Turnberry is almost a home game for Padraig Harrington. A short hop over the Irish Sea, and a million miles (weather-wise) from the Riviera, Padraig is wishing the worst for the village of Maidens and the Turnberry course. "When conditions are easy," he says, "everyone has a chance. It plays to my advantage when the wind starts to blow."
The forecast calls for overcast skies and a bit of rain, but none of those Scottish winds that Padraig was hoping for. However, Irish and Scotsmen alike know that whatever the weather is at the start of the week means nothing because the coast of Scotland is fickle to say the least.
Ask Tony Jacklin who posted a 74 at Turnberry in 1973 and described it as "the best round I've ever played." In an effort to scare the rain suits off the Americans, Jacklin talked about how he needed a driver, a 1-iron and two 3-irons just to reach the green of the par-5 17th, now 559 yards. Imagine what it’s like when the weather's too bad to play.
However, Turnberry doesn’t need rain to turn ugly. Take the 1977 Open that Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus dubbed “Duel In The Dust;” it was like a West Texas sand storm with a funny accent. At one point the players asked that the spectators be moved back to try and ease the storm they were kicking up with their feet; it was The Grapes of Wrath in argyle.
In 1986 Greg Norman said he had to grab his golf bag to keep from going Mary Poppins with his umbrella, but other than that the weather was perfect.
I don’t care if Ben Hogan only played in one Open because he hated the weather, the people and everything else about Scotland. If it was up to me, I’d crank up the wind and rain until it rolls their socks down. I didn’t pay to watch a walk in the park. Okay, I didn’t pay for anything, but the point is wearing sweaters in July is as British as bad teeth. So, bring it on. Show these pansies in plaid pants what you’re made of. The last thing the Open needs is Chamber of Commerce weather, or someone named Lucas Glover to win.
Still, some experts argue that Turnberry is too easy a course to be part of the Open rotation. Granted, it is not Carnoustie and Birkdale, where Harrington won the first two legs of what so many Irish are hoping will be a hat trick. But if the weather gods decided to party with the golf gods Turnberry will hold its own.
I suspect that Tiger and every other non-Scotsman is hoping for clear skies and gentle seas beside soft fairways that welcome high, soft shots that are the trademark of the American tour, and that may very well turn out to be the case. On the other hand if the Irish Sea comes calling, Harrington may very well be the first person in almost sixty years to win three in a row. That would be fun to watch.
By the by, you can follow the Open on Twitter and FaceBook this year and you don’t even need a computer if you have an iPhone, which also has an Open App you can download.
What would Old Tom and Young Tom think?
I, on the other hand, will slip into my kilt, light a fire, crank up the 50” TV and order up a haggis pizza.
I love the Open, and because I like you, there will be no pictures of me wearing a kilt.
