Monday: My two complaints about the operation of The Women's British Open seemed to have been alleviated. Transportation back to the airports was happily afforded, when we were ready to depart, and there did happen to be a towel service but it was an unknown commodity for most of the week. Along with the availability to the player's lounge with proper credentials and £6 per day given to all to purchase sustenance or merchandise, all the trappings of a Major appeared to be in place.

Travel back home went smoothly and I arrived ahead of schedule (imagine that). Hoax, Fracture and another viewing of Next eased the tediousness of the eight hour flight.

• Hi there: While waiting to board my flight to Amsterdam, no other than The Open champion positioned herself just a short distance across the way. I offered my congratulations and received a promise to autograph a few mementos I brought back. I'll tote the two St. Andrews Old Coarse flags and a hat to Canada for the signing. Any offers?

• Lazarus Jr. Even though I was unable to revive my old laptop and name it after the famed Biblical figure, the alarm clock I brought to Scotland will take its place. Forgetting to plug it into the power converter, a direct link to the 220 volt line was in its stead. That evening, the smell of an electrical connection gone awry awoke my slumberous state and into the trash can the smoldering device was deposited. To my surprise, the back-up nine volt battery kept the time and the alarm chimed in the morning. Even though it was a $6 device, why throw it out? At this time, it's still in use and that annoying olfactory sensation has disappeared.

Tuesday: Just a short drive down the road to Columbus lies Chad's abode. I'll be hanging there for a bit till leaving for St. Louis, my debarkation point for Canada.

Thursday: Hotter than Hades here in Columbus but Chad's AC is up to the task. Looks as if we won't have to endure any heat wave in Edmonton and temps in the 60s and 70s will host our visit.

• Time for repairs: Chad lost the Wi-Fi ability on his laptop and I was at a loss for a fix but the "Geek Squad" at a local Best Buy had it restored within five minutes. The wireless card had dislodged and the removal of a couple screws gave them access. Didn't charge him a penny. My project was the dragging wheel on my carry-on. I got a great deal on this piece last year and for good reason. The hardware seems to keep coming apart but this time, baggage handler abuse may have been the culprit. I acquired the necessary repair parts at a nearby ironmonger and after some contortionist like moves, it was rolling true once more.

• It's about that time: Like the aftermaths of most Majors, caddie changes are inevitable. The axe fell and a bag or two are open.

Tournament Time

My player this week is Dina Ammaccapane

Tuesday: Walked the course yesterday and it seems like a good track. Plenty of sand and just a bit of elevation. It's seems greener than green but what do you expect after playing a links course.

• Getting there: Tom Borwick and I flew out of St. Louis and a good hotel deal was had. Out the door for just under a hundred bucks at the Crowne Plaza with free paring till we return. We melded with more caddies and a few players with our connection through Denver and touched down just after 11 AM.

Again, transportation was denied us (no caddies) after arriving in Edmonton but managed to catch a ride with Kathy, an LPGA media honcho. She got on the horn with someone and expressed her displeasure. Later, I heard other loopers didn't have a problem. 

We did manage a lift to the course with tournament transportation but my query on the time it took to get there must have been misinterpreted. A new speed record had to be his agenda as he set the timer on the GPS and put the pedal to the metal. We all searched for the nearest hand-hold and braced for any sudden impact. To make matters worse, Louie asked about Cracker-Cats tickets so, the driver pulled out his cell to find a contact he knew and now was driving one-handed! Could have been the longest seven minute drive we ever experienced.

• Not a Kodak moment: The cameras were clicking furiously (do the still click?) at St. Andrews and Motion had taken over 300 pics to add to his growing compendium but, as fate would have it, all those captured memories are just that. He lost his camera at the airport heading home.

• His demise was greatly exaggerated: Vern, Janice Moodie's looper, was passing out hugs and handshakes in St. Andrews as it seemed this season had come to an abrupt end. He and Janice parted ways and a couple months in his native Ireland was projected. Lo and behold, news of his appearance in Edmonton spread quickly and some "chop busting" seems to be in order. He's toting for Nina Reis.

• Worth a try: As I posted earlier, a revival of my old laptop (using Ubuntu) failed due to the hardware but I still wished to give it a go. A partioning of my hard drive did not appear to inviting but it seems if you wait long enough, something comes along to ease your angst. Wubi creates a virtual drive and loads all the files there. No partioning necessary. Upon booting, you have a choice of Windows or Ubuntu. A simple uninstall removes Wubi if you wish. Don't be afraid to try it. There must be a good reason more manufactures are offering a version of Linux on their products.

• Oh, did you notice? The St. Andrews pictures are now Posted. Click here or go to the link on my home page.

Monday: Dina showed in the middle of the afternoon and we chipped and putted the back nine. Done by six bells.

• Just like all the rest: Michelle Wie's looper submitted his resignation so her dad will be toting the sack this week.

• Double trouble: Thane parked his car outside the Marriott and was greeted with a $37 parking citation. Unable to talk his way out of it via a phone call, he paid it online but when he returned to the illegally situated auto, another was in its place! Luckily, his second call reached the same person and had the duplicate fine negated. Better off paying the $24 a day parking fee the hotel charges. That's correct, $18 a day!

• More travel woes: Tales of lost luggage, 4 AM arrivals, missed flights (some by mere minutes), unfulfilled promises of awaiting transportation drivers and unscrupulous cabbies were the main topics of discussion by many.

• Twenty-five years: That's what you get for a life sentence in Canada (don't ask me why it came up) and had caddie Danny Sharp contribute one of the best lines of the year. A friend of his had been married for twenty-six years and, not appearing to be relationship he was fond of, summed it up this way. "If I had killed her that first year, I'd be out by now." That's classic.

Tuesday: Played an early eighteen, had lunch (lasagna and and extra helping of tiramisu for dessert) in player hospitality and called it a day. I hung around the caddie tent for a few more hours partaking in the usual banter.

• Caddie digs: For the past couple years, our Canadian hosts have provided one of the finest caddie HQs on tour. This week is no exception as it is adjacent to the putting green and to the rear of the 11th hole and is replete with comfy leather seating, full sized cooler, two flat screen TVs, Wi-Fi and endless supply of eatables, it ranks as one of the best. 

• Take, take, take: In general, we have a super bunch of loopers but some have a tendency to "bite the hand that feeds them". Transportation is provided to and from the hotels but a few over zealous requests to other places ticked off the Tournament Director and he put in place a "no rides to caddies unless a player is present" policy yesterday.

Wednesday: We were alternates late in the day but when Dina showed, it looked as if our week may have ended early. A bag of ice was taped over her right thumb to quell the swelling from hitting it on the tailgate of her car. Luckily, the lump subsided and only a bruise remained. We putted, hit our normal amount of range balls and finished off with a chipping session.

• This is why I like to drive: Earlier this week, Pat Hurst finally received her last piece of luggage from the trip to Scotland but combined with being bumped due to the plane being overweight  on her flight up here, international travel is not treating her well. By the way, her luggage went on without her and was doing laps on the baggage carousel the last I heard.

• All is well: The "no rides" dictum was rescinded and we're welcome on the shuttle once more.

Thursday: Dina's timing was off and the her score reflected it. Shot +5.

• No news: We were behind Wie's group and the only thing to report is that they were timed twice.

Saturday: Another five blows over par yesterday put us down the road. It's off to Portland for another crack at it but first, one more free lunch in the caddie tent before departing.

• "Ray": Ever see that movie? It is a masterful work on Ray Charles but you must be wondering why bring it up? Well, on the sixth hole, as Michelle Wie just slid one by for birdie, her dad B. J. gave one of the best impressions of the famed singer I can recall. With arms to his sides and looking skyward, he twisted and turned as if basking in the applause of a rendition of "Hit The Road Jack". Rather amusing.

• The latest: More interference from B. J. seems to be the reason for the current "cadero catastrophe" for the teenager. Her most recent had over 50 rounds on the Old Course at St. Andrews but good ole dad just had to be course manager as always. Bye-bye, adios and au revoir.

• No mystery here: The Sherlock Holmes Pub, located just across the way from the Westin Hotel, has been the favorite watering hole this week. I stopped in last night and sipped a couple with Worth and Billy Prentiss then switched to a table of serious drinkers which included Brooke Tull and Kris Tamulis downing "Jägerbombs".

Target destroyed!

• Add a few more: I forgot about the pictures Dina took in Scotland and, after showing her the ins-n-outs of downloading them into her laptop, copies were sent along to me for posting. Check A few stragglers for the latest.

• This is how it's done: On one hole yesterday, Meg Mallon found herself in the first cut of rough and deemed the ball moved after being addressed. She called a one shot penalty on herself but didn't replace it. She hit to the green then double-checked with an official before signing the card and another shot was added for the replacement failure. Her professional integrity turned a five under par round to three.