Round 4 Open Championship grades

Tiger Woods   World Ranking: No. 1 | Score: 74 (2-over)

There are times when we are left shaking our heads trying to figure out why. This (again) is one of those times. The guy who we were so used to seeing close with a fury now closes with a flutter. Maybe there's room on the psychologist's couch for two. Because as much as we want Tiger to seek and destroy, his weekend major guns continue to fire blanks.

Rory McIlroy   World Ranking: No. 2 | Score: n/a

"Sure I'll scoot over a little. Do we get a group discount rate?" Teacher's note: shares well with others.

Justin Rose   World Ranking: No. 3 | Score: n/a

Beep. That's where the "B" comes in. As in, beep ... "Hi this is Justin Rose's Sunday grade. I'm at the beach right now, but if you leave your name and number ... "

Adam Scott   World Ranking: No. 4 | Score: 72 (1-over)

You had absolutely no pressure on you whatsoever coming into the day. Then you looked up and saw your name atop the leaderboard on the 13th tee and decided to replay the DVR of last year's Open Championship. I guess at least you continued to prove that the anchored putting stroke DEFINITELY doesn't take the nerves out. We're now left with questions about you like: Is this just an Open thing or was the Masters a fluke?

Phil Mickelson   World Ranking: No. 5 | Score: 66 (3-under)

First, I have to admit I was DEAD WRONG!! I did not believe. But I do now. The guy played flawlessly on the front nine and except for one small hiccup on the 10th hole closed out the back with a fury we have never seen before from Phil at an Open. Three down ... one to go for Phil's career grand slam. If he can bounce back after losing at Merion to win like this, I will NEVER doubt his inner strength again.

Lee Westwood   World Ranking: No. 12 | Score: 75 (1-over)

I'm gonna be nice because he held the lead alone at least for the first eight holes. You did make a nice bounce-back birdie at the fifth, but that was your only birdie of the day. Alas, the airsickness bags were the only thing that showed up on your scorecard from the seventh hole. Only adding another box to the "greatest player never to win a major" pedestal he now stands on. He can look down on his fellow competitors and try not to get his puke on their shoes. (HEY!! I thought you were gonna be nice?!)

Ian Poulter   World Ranking: No. 20 | Score: 67 (1-over)

For just a bit there, Poulter forgot this was the Open Championship and thought this was the Ryder Cup. After a bogey at the third hole he was at 6 over. Birdie at the fifth. Ho-hum. Then on No. 9 all hell broke loose. Eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie, and then lip out birdie at No. 13. He had even the American journalists in the media center holding their breath enjoying that run. Even though the bogey at No. 16 ended your run, the emotion you showed deserves applause.

R&A   

Notice no one was complaining about the greens on the weekend? Yet I still watched the number of golfers under par shrivel to ONE by the end of Sunday. That tells you the strength of this golf course and the ability the R&A has in setting up a course in different conditions every day at a major. Muirfield is a true test of golf, but without the correct setup by the R&A, it wouldn't have been able to shine. Both passed with flying colors Sunday as we all sat glued with jaws hanging, watching the carnage and amazing golf that was brought out by a GREAT course along with a GREAT setup.