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Wednesday Notebook: GULLANE, Scotland - In the last few days, Ive done about 10 radio shows back home and the consistent questions are: 1. How will Tiger play? 2. Whats up with Rory? 3. Can Phil really win this? 4. How is the course playing? And 5. How will Graham DeLaet play? In order, my responses: 1. I think I still have a few question marks surrounding the state of his game at the moment. He says his elbow is fine and it didnt show any signs of hurting him during practice but hes been off for a month so while I think hell play well, Im not betting on him. 2. Who knows? I dont even think Rory knows and it appears as if its starting to frustrate him, all these mediocre scores and all. He keeps saying hes close, and that hes had good rounds but not good consistency, but until he starts playing like he did at this time last summer, the questions about his clubs, his dedication, his girlfriend et al will continue, even if all of them are unfair and probably have no effect on his game, good or bad. Sometimes guys just dont play well. 3. Phil won on a links course, which is a good thing, an impressive thing, a surprising thing. But Phil winning at the Open to me is still a bit of a long shot. I do think he will be heard from at some point this week, but Im not sold yet that hes figured out how to mesh his immense talent with a links course. 4. Hard and fast. Think Hoylake in 2006. This is as hard and fast as weve seen an Open Championship in some time and I think the players are excited about the prospect. The weather is unseasonably warm (I packed three turtle necks and zero shorts) and the sun is shining. The wind is blowing but not hard which all adds up to tough pin placements or low scores. 5. Graham DeLaet looks confident. He looks relaxed and he seems prepared. I watched him on the range this week stinging three irons about 280 yards without getting six feet off the ground. I saw him bounce shots in from 160 and have them stop right by the pin. I also think he understands the mental test that awaits him but this is his first major and his first British Open so lets not put too much in the way of expectations on the guy (we can save that for next week). ------- It was predictable, of course. Not long after Peter Dawson, head of the R&A, and his pals sat down in front of the press, the questions about gender equality came spewing forth. Why, it was asked many times in many ways, was the R&A okay with holding the grandest of its championships at a facility that doesnt allow women to be members? Dawson bobbed and weaved, even seemed to get a little irritated, but in the end had to absorb countless body blows. There is no way for the R&A to win this one and Dawson probably knows it. After Augusta National admitted women members this past year, it left the R&A standing naked in a field. Of course the question isnt - or shouldnt be - whether or not clubs can be male or female only. Thats up to the club. Its whether or not the Open Championship should be held at such a facility. My answer is no. It will be a long, slow change if it happens, but the questions are going to keep coming until something changes. ------ My top five picks in no particular order: Graeme McDowell, Tiger Woods, Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker and Sergio Garcia. My two darkhorses: Henrik Stenson and Brandon Grace. ------ Random thoughts: I watched David Duval hit a few shots today. He still looked pretty darn good with the club in his hands ... The golf course continues to get harder and faster with each day. One marshal told me that they watered an area where he was standing but the water they put on "wasnt enough to make a cup of tea." ... I ran into the amazing Judy Rankin on the course today. In my book, theres no one better as a walking reporter. Looking forward to working with her in Edmonton next month ... In the bet shops on Wednesday, Graham DeLaet was at 100/1. Tiger was still the favourite at 8/1. Air Force 1 Homme Pas Cher . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Nike React Presto Pas Cher . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.airforce1belgique.com/air-force-1-off-white-pas-cher.html . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Nike Air Force 1 Just Do It Pas Cher .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Nike React Element 87 Belgique . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the second year in a row, the Texas Rangers added a top player who had already nixed a deadline deal to another team.The AL West-leading Rangers acquired catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, a day after the two-time All-Star catcher blocked a trade that would have sent him to AL Central-leading Cleveland.Texas also got Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress in the deal that sent two former first-round draft picks, outfielder Lewis Brinson and right-hander Luis Ortiz, to Milwaukee along with a player to be named.When a guy like Jonathan Lucroy is available, it kind of stands out, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said.Daniels discussed the catcher with Brewers officials last winter and spring, and thought the chance to get him was done when the Indians had an agreement with Milwaukee.Texas got All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels at the non-waiver deadline last season after the pitcher voided a proposed trade that would have sent him from Philadelphia to Houston. Hamels is 19-3 with 3.15 ERA in 33 starts since then, and his three-hitter on the final day of the 2015 regular season clinched the division title.We lined up well with Milwaukee, kind of like last year with Philadelphia, Daniels said. Had a team that had very clear direction. They werent trying to get big league help back where we didnt line up with them. It just made a lot of sense for us.Texas also dealt three pitching prospects to the rebuilding Yankees for All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran, New Yorks top offensive player this season.The 30-year-old Lucroy is hitting .299 with 13 homers and 50 RBI in 95 games this season. He has been with the Brewers for all six of his major league seasons, hitting .284 in 805 games, and his contract includes a $5.25 million team option for 2017.On his verified Twitter account, Lucroy wrote, Now, moving on to the (at)Rangers lets take this bad boy to the `ship! Really excited and cant wait to get after it!In another tweet, Lucroy thanked Brewers fans and said thhey would always have a special place in his heart.ddddddddddddJeffress, 29, is 2-2 with 27 saves and a 2.22 ERA in 47 games this season, the first year as a closer for the 2006 first-round pick. He likely will be in a setup role for the Rangers behind Sam Dyson.After Lucroy nixed the deal with the Indians, the Brewers went right back to work.My phone didnt (stop) buzzing in my pocket ... a pretty good inclination that teams wanted to connect and get back in, general manager David Stearns said. We regrouped, got back upstairs ... and went back it, and pleased to pull this off today.Stearns said the Brewers were got a lot of future value for Lucroy and Jeffress by adding the former Rangers first-round picks that he called premium players.Brinson is a 6-foot-3 center fielder who was the 29th overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft. He is hitting .237 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI in 77 games for Double-A Frisco in the Texas League.Ortiz was the 30th overall pick in 2014. He is 4-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 games combined this season for Class-A High Desert of the California League and Frisco.Milwaukee was 15 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central before Monday nights game at San Diego.The Rangers have an AL-high 62 wins after a four-game series sweep of the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals, and a six-game lead over Houston in the AL West.Texas has used four starting catchers this season, with Bobby Wilson making a team-high 38 starts. Robinson Chirinos has started 33 games, most since coming off the disabled list in early June after missing 53 games because of a broken bone in his right forearm.To make room on their 40-man roster for Lucroy and Jeffress, the Rangers designated catchers Wilson and Bryan Holaday for assignment. Holaday, recalled an injury rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Round Rock, started 25 games behind the plate for Texas. ' ' '