We all know that a links course that is soft and without the elements of wind and rain is DRAMATICALLY easier for any player especially the pros. The difference in difficulty (when in comes to varying conditions) seems far more pronounced than on the regular PGA venues here in the states. Any thoughts why?
Links courses can play very fiery-so when conditions permit, they are very difficult-especially when the wind kicks up.But with modern equipment when they ARE firery. pros can simply avoid the driver and use shorter clubs to hold the fairways.
PGA Tour courses are never fiery-so there's really no difference when it rains.
There was a time when rain made courses play long and difficult and though greens and fairways were easier to hold, longer clubs into greens mitigated some of the effect of the softness.
Additionally, with no irrigation in play, rains will generally run off a links courses very quickly-with irrigation, the fairways aren't starting from a point of being parched.
Nowadays, no courses are long, they just might have to hit drivers and three woods off tees rather than 3 and 4 irons.
Erin Hills showed us all we need to know about the way elite player golf has changed (course impossible for average players and easy for the elite)
And by the way, I was at Birkdale yesterday--it ain't easy-the same as Erin Hills isn't easy.