SOUTHPORT, England -- Open week has always been special for Matthew Southgate. "Best week of the year," he said, grinning broadly midway through his practice round at Royal Birkdale. "I haven't changed one bit since I was a kid. Soon as I rock up and see that big yellow scoreboard on 18, I'm absolutely buzzing."
There are plenty of golfers and golf fans who feel much the same way, but few have a tale to tell that's similar to Southgate's -- because the second or third week of July has not only been very good to Matthew Southgate, it's also been very bad.