ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Any hopes of a brown and bouncy Old Course were lost more than a week ago when the venerable links was pounded with heavy rain.
“The place was awash,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said.
So, yes, the course is softer and more receptive than tournament officials would prefer. Darren Clarke, who has played here for nearly 30 years, said he cannot recall ever seeing the course this green.
The unpredictable weather is the course’s main defense, but the home of golf has been under assault during the past three Opens here, with winning scores of 19 under (2000), 14 under (2005) and 16 under (2010).