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.Cheap Shoes Free Shipping .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Cheap Shoes From China . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. https://www.wholesaleshoesusa.com/ . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. China Shoes 2020 . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Discount Shoes For Sale . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay.ASHBURN, Va. -- After the customary season-opening flyover, keep your eyes in the air when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Redskins.Ben Roethlisberger and Kirk Cousins will go pass for pass in the Monday night matchup at FedEx Field. With questions in the running game on each side, look for Roethlisberger to air it out to All-Pro Antonio Brown and Co., Cousins to do the same to receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Jordan Reed.The Steelers are without running back LeVeon Bell, suspended the first three games for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. The Redskins will rely on Matt Jones to be their No. 1 back for the first time, but hes coming off a separated left shoulder. Guess its a good thing Roethlisberger and Cousins have plenty of weapons to throw to.Its exciting, Cousins said Wednesday. Weve said it, I remember, since the spring, that theres only one football to go around and my job is to be a good distributor, get the ball in their hands and let them see what they can do.Pittsburghs ground game can still keep Washington honest, but the matchup to watch is Brown vs. All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. This is the first time theyre facing each other since 2014, when Norman was in Carolina and before he became a star and signed a $75 million, five-year deal with the Redskins.Thats going to be a tall task to take on, and I respect 110 percent and looking forward to what he brings, because that matchup obviously is going to be a physical one and its going to be a fun one, Norman said. I have nothing but respect for that guy.Norman also gushed about his respect for Roethlisberger, who has thrown for 42,995 yards and 272 touchdowns in his career. Big Ben keeps on ticking, even with all the hitting.Its one of those things, youre constantly learning and evolving, trying to understand the offense, get the ball out of your hands, call a quick pass, Roethlisberger said.Cousins threw for 29 touchdowns and a franchise-record 4,166 yards last season, but comes into 2016 with something to prove, playing on the franchise tag. Pittsburgh certainly isnt underestimating Cousins.I dont know what people are looking for, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. He threw for over 4,000 yards and over 25 touchdowns. The last six games of the season his quarterback rating was over 100. He needs no endorsement from me.Heres what else to watch for on Monday night between the Steelers and Redskins:STILL RUNNING: For most teams, losing an All-Pro caliber back like Bell would be lethal. Not Pittsburgh, which will rely on seeminglyy ageless 33-year-old DeAngelo Williams until Bell returns.ddddddddddddAll Williams did a year ago when Bell was hurt was tie for the league lead with 11 rushing touchdowns, average 4.5 yards a carry and catch a career-high 40 passes. DeAngelo does not lack confidence by any stretch of the imagination, but thats what you want, Roethlisberger said. You want a guy who is going to step up and be ready to go, try not to miss a beat. Last year, he showed what he can do, and I think well see the same thing.START RUNNING: The Redskins running game struggled in 2015 and Alfred Morris is now in Dallas. Jones and undrafted rookie Robert Kelley are tasked with running the ball, but improving the unit is a team effort that includes Cousins, the tight ends and the offensive line. Its a great challenge for us, especially against this defense, coach Jay Gruden said. They always have been pretty dang good against the run. I was in Cincinnati for three years playing against them, and you feel like beating your head against the wall calling a running play against them sometimes.MORE THAN NORMAN: Before the Redskins signed Norman, Bashaud Breeland was penciled in as their top cornerback. He might be among the best No. 2 cornerbacks around and should see a lot of Brown because Gruden hinted that Washington will keep Norman on one side and not shadow. Were going to count on him in a big way, Gruden said recently of Breeland. He understands that, he accepts that and hes going to do great.FRESH BLOOD: The Steelers have spent the last four months aggressively trying to patch up a secondary that ranked 30th against the pass. Pittsburgh used its top two draft picks on defensive backs (cornerback Artie Burns and safety Sean Davis) and even acquired 2014 first-round pick Justin Gilbert from Cleveland over the weekend. Davis could be used in nickel packages as Pittsburgh tries to figure out a way to slow down Reed.TERRIBLE TOWELS: Remembering how Steelers fans took over FedEx Field in 2008, the Redskins are giving out burgundy rally towels to counteract the famous Terrible Towels that could be prominent. The fans travel well for the Steelers, ex-Pittsburgh and current Washington defensive lineman Ziggy Hood said. I just hope we have a little bit more of our fans than we do Steelers.---AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '