Golf British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- Tom Watson's place in the next five British Opens is safe after the Royal & Ancient's decision to change one of its exemption rules.

The 60-year-old five-time British Open champion finished runner-up this year but would have lost his exemption status because of the R&A's age rules. But golf's governing body outside the United States said Monday it has amended one of its rules so that former champions who finish in the top 10 in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption.

That also applies to Greg Norman, a two-time champion who tied for third at the 2008 British Open.

Tiger Woods won five times in 2009, but for the fourth time in his 13-year career, he was shutout in the majors. That may not be cause for concern for Woods, but it gives fans and the media something to talk about. It also makes the "How would you rank the major championships?" question a lot more interesting.

With only one tournament left on the PGA Tour calender, now seems like as good a time as any to make my case. Obviously, this will be a scientifically rigorous endeavor, and I hope that you would treat the results accordingly. Or don't. Whatever, let's get to it.

In reverse order, the most exciting majors of 2009:

Despite five wins on the European Tour during his 20-year professional career, most people know David Feherty as the on-course analyst for CBS' golf coverage. He's fantastic at his current gig, though occasionally his political views obscure his television work.

Feherty is in Sioux Falls, SD this week to headline the South Dakota Make-a-Wish Foundation's annual golf tournament (it's his ninth straight appearance), and in an interview with the Argus Leader's Mick Garry he talked about his controversial comments regarding the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader.

More interesting, though, Feherty also defended Tiger Woods' British Open performance.

Tom Watson nearly won the British Open nine days ago. A uncooperative putter -- one that has plagued him for most of his career -- proved his undoing, and the 59-year-old would have to settle for second place and the Greg Norman Treatment.

Last year, Norman, then 53, made a run at the Claret Jug, faded late, eventually tied for third, and spent the next 12 months accepting congratulatory wishes for the moral victory. There are worse ways to transition to the old-timer's circuit.

Amid all the back-slapping we've been treated to any number of explanations for Watson's success, despite his advanced age: a golf landscape devoid of talented young players, Watson's Open Championship experience (particularly at Turnberry), his shiny new hip, so and and so forth.

Around this time a year ago, Greg Norman was the golf story. A ripe 53 years old, Norman plotted around the links at Royal Birkdale for three days in the lead of an Open Championship, trying to capture his third major championship victory.

You all know the story. Norman faltered in the final round, shooting a 7-over 77 to lose to Padraig Harrington by six shots. A year later, the Shark is at it again, leading the Senior British at Sunningdale Golf Club after a third-round 64 allowed him to jump Fred Funk. Norman is a shot ahead of Funk at 10-under with 18 holes to go for his first ever Champions Tour win.

On Monday, hours after losing the British Open in a playoff to Stewart Cink, Tom Watson (don't know if you heard, but he's 59 years old) hopped a flight to make the short trip from Turnberry, Scotland to Sunningdale, England to prepare for the Senior British Open.

Last year, then 53-year-old Greg Norman logged a third-place finish at the British before tying for fifth at the Senior British. And through the first round, Watson is on a similar path. He's currently tied for sixth, three shots behind leader Fred Funk, after signing for a 67. (Interestingly, Norman also shot 67.)

Charles Barkley took time out from his busy schedule of holding down last place at the Lake Tahoe Celebrity Championship this past weekend to talk about two of his best buds: Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Tiger had just missed the cut at the British Open, and Jordan was competing in the Lake Tahoe event.

When asked about Woods' early exit at Turnberry, Sir Charles explained to the Arizona Republic that, "It bothers me right now that people make such a big deal out of that. He missed one other cut in a major, and that was after his dad died. So that doesn't really count. And to go 13 years and miss one cut in the majors has to be one of the most remarkable achievements out there. That's really impressive. And it shows you the stupidity of certain people who are questioning him."

On Tuesday, the Dallas Morning News' Eric Torbenson wrote that "Tom Watson's inspiring runner-up finish at the British Open on Sunday could turn into a big win for Plano's Adams Golf Inc." Adams Golf has sponsored Watson for a decade, and the 59-year-old's showing at Turnberry was probably the most exposure the company has ever received.

"Our name was everywhere – on SportsCenter, on televisions internationally. A lot of people don't even know who we are or that we're in Dallas, but I think they do now," Chip Brewer, Adams' president and CEO, told Torbenson. Brewer also called Watson "the face and soul of the company," which I don't doubt.

Each Wednesday during the golf season, FanHouse will list the top five names in golf and why they're important. Did Barack play 18 with Tiger? Did a certain player do something controversial off the course? Or was just playing golf enough to get the pot stirring? Join us for a weekly feature we call Making the Cut.

5. Rick Rhoden -- Who said 50-year-old golfers can't win the occasional golf tournament? Rhoden, 56, claimed his eighth (8th!) Lake Tahoe Celebrity Championship last weekend, beating out Dan Quinn and Tony Romo. As Ryan pointed out after the victory, Rhoden has earned more in his "celebrity" golfing than he ever did during a season as a major league baseball player.

A year ago, Greg Norman finished third at the British Open after leading the tournament through 54 holes. He then earned a top-5 finish at the Senior British Open the following week.

His out-of-nowhere showing at Royal Birkdale was enough for the PGA Championship to extend him an invitation. Partly because of his performance in Europe, but also because Tiger Woods was rehabbing a bum knee and Norman could help counter floundering television ratings.

He ultimately declined, Padraig Harrington went on to win his second major in as many months, and ratings were predictably awful.