Are you kidding me? Play suspended for wind?

[Jay Flemma]

What a break for Woods!.  The BBC announcer on radio said "Woods's round just went from 78 to 68."

It could be one or two hours delay according to announcers.

[Phil McDade]

A sad day for the Open. Even in the worst of Pebble's weather back when Kite won, and at Muirfield during the 3rd round monsoon (with Muryama hiding behind a sign to escape the wind) was play suspended.

[John Moore II]

I agree that it sounds odd, but they were showing guys out on the 7th green and they were not able to get balls to remain still after replacing them. I think they said it was blowing 25mph, with 40+ mph gusts out in the 7 through 11 area. Thats tough stuff.

[Jay Flemma]

BBC announcers - "But that's golf.  Sometimes it blows a "hooley" and you;re supposed to play on."

Next announcer - "Well everyone, go on it to the merchandise tent and buy some men's wear, ladies' wear..."

[Tim Bert]

Bogus in my opinion.  Oosthuizen had a genuine chance to run away with this thing based on the score he posted this morning.  They basically just made the decision to do as much as possible to ensure he doesn't have a big lead.  It may also doom Mickelson to the cut line - not that he looked to be in contention anyway.  Maybe it can rain tomorrow and they can go with lift, clean & place.

[John Moore II]

Bogus in my opinion.  Oosthuizen had a genuine chance to run away with this thing based on the score he posted this morning.  They basically just made the decision to do as much as possible to ensure he doesn't have a big lead.  It may also doom Mickelson to the cut line - not that he looked to be in contention anyway.  Maybe it can rain tomorrow and they can go with lift, clean & place.

I don't agree with this at all. Guys were really having trouble keeping the balls still on the green. Shots from the fairway are no big deal. But you have to be able to keep the ball steady on the green.

[Tom Birkert]

Bogus in my opinion.  Oosthuizen had a genuine chance to run away with this thing based on the score he posted this morning.  They basically just made the decision to do as much as possible to ensure he doesn't have a big lead.  It may also doom Mickelson to the cut line - not that he looked to be in contention anyway.  Maybe it can rain tomorrow and they can go with lift, clean & place.

I think the decision was rather made due to not being able to place the ball on the greens and putt. Not sure what the R&A were supposed to do.

[Jay Flemma]

What?  One guy on 11?  That's golf.  Muirfield in '02 was much worse and they played.  Nae wiind, nae golf.

[Matthew Petersen]

I don't see how they had any choice with this. Balls would not stay still on the green ... so what options do you have at that point? It's very clear that the reason they stopped play was the way the wind is affecting the ball on the green.

[Mark McKeever]

I find this saddening...

Mark

[Jay Flemma]

I played the Rawls Course in cloase to 50 mph.  My 6'9" playing partner got blown off his feet on the third tee.  Play on!  Someone cure King Lear.

[Brian Phillips]

What?  One guy on 11?  That's golf.  Muirfield in '02 was much worse and they played.  Nae wiind, nae golf.

Jay,

The difference is that Muirfield was wet....balls stayed still.  What are you supposed to do when balls do not stop on the greens.  Over 3-4 greens were unplayable.

[Tom Birkert]

R&A Director of Rules on the BBC, saying all the holes near the estuary were unplayable.

He stated that the odd oscillation, the odd moving ball is not a problem, but it was happening to everyone on 7, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

He also said that these exposed greens were prepared differently to try and ensure this didn't happen.

It's due to the strength (40mph) and direction of the wind.

[Chip Gaskins]

you can't play golf when the ball is moving around on the green.  sort of hard to line up and hit a putt when the ball changes location.

am i missing something?

[Mike McGuire]

Damn - I knew I should note have logged into GCA.com. Watching off DVR.

[Bill_McBride]

you can't play golf when the ball is moving around on the green.  sort of hard to line up and hit a putt when the ball changes location.

am i missing something?

Not to mention the penalty shot(s) for addressing a ball that moves!

[Michael Huber]

Oh boy this is a sticky situation.

There has been some really miserable weather at the Open, I don't have acess to coverage, but that better be some serious wind for a suspension of play.  At St Andrews, of all places....sigh

[Charlie Goerges]

I don't think it's because of how difficult it is to putt, it's because if the ball moves once you address the ball, it's a penalty. In a case like that, the players simply won't putt. It is kind of wimpy though. Unfortunately it's also reality.

[Phil McDade]

Just saw the Dufner video on ESPN; without withdrawing my previous comment about it being a sad day for the Open, it did look like Dufner was in an untenable position -- he twice saw his ball move away (once by nearly a foot) after putting it down next to his mark, and then clearly was faced with a choice of addressing his ball on the green while it was still moving (a penalty) or hitting a moving ball (also a penalty).

[John Moore II]

Oh boy this is a sticky situation.

There has been some really miserable weather at the Open, I don't have acess to coverage, but that better be some serious wind for a suspension of play.  At St Andrews, of all places....sigh

It was blowing hard. Phil recounts what happened to Dufner. And the announcers have said that the winds were blowing 40+ mph out in holes 7 through 11. Thats tough stuff.

[George Pazin]

I played the Rawls Course in cloase to 50 mph.  My 6'9" playing partner got blown off his feet on the third tee.  Play on!  Someone cure King Lear.

Come on, Jay, you're not seriously comparing your round at Rawls to The Open Championship, are you?

[Jay Flemma]

no, George,  but the site of a six foot nine guy getting knocked out of his stance and staggering to stay up if hilarious!  And a life story.  You don't see that every day.

And I don't care what you say, playing in high winds (as long as it isn't cold and rainy) is fun.  Down.  Right. Fun.

BBC Announcers "It's not that bad on the rest of the course, at 11 it's tougher."

They are bantering back and forth.

[Brian_Ewen]

Jay
Everytime you post, I find it hard to believe you have ever played the game !

[Mike Hendren]

I'm guessing most people grossly overestimate wind speeds.  20 mph is a lot of wind and I can't fathom that many, if any have played an extended stretch of golf in 50 mph winds.

The modern Beaufort Scale, named after Sir Francis Beaufort, is used in the shipping forecast broadcast on BBC in the UK.  Winds between 39 and 46 mph (62-74 km/h) are classified as a "Gale."  Among land effects, cars veer on the road and "progress on foot is seriously impeded."

You purists must really find it challenging to play your hickories and featheries in gale force winds.  

Bogey

[George Pazin]

no, George,  but the site of a six foot nine guy getting knocked out of his stance and staggering to stay up if hilarious!  And a life story.  You don't see that every day.

And I don't care what you say, playing in high winds (as long as it isn't cold and rainy) is fun.  Down.  Right. Fun.

Sure it is.

But conducting a competition with balls moving on the greens isn't.

Nice post, Bogey.