FanHouse JeanVandeVelde

It's been ten years since Jean Van de Velde imploded on Carnoustie's 72nd hole. He stood on the 18th tee box needing just a double-bogey to become the first Frenchmen to win a major championship since Arnaud Massy in 1907. Roughly 15 minutes and seven excruciating strokes later it was over.

My main man Anthony Kim should've heeded the "If you've got nothing good to say, say nothing at all" on Monday when he was doing a press conference with the media for the upcoming Quail Hollow Championship that Kim will be defending at the end of April.

One of the reporters asked a question that has been tossed around the golf world a million times since the economy has hit the basement, and Kim kindly answered it as best he could. Problem was, Kim might want to check the news.

Most of the time viewers watch golfers on the PGA Tour and are more jealous than the buddy of a powerball winner.

Today isn't one of those times.

The leaders at the Open Championship are battling their way around the links of Royal Birkdale in winds that are gusting to 40 miles-per-hour, hitting balls in places you'd never expect pros to be.

Nobody has broke par today and an Englishman named Simon Wakefield, who even the best of golf fans couldn't pick out of a lineup, fired an even-par round of 70 to post five-over, a number that is slowly becoming the mark to beat.

Justin Rose shot an 82, Jean Van de Velde fired an 80 and Adam Scott posted a 77 in winds on a day where the scoring average is 75.75, nearly six-over.

It appears nobody told Greg Norman that he's supposed to be struggling in these conditions. The Shark just made a birdie on the 14th hole to move in the lead at three-over, tied with K.J. Choi as they attempt to take advantage of the par-5 15th.

The weather has brought a lot of golfers back into the picture, including early favorite Anthony Kim, who made an eagle on the 17th hole to post 71. Kim stands at seven-over and as close as he's ever been to winning a major championship.

Bundle up, throw down another glass of coffee and remember how important a par is today. Our final pairing tomorrow could very easily be Simon Wakefield and Greg Norman. My how the world of golf is different without a certain Tiger Woods around.

I've often wondered if Jean Van de Velde would've been remembered as anything more than the first Frenchman to win the British Open in 92 years had he not imploded on Carnoustie's 72nd hole in 1999. The eventual winner, Englishman Paul Lawrie, faded into obscurity shortly after his improbable victory, so it's not like winning one tournament -- even a major -- guarantees anything more than fleeting glory (Todd Hamilton agrees).

But unlike Lawrie, who most casual golf fans would struggle recognize if he walked up and kicked them in the groin, Van de Velde will forever have a place in Open Championship history. Sure, it's not Tiger at Torrey Pines-type memories, but, hey, we can't all be the best player in the world.

Van de Velde qualified for Royal Birkdale, so maybe this is the year he finally wins the thing. Okay, there's a better chance Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia are declared dual champions, but among the three, I'm pulling for Jean. I'm sentimental like that.