Big names hoping to weather storm after tough first day on the course

Published on Friday 18 July 2008 10:43

THE Open Championship resumed today amid the threat of being halted by bad weather – but that may not worry some of the biggest names facing an early exit from Royal Birkdale.

World No.2 Phil Mickelson and former winner Ernie Els, two of the favourites to profit from the absence of Tiger Woods, fell victim to the conditions early yesterday, carding rounds of 79 and 80 respectively to finish well off the first-round pace set by Graeme McDowell, Rocco Mediate and Robert Allenby at one under par.

Mickelson admitted it would take something "pretty cool" for him to get back into contention, but that could prove difficult given the weather forecast.

Worryingly for everybody concerned, the current forecast is for things to get worse before they get better – and if the gusts do indeed reach 45mph tomorrow, play may have to be suspended because the balls simply would not stay still on the greens. That already happened to Lee Westwood on the sixth hole yesterday, although the former European No.1 could afford to be phlegmatic after promptly chipping in on his way to an opening 75.

The only "good" news could be the unreliability of the forecast, with Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson blaming the Met Office for the golf body's decision to move just one tee forward by a mere ten yards in the first round.

American Jerry Kelly was unimpressed and let rip at the R&A just as he did at the United States Golf Association when a green in the 2004 US Open became unplayable. On that occasion Kelly, having returned an 81, asked: "When are they going to grow a head?" This time he stated: "It's the worst set-up since Shinnecock Hills. It seems they are learning from the USGA."

Dawson did not believe the course was too tough or unfair.

"What gets written on the Claret Jug is how many strokes, not how many under par," he said.