Championship week in our local backyard and recreational kingdom.
The Broadmoor Golf Club (located just down the road from us Ute Passers and Tellerians) and the entire Pikes Peak region emerged as the big winners. Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade even projected the tournament as a $24 million economic bonus for the region.
Not sure about that statistic. However, the championship seemed like a perfect fit for the players and fans; consisting of quite a few hardcore golf fanatics that have played at one of the Broadmoor courses in some type of event, or during a stay of a family member there, or maybe even during a visit to the Broadmoor themselves or by their kids. Yes, the greens are nasty, and mountain terrain is challenging. And then it’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” courtesy of the haunting Westminster chimes, you constantly hear hourly at the Broadmoor stemming from the Will Rogers Shrine. It is an eerie sound when you just five-putted one of the tricky greens of the Broadmoor, known affectionally as the “Beauty and the Beast.”
For the record, the 45th Senior Championship was won by Padraig Harrington of Northern Ireland in a one-shot victory thriller, capped by head-to-head competition with good friend and often Ryder Cup opponent Steward Cink, with Spainard Miguel Jimenez looking over their shoulder and clinging onto the Bronze. Here are TMJ’s reflections on this great event that even excited the golfing crew at Shining Mountain.
Best Tournament for International Players: The Luck of the Irish Prevails. On the18th and final hole of the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship, a group of fans started yelling loudly and boisterously, “Go USA,” following a drive by Steward Cink, (one shot behind at the time) that nearly reached the water and a family of Swans. No such luck, as when Padraig Harrington of Northern Ireland blasted one down the middle at nearly 300 yards out with a mere Fairway Wood, in a position where you couldn’t place the ball better, the party was over. In fact, the party for Yankee victories at USGA (United States Golf Association) tournaments at the Broadmoor hasn’t existed in recent years. The Europeans, Koreans, South Americans, Swedes and whoever routinely kick USA butt when it comes to snagging the winning circle at USGA tourneys here. Two of the last three U.S. Senior Championships have been won by non-Americans. The one exception was David Toms in 2018. And for the U.S. Women’s Championship (another favorite track for the top women players of the game) the record isn’t much better. After all, this became the place where Anika Sorenstam of Sweden began her illustrious career, with a win in 1995 in the U.S. Women’s Open, that helped propel her into a dominant role on the LPGA circuit. Don’t know if it’s the international flavor of the Broadmoor, the air or what, but Yanks don’t fare well here when it comes to winning.
Best Colorful Character: Miguel Angel Jimenez, the swashbuckling Spainard, who is known for showing emotion, raising his putter like a sword on occasion when he sinks a long one, and puffing a great cigar in the heat of battle. No competition for this title whatsoever. Miguel even looks a little different than his fellow players with his long ponytail, almost giving the impression of a grey-haired rock ‘n’ roller that just attended a Grateful Dead reunion show. His relaxed and colorful demeanor almost demonstrate why the Europeans do so well in the Ryder Cup. Jimenez put on quite a show in the final round (with a six-under performance) but just ran out of steam in the final two holes, and fell victim to the high, brutal USGA-mandated rough on the 18th. As for other competitors in this category, I would have to rate Darren Clarke, another Irishman, quite favorably. Clarke looks and sounds like he just visited a local pub and is gearing up to sing a few Irish tunes.
Best Hopeful Rumor: The lurking of a Tiger at the next U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor. Not surprisingly, the USGA’s love affair with the Broadmoor continues, as they have awarded the Broadmoor East Course with U.S. Senior tourneys in 2031 and 2037. This would give the Broadmoor more Senior Open championships than any course in the country. Rumors are running rampant that Mr. Tiger Woods could even make an appearance in 2031, as he will be the prime age at 55, perfect for competing in the U.S. Senior Championship. His good friend, Notay Begay, and a former Stanford teammate, and now golf analyst with Golf Channel and NBC, (he even competed in this year’s championship and made the 36-hole cut) suggested this as a definite possibility due to Tiger’s love for competition and busting records. Only two obstacles stand in the way: Tiger’s health woes with his multitude of injuries, a situation that took a definite downturn with his near fatal car accident about five years ago in California, and his indifference towards tournament golf in Colorado. Woods was never a fan of the International PGA tournament, held for years up the road at Castle Pines. But at the same time, Tiger’s hatred of the LIV Saudi-blood-stained, corrupt rival tour may motivate him, especially if the USGA makes a sponsor gesture towards rival foe Phil Mickelson. Tiger and Phil aren’t exactly best friends. Tiger’s arrival for the tournament probably won’t happen, but it’s a fun story in which to dream about.
Best Nature Attraction: The Broadmoor Swans. While most fans reveled over the golf action, a Swan queen and her five cygnets, who hung out at a pond guarding the third green garnered much attention. The family adored the attention, enjoyed posing for photos and seemed to laugh at the sight of overly ambitious players trying to clear their home water haven when trying to reach a nearby green with their second shot (of a par-5 that is over 600 yards). Most players succeeded, but a hefty number of golfers stumbled at this point, and found their balls wet, next to the Swan family in the pond, or located in a worse spot.
Best Media Screw-up. NBC. Most of their coverage was good, but a decision to pull the plug on the final hole or two of the third round backfired and left them with serious mud on their face. By doing this, they opted to bypass probably the shot of the tourney: A holed chip shot by Harrington that propelled him to victory and turned a somewhat downer of a day into a winning stride. Prior to that shot, Harrington just looked like he was going to fall short.
Best Swings of the Older Generation. Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer. Alright, this is a subjective opinion. How can you not like the ultra-rhythmic, but ultra-powerful swing of Els, who hails from South Africa and boasts of four major championships, and a bunch of PGA titles and sports a great overall attitude. Ernie even complimented the Colorado golf fans as being quite knowledgeable. Then, there is Bernhard, who at 67, boasts an amazing swing for an older player, demonstrating the longevity of this sport. And for physical fitness, he makes fools of TMJ journalists.
Best Entertainment: Watching the best legends of the game trying to recover from the USGA-mandated rough; or hitting a delicate downhill chip shot into a Broadmoor green, regarded as the land of treachery. Yes, this was the revenge of the fans, who got a chance to see the finest players make a mockery of themselves at times. Yes, it was like viewing a four-some of so-called expert linksters at Shining Mountain on certain occasions. “We all have demons,” said Harrington, shortly after meeting the media, following his victory at the Senior Open. Compared to other sport leagues, Harrington cited the Senior Tour as one that is more “human” and relates better to fans and everyday people. Many area linksters regularly experience some of the missed shots from these legends who are trying to relive their glory days. The Broadmoor takes these weaknesses and exposes them in excruciating, punishing detail, while giving them nature’s treat at its finest.
Welcome to the Beauty and the Beast and hope to see you in 2031.
