Not since the third round at Muirfield in 2002 have conditions been this tough in the Open Championship.
Scores were blown away and umbrellas were turned inside out as the best players in the world struggled in driving rain and gusting winds. Some came off the golf course like basket cases, others were reduced to near hysterical laughter at the absurdity of playing golf in brutal weather conditions on one of the world’s most quintessential links.
Here’s a sampling of what the players had to say on a day when the first 39 players averaged 76.07 on the 7,211, par-70 layout.
Trevor Immelman (72): “It was like going 18 holes with the heavyweight champion of the world.”
Jason Day (76): “There was a moment where me and Bubba (Watson) looked at each other and started laughing. It was the toughest day that we had ever played. You’ve never seen so many people hold their umbrellas sideways.”
Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen (74): “They moved the eighth (tee) up about 40 yards and I couldn’t get there with driver, 3-wood. I got to the front edge. In the practice round we were hitting 3-iron, sand wedge. If you didn’t hit the fairway, you had to lay up and you’re looking at a 140-yard third shot into the rain and wind.”
Bubba Watson (74): “We were talking to the fans on the tee, we mentioned ‘why are y’all out here? Why aren’t you watching on TV?’”
Kennie Ferrie (76): “You just have to battle around. You have no idea what score you are. You’re just trying to survive, just trying to play each hole, not trying to make any disasters.”
Edoardo Molinari (76): “There were some stupid distances. Like on 16 I had 155 yards to the flag and I hit a low 4-iron that came up on the green but a little bit short. The other stupid one was on 10, which is generally a driver and a wedge. I hit driver 30 yards short of the green on Thursday and today it was driver, 2-iron, still short of the green.”
Bo Van Pelt (73): “You come here and know this is part of the deal. If you’re not going to embrace it, you might as well go home. One of my good friends before I left (said) ‘I know you’re not going to want to play in it, but I hope it’s (raining) and blowing on you over there.’ So he’s back in Indiana laughing at me right now.”
Ryan Moore (76): “Oh goodness, I just had so many shots that were strange. I had 160 yards and ripped a 4-iron on 16 and got it right to the front of the green. There was just no way to keep anything dry. Everything was wet, and I had eight towels in my bag.”
Richard Green (73): “We stood on the fourth hole and it was 40 miles an hour into the wind and rain sideways. I think my driver went just 200 yards and then a 3-wood just as far again. Then I pitched up onto the green and made par. I couldn’t believe it. It was awesome.”
Paul Lawrie (81): “We went through six or seven gloves, and four or five towels. It’s just outrageous. It’s brutal. I said to the crowd at the 15th — there was about 40-50 people walking around – ‘you’re just mental.’ I just don’t understand that at all.”
Tom Watson (72): “It can tear you up and spit you out. It’s done it to me.”
It did it to most of the field too.
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