The Open Championship July 15th – July 21st, 2013

Also known as the British Open this major golf tournament dates back to 1860 in Prestwick, Scotland.

This year is being played at Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland and the first two days have been uncharacteristically sunny albeit with a little higher wind today.

At the moment Miquel Angel Jimenez of Spain is leading by one at -3. This is the first time that he has held a 36 hole lead in a major tournament.

There are only 9 players under par including Tiger Woods at -2 along with 6 others. The cut line is +8 and many excellent players will not be around for the week-end. The biggest challenge seems to be that the greens are not holding the ball and everything is whistling over the green into sand traps and the rough. As you might imagine this is not making all of the players happy.

I grew up watching golf with my parents. My father was an excellent scratch golfer who once tied with Gene Saracen at the Canadian Open. We watched their favorites, the Golden Bear (Jack Nicklaus), Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino one of whom was usually in contention in whatever tournament we were watching.

After my Mom passed Dad would come here to Ajijic, Lake Chapala and we would watch the golf and tennis tournaments happily together.

Now that Dad has passed as well my husband and I watch the golf together. In fact, this morning my husband got up at 6:00 am to make us breakfast and turn on the British Open.

Watching golf and tennis on television is a tradition in our families and there are few things greater than enjoying sport, particularly the majors.

Ernie Els, from South Africa, won the British Open in 2012 and we don’t know who will win this year with so many crowded at the top of the leaderboard. This, of course, it what makes it fun and interesting to watch.

We are very lucky, here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, to be able to play golf year round at many local golf courses as well as many more excellent courses in Guadalajara. There are also very good courses at different beaches such as Isla de Navidad at Barre de Navidad and Tamarindo near Manzanillo.

Atlas Golf Club just outside Guadalajara is the longest course in Mexico so we have lots to choose from and our local Chula Vista Country Club in San Antonio Tlayacapan is a beautiful and challenging executive golf course.