Looking through the key holes of the Open
HAVING grown up in these parts and played the course hundreds of times, my preparation for this year’s Open Championship, working alongside Alvaro Quiros, has been slightly more relaxed than in previous years.
After travelling all around the world, it’s great to be back home, and an honour as always to be at the best venue for any Major anywhere in the world.
On arrival on Monday, she – the course – looked in fantastic shape. The fairways are hard and fast and the greens firm and bouncy. All that could change, however, with the expected change in weather conditions ahead of tomorrow morning’s early start.
If anything, rain makes the course easier to play with the fairways and greens softening up. It’s the wind which causes the biggest problem around here and can easily prove the difference between challenging for the title and falling out of contention.
EXCITING FINALE
When I think of St Andrews, my mind immediately turns to the famous 17th hole – so often the scourge of many of the world’s top players over the years.
Right from your tee shot at the first, the ‘Road Hole’ is always in the back of your mind, and even though you’ve got some pretty tough challenges ahead of you before then, it niggles at you for three hours solid.
Like the 17th at Sawgrass, it seems to have a stigma attached to it.
This year, however, they’ve put the tee back another 40 yards, making it an even tougher proposition to gain position from your tee shot over the old railway sheds and en route to the extremely shallow green, set at a 45 degree angle to the fairway.
My fear is, however, that the extra distance will tempt players to lay up and rely on a chip and putt for par, rather than going for the exciting finale.
Sport is evolving all the time and golf is no different. People might think that course alterations are the bane of caddies’ lives, but players are hitting harder and longer than ever before, so modifications are inevitable.
I was a little sceptical when I first heard about the changes at Wentworth, albeit far more drastic. But they have worked for the better and St Andrews, despite its history, is no different.
As a young Spaniard, Alvaro has not played a great deal of links golf, but he is adjusting well and enjoyed a good practice round yesterday.
He is probably the longest hitter in the game and that may suit him this weekend so who knows.
HOLE 4 (Par 4, 419 yards)
You need to be able to drive the ball 290 yards just to clear the rough, and sometimes against the wind. Those who succeed then have an awkward second shot onto a green which slopes around all over the place. A true test.
HOLE 11 (Par 3, 176 yards)
This par 3 can play as long as 185 yards, against the wind. Go too short then you’re in a horrible bunker to the front middle, just in front of the pin, go too long, then there’s a danger you could roll off the green, leaving you a horrible chip.
HOLE 17 (Par 4, 455 yards)
Moving the tee back 40 yards makes the gruelling ‘Road Hole’ an even tougher proposition. If teeing off blind over the old railway sheds isn’t daunting enough, the second shot into a near impossible green will catch many out.