5-at-10: Tiger tumbles at British Open, SEC picks, Pay days, Rushmore of Will Farrell movies

HOOVER, Ala. – From the roaming version of the “Talks too much” studios, tonight’s top story, the streets run red with Ron Burgandy’s blood.

British Open

Wow, Tiger looked like you or me. Dude went out in 40 – and the front nine was the easy side on Thursday at St. Andrews – and Tiger Woods was only four shots back of 65-year-old Tom Watson at the turn.

So before most of America had breakfast, Tiger Woods was 10 shots back of Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, who were on the course at 6 under through 12 holes of the British Open.

Scoring appears doable today. There were several golfers with the Spieth and Johnson – the top two finishers, respectively, at the U.S. Open – at 6 under as golf was still being played this morning.

Sometimes we over think this right? Spieth looked every bit the part of the guy that has won the last two majors. He was smooth and controlled and fearless and fortified.

As was Johnson, who hits the ball the way Lawrence Taylor hit Joe Theissman – hard, low and aggressively.

We’ll update with final scores – how great is the British Open to give us early morning conversation – but we can say now: Woods is lost.

The funny thing too was he was apparently crushing it on the practice tee, hitting every shot in every shape.

Or as Kevin Van Valkenburg of ESPN.com tweeted:

“Watch Tiger on the range, and it’s still like watching Yo-Yo Ma play the cello. He gets on the course and it’s like he’s strangling a goose.”

Oh, yeah, he’s also like double-digits back of some amateur named Jordan Neibrugge.

Ouch-standing.

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SEC media days

Bret Bielema stole the show Wednesday.

He wore some jazzy Nike Air Force Ones. He said beating Texas and taking a knee at the 2 was “borderline erotic.” He said, on being on the coverage of the media guy with his offensive linemen, that those are the guys he enjoys taking pictures with.

Good times.

Oh, Nick Saban was here too, as TFP SEC ace David Paschall shares here.

So, were some Auburn fans decked out in Ohio State gear. So it goes.

Today we see the predictions. Here’s ours.

EAST

1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. South Carolina
4. Florida
5. Missouri
6. Kentucky
7. Vandy

WEST

1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Ole Miss
4. Texas A&M
5. LSU
6. Arkansas
7. Mississippi State

So there’s that. And we’re ready to be back in Chatta-Vegas.

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Money, money, money

Dez Bryant cashed in. He got a five-year, $70 million deal with Dallas.

So did Justin Houston. He got a six-year, $101 million deal with Kansas City.

So did Michigan. The Wolverines signed a 10-year, $170 million deal with Nike.

So did Demaryius Thomas. He got a similar deal to Bryant’s.

Heck, according to this report, Will Muschamp is making $3.8 million per year for the next three years – averaging $1.7 million from Auburn and $2.1 million in his buyout from Florida – to be a defensive coordinator for crying out loud.

Buckets that’s a bucket of cash.

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This and that

– More Open Championship: According to ESPN stats, the last six winners at St. Andrews after round were: in the top five, in the 60s and within two shots of the lead. So there’s that.

– Here’s LeBron James playing Faceketball with Jimmy Fallon. You may not like James – we do, as most of you know – but he seems like a good dude. Could you see MJ or Kobe do anything like that?

– We had the pleasure of watching the Blue Angels practice this summer. Here’s a group of beach goers who got the same thrill and something extra.

– UTC has decided to give its scholarship basketball players – 15 women and 13 men – $2,000 each in a cost of attendance allowance. Here’s the story.

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Today’s question

We have a spot open in the mailbag. Whatcha’ got?

As for a Rushmore, well, our man Will Ferrell turns 48 today.

What’s our Rushmore of Will Farrell movies?

You stay classy Chattanooga.