Birkdale wind separates men from the boys
Watching Greg Norman roll back the years yesterday afternoon was the highlight of the opening day at Royal Birkdale.
Having set off from home at 5am, and then got drenched following Simon Dyson for four hours, getting the chance to witness a legend like Norman complete his round and then entertain the media, made it all worthwhile.
The two-time Open champion spoke of his appreciation of the course, giving the under-fire R&A a perfect ally in the battle against those who doubted the set-up of some of the par fours. Men like Sandy Lyle, a legend in his own right, who gave up halfway round.
Admittedly, Norman got the better of the conditions, with Lyle, Dyson and the rest of the morning starters playing in weather akin to the storms and gales of the third day at Muirfield six years ago.
My over-riding memory of that Saturday in 2002 was Ernie Els.
While everyone was cowering for cover and being blown off course – Tiger Woods shot a major-worst 81 – the big South African gritted his teeth and marched into the eye of the storm, producing a solid effort that effectively sealed his first Claret Jug the following day.
Typical links weather really does separate the men from the boys. The wind whips in off the course, buffets off the sand dunes and swirls around the tee boxes.
Common occurrences at an Open Championship is a player hitting a drive, watching it sail off into the deep rough, and then turning to his caddy with a shrug of the shoulders before ripping up a clump of grass and throwing it in the air.
More often than not, that wind has changed direction in a matter of seconds.
With the weather on this Friday morning in West Lancashire being similar to yesterday, if not as
severe, it is going to be another day when the men rise above the boys.
The wind is already howling, bringing with it a damp sea mist off the North Sea.
Scores will be high again today. Anything around 72/73 will be a good effort.
An Open Champion does not only have to prove he can master a championship course, but that he has the measure of the weather as well.
Having set off from home at 5am, and then got drenched following Simon Dyson for four hours, getting the chance to witness a legend like Norman complete his round and then entertain the media, made it all worthwhile.
The two-time Open champion spoke of his appreciation of the course, giving the under-fire R&A a perfect ally in the battle against those who doubted the set-up of some of the par fours. Men like Sandy Lyle, a legend in his own right, who gave up halfway round.
Admittedly, Norman got the better of the conditions, with Lyle, Dyson and the rest of the morning starters playing in weather akin to the storms and gales of the third day at Muirfield six years ago.
My over-riding memory of that Saturday in 2002 was Ernie Els.
While everyone was cowering for cover and being blown off course – Tiger Woods shot a major-worst 81 – the big South African gritted his teeth and marched into the eye of the storm, producing a solid effort that effectively sealed his first Claret Jug the following day.
Typical links weather really does separate the men from the boys. The wind whips in off the course, buffets off the sand dunes and swirls around the tee boxes.
Common occurrences at an Open Championship is a player hitting a drive, watching it sail off into the deep rough, and then turning to his caddy with a shrug of the shoulders before ripping up a clump of grass and throwing it in the air.
More often than not, that wind has changed direction in a matter of seconds.
With the weather on this Friday morning in West Lancashire being similar to yesterday, if not as
severe, it is going to be another day when the men rise above the boys.
The wind is already howling, bringing with it a damp sea mist off the North Sea.
Scores will be high again today. Anything around 72/73 will be a good effort.
An Open Champion does not only have to prove he can master a championship course, but that he has the measure of the weather as well.
Labels: Greg Norman, Open Championship, Royal Birkdale, Sandy Lyle, Simon Dyson
posted by Nick Westby at 8:56 AM
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