Accenture Match Play 2013: How Weather Delay Will Affect Today's Matches
After the first day of the 2013 Accenture Match Play Championship had to be suspended on Wednesday due to snowy conditions, the event has been delayed on Thursday, according to USA Today.
Only 21 of the 32 golfers were able to get started on Wednesday, and that didn't include world No.1 Rory McIlroy and world No. 2 Tiger Woods. Play was scheduled to resume at 10:40 a.m. ET on Thursday, but it's been delayed until at least 1:30 p.m. due to the conditions.
Because of the snow, the links are going to be very soft, meaning players like Woods who can drive the ball farther off the tee should have an advantage. These are some of the best golfers in the world. They know how to handle delays. But that doesn't change the fact that the conditions will naturally help some golfers while leaving others at a disadvantage.
Beyond Woods and McIlroy, players such as Bubba Watson, Jason Day, Adam Scott and Robert Garrigus should all have an advantage on Thursday, given they all ranked in the top 10 in average driving distance in 2012 (per PGATour.com).
Day is 6 Up on Zach Johnson through 10 holes so far, Watson is even with Chris Woods through six, Scott is 1 Up on Tim Clark through eight and Woods, McIlroy and Garrigus haven't started yet against their respective opponents.
Of course, just because you're a great driver doesn't mean you're going to win your respective match. You still have to play the short game and you still have to putt, obviously two critical abilities in the game of golf. But the conditions do favor some and Woods and McIlroy have to be smiling right about now.
Conditions are always a physical (and mental) hurdle in the game of golf. Those who adapt have the best chance of coming out on top.
