ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – With winds forecast to reach 40 mph on Friday at the Open Championship players were factoring the demanding conditions into their preparations for this week’s event.
It was interesting, however, that it is just not ball flight and trajectory that needs to be fine-tuned to deal with the gale. Putting, according to various sources, is also impacted by the high coastal winds.
“Downwind putts can be a foot and a half, 2 feet faster,” said Colin Swatton, Jason Day’s caddie/swing coach.
Speed is the primary issue, judging the distance for either into or downwind putts, but the line of putts can also be impacted by the breeze.