Weather is almost always a factor when the British Open is played, and this year’s tournament has been no different.
After a lengthy rain delay to begin the second round on Friday morning, wind was the issue on Saturday. Players — 40 of them — who did not get a chance to finish their second rounds continued them for just over 30 minutes on Saturday morning before play was halted. Jordan Spieth, who started things off with a three-putt par on the 14th and another par on 15, was not pleased.
“We should have never started in the first place,” Spieth said, per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today.
Brendon Todd agreed.
“We shouldn’t have been out there,” Todd said. “I three-putted the 16th, three-putted the 17th and then they suspended play. You really couldn’t putt when we were out there. You’re standing over a putt wondering if the ball’s going to roll into your putter. That’s an unnerving thought.
“I think there was an error made. We shouldn’t not have restarted.”
In other words, the players who had to play on Saturday morning felt as though they were guinea pigs. The R&A, which runs The Open Championship, claims there was a significant increase in wind after that short span of play.
“Balls were not moving on the greens and while the conditions were extremely difficult, we considered the golf course to be playable,” the R&A said in a statement. “Gusts of wind increased in speed 10-15% after play resumed. This could not be foreseen at the time that play was restarted and made a material difference to the playability of the golf course.”
This should help give you an idea of just how windy it was:
This is what's happening at St Andrews. Via @DWilkinsonCNN
#wind #TheOpen #golf pic.twitter.com/Jl3Y2kiTS8
— Harry Reekie (@HarryCNN) July 18, 2015
Ridiculous wind @TheOpen I'm just glad I didn't end up in the North Sea!! pic.twitter.com/IzDoDawQsk
— Chris J Garagiola (@Its_Giuseppe) July 18, 2015
The wind continues to blow on The Old Course. #TheOpen #ScottishSummer pic.twitter.com/LbDEEYRCO3
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2015
Put it this way — the wind was whipping so hard that this guy probably had trouble putting out his cigarettes.
The tournament is now scheduled to conclude on Monday.
Photo: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
