Well, Stogy Smokin' Golfers, this week marks what I feel will be the beginning of a brilliant career on the Major Championship stage, and the end of the greatest career on the same stage.

When Sunday afternoon rolls around at the Royal Birkdale Course in England, 25 year old Lee Westwood will have won the 127th British Open, the first of what I believe will be many such championships. He impressed me with his poise and confidence when he performed very well in the Ryder Cup for Europe; he's won seven times around the world in the last nine months, including the warmup event in Scotland; and he enjoys squiring beautiful women, drinking pints of cool beverages, and (so I've heard) he smokes a stogie or two on occasion! Our kind of guy!

Everyone has read or heard that this British Open marks the end of Jack Nicklaus' incredible streak of 146 straight appearances in pro golf's Big Four major championships. What you may not know is that Jack has participated in 154 successive majors that he was eligible for, dating all the way back to 1957 (that would be when Ike was President, Sid Caesar and Milton Berle ruled television, Elvis Presley was the hottest thing on records, and the guy with the other incredible streak, Cal Ripken, hadn't been born yet!).

Another amazing fact: Nicklaus won 18 majors, and came in second 19 times. 37 top two finishes! Close to 25% of the time, when he entered a major, he came in either first or second!

So, as your sitting in front of your sets this weekend, marvel at the terrific players in their twenties that are playing such great golf...and then realize that in all probability they will NEVER get even close to the record of the man who, for the first time in a long, long, time, will not be a part of a major championship leader board. If you see Jack Nicklaus this weekend, be sure (no matter how much loot he's got!) you pick up the tab, and for heaven's sake, light the guy's cigar...HE DESERVES IT.