While it is early in the week yet, I was there today (Tues) and we received rain about 3Pm. In fact, I had just said hello to Mr. Crenshaw after his group hit a tee ball off 10, but they got pulled from the course and didn't even go up the FW to play their shots. So we left.
Tiger and Phil, I felt the course was playing relatively soft in the FWs. Balls weren't rolling after landing much more than 10-15 yards. And, the wind got up pretty well, but many shots that were played just short of the greens were not hopping up and on in a more traditional links style of firmness.
I followed Swampy Sam Torrance and Gilder around a bit, thinking that Marsh and Torrance would play the wind well. They did. But, a couple of shots looked like they were expecting more foregreen jump, and didn't get it. I really thought Torrance looked good, except a disaster at the very difficult 17th where he missed and down to the abyss. What little I saw of the Irishmen McNaulty and Des Smyth looked like they had nice wind games. Smyth hit spectacular low wind Tee ball and appraoches to 18 into stiff wind. Purtzer playing with Ben looked pretty good, and impressivly long.
But, I didn't see any, what I'd call links style golf. Not firm enough, even though they had the wind to make it a linksy show if they were so inclined. I guess, even with the option to play that way, they won't because as we are suggesting, the foregreens aren't firm enough to count on the jump-up.
When I was saying hello to Mr C., another guy asked him what he thought of the course. Maybe it is just me, but I detected a hesitation, and then the comment, "we only saw it briefly yesterday, so I can't say I know it too well". I said, "it isn't exactly Sand Hills" and I think he bit his lip.
