British Open: Royal Birkdale Shows Its Teeth On Day 1

The British weather came out and showed it’s teeth at Royal Birkdale on Thursday morning and many of the world’s top players were bitten.

With steady rain and non-stop gusting wind, Royal Birkdale played a lot longer than 7,173 yards. Vijay Singh and Ernie Els failed to break 80. 

Phil Mickelson and Rory Sabattini both shot 79; Steve Stricker and Geoff Ogilvy each came in with a 77. 

Surprisingly, some of the old-timers faired better in the cruel morning weather; 

Colin Montgomerie and Jean Van De Velde both shot a 73, while Tom Watson and Mark O’Meara finished with scores of 74.

But, the big story of the day was the 53-year-old two-time British Open champion Greg Norman, who shot an even par 70 and currently sits just one stroke behind the leaders after 18 holes. Norman, who played under easier conditions in the afternoon, made only two bogeys all day and showed us a rare glimpse of the White Shark we were accustomed to see walking the links two decades ago.

The rain all but stopped and the wind subsided for the afternoon tee times, thus offering a far easier course than was seen earlier in the day. Rocco Mediate, Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby each shot 69 and are tied for the lead at one-under par. Adam Scott is one-over and Sergio Garcia, the favorite heading into the week, is at two-over with Anthony Kim.

The players who went off early on Thursday morning were without question given the short end of the stick, but that is British Open golf. The British Open requires more mental strength and more shot creativity than possibly any other major. The weather can change at the drop of a hat, particularly along the Irish Sea in the northwest region of the country. A player can be lucky and have beautiful weather for their four-hour round just as easily as they can be unlucky and have to play through driving rain and high winds.

Needless to say, a player must be prepared for anything at the British Open.

They must be just as prepared both mentally and physically to play in terrible weather as they should be for nice weather. Even though the conditions have been somewhat passive at the Open over the past few years, a true British Open will provide a player with not only an extremely tough golf course but also a battle with the elements.   

Players must have enough shots in their bag to play through the wind and rain: keeping the ball low, drawing and fading the ball against the wind, playing bump and run shots, etc. as well as the ability to score low when the gods do give them reprieve from the wind and rain. The British Open is a true shot maker’s tournament.

The player that hits the ball the longest or the player that putts the best will not necessarily win the tournament. The player that is able to grind his way through the bad weather, be creative with shots and capitalize when he is given a break from the weather will take home the Claret Jug this week at Royal Birkdale.