What we learned: Snedeker, Scott steal the show

• By Jay Coffin
• Jul 20, 2012 4:15 PM ET

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Each week, the GolfChannel.com team offers thoughts on "what we learned" from the most recent events and news developments. This week, in a special daily edition from the Open Championship, we learned that Tiger Woods' game plan is boring to watch, and Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott are positioning themselves to hoist this, or a future, claret jug.

A conservative Tiger Woods is a boring Tiger Woods. He may well win this thing, but if he does it'll be one of the least memorable of his 15 majors. Sure, people will remember it for being the major that put him back on track toward Jack Nicklaus' 18 majors, but they won't remember too many great shots, save the bunker hole-out Friday on 18. I want to see Woods bombing drives down fairways and flipping wedge shots to 5 feet, not this iron-off-the-tee-strategy that keeps him out of trouble. Sure, it seems to be working, but it's not fun to watch. – Jay Coffin

I learned that Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott are each setting themselves up to win a major championship – even if it’s not this major championship. At 10 under and 9 under respectively, the two highest players on the 36-hole leaderboard each obviously have a terrific chance of being the next in line to claim the claret jug. One of them won’t, of course, and there’s still a very good possibility that neither will. While that may open them up to criticism for failing to close the deal, the truth is that the experience of being in contention at a major only breeds more confidence in the future. Both of these players have already seriously contended at Augusta National in the past. Just being in the mix at Royal Lytham will be hugely beneficial the next time they’re in this situation. And yes, there will be a next time for both. Check that – many next times. – Jason Sobel

That weather may ultimately decide the 141st Open Championship. Benign conditions have produced a deep leaderboard with four major champions poised among the top 10 at intermission. It may take an old-fashioned hooley to separate them. – Rex Hoggard