CBS Sports: Spider-Man weaves himself into leaderboard with amazing 65

SOUTHPORT, England -- He's only here because Kenny Perry isn't. Kenny Perry doesn't think enough of the world's oldest tournament, sometimes the world's toughest tournament, to cross the sea.

So Camilo Villegas, who failed in qualifying, found an exempt place in the 137th the British Open. Villegas was 51st in the World Golf Rankings when the field was set, and the top 50 gain entry. Thanks, Mr. Perry.

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Contra Costa Times: Chills and thrills at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England -- Paul Goydos couldn't close an umbrella. Rocco Mediate did close out his round. The rain fell. The wind blew, and, heaven help us, in what promises to be the most enticing British Open in recent years Greg Norman was a shot out of the lead.

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CBS Sports: 'Tough for everybody'? Not quite, and Mickelson slips

SOUTHPORT, England -- For Phil Mickelson, Royal Birkdale is a royal pain in the scorecard. Every 10 years or so, the British Open shows up here on the Lancashire Coast, and Phil's game does not.

The third round of the 1998 Open, when golf broke down Mickelson faster than an interrogation by Scotland Yard, he had his all-time worst score in a major, 15-over-par 85. Reflecting on 40 mph winds, he said, "It was a challenging day."

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Oakland Tribune: Garcia has tough act to follow

SOUTHPORT, England -- The summer of Spain. The country's soccer team capturing a championship, the European Cup, it hadn't won in 44 years. A tennis player winning Wimbledon, something a Spaniard hadn't done in virtually the same length of time. And now... ?

And now out strides "El Nino," Sergio Garcia, brimming with faith, believing in omens, relying on experience.

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Contra Costa Times: Lema was toast of St. Andrews after win on first British try

SOUTHPORT, England -- He is riding a surge of confidence, exactly what a golfer needs, especially playing in a British Open for the first time.

Anthony Kim arrives at Royal Birkdale for his initial experience at links golf, and so we reach back in time for a meaningful parallel.

The unwritten rule is you don't win a major in your debut. That's true. Unless you're Ben Curtis in the 2003 British. Or Fuzzy Zoeller in the 1979 Masters.

Or Tony Lema in the 1964 British.

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