Players at the AIG Women’s Open are bracing for harsh weather with winds up to 45mph expected.
R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers mentioned that they’ve slowed down the course, but there might be delays if the wind gets too strong and moves golf balls on exposed greens.
To combat this, they’ve added water to the greens and raised the cut height to keep balls from rolling away.
Weather Challenges:
Slumbers explained that they expect very windy conditions for the opening round. “The forecast shows a realistic chance of 40-45 mph winds tomorrow,” he said. The met office has been predicting this for some time now.
They’ve made several adjustments to make sure players can still compete. For example, they’ve increased the grass height on greens and watered them more than usual. They also have plans on where to place pins to protect against the wind as much as possible.
Fans might think these changes will make it an even tougher challenge for players.
Slumbers assured everyone that despite potential delays, they are prepared. “We know where we can put pins to give players some room,” he said. He hopes it won’t get so windy that play becomes impossible.
The new rule change from 2019 is also helpful in these conditions. Once you mark your ball on the green, that’s its spot even if wind or other forces move it later. This means fewer interruptions due to moving balls.
Reflecting on past events like the 2015 men’s Open at St Andrews, Slumbers noted how high winds had previously caused issues with balls moving on exposed greens like holes 11, 12, and 13.
He emphasized their commitment: “We’ll do everything we can to keep play going while maintaining the integrity of the championship.”
Just heard from a LPGA player that they hit driver-three wood into the 12th today in a practice round. Truly incredible. The 12th is a hole almost every player in the field could drive in ‘22. Winds this week are going to be INSANE.
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon)
Greens are kept slow at around 9.6 on the stimpmeter—much slower than what was seen at Pinehurst during June’s men’s US Open. They may speed them up over the weekend if calmer weather arrives.
“We’re mowing greens at about 4.75 millimeters and adding water,” Slumbers shared. Daily updates are provided to players about green speeds which were around 9-foot-6 today and similar yesterday.
Using a split-tee system will help ensure timely completion by Sunday since daylight hours are shorter due to scheduling changes related to the Olympics.
St Andrews is hosting its third AIG Women’s Open after previous events in 2007 and 2013. It promises an exciting tournament as top female golfers face true links challenges again this year!
World No.2 Lilia Vu will defend her title from last year’s win at Walton Heath.
What do you think about these preparations?
