By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
TROON, Scotland — Justin Thomas made his British Open debut at Royal Troon eight years ago, and it taught him everything he needs to know about what can make this major so maddening.
It had nothing to do with gorse bushes or pot bunkers. It was about weather and tee times.
“I was in the bad one,” Thomas said.
By that he meant the bad side of the draw, and it’s part of the charm – or curse – of the event.
It was fairly benign in the opening round at Royal Troon in 2016, all the way through Friday morning until 30 mph winds and a driving rain made players in the afternoon feel they were on a different course than those who played early.
So severe was the change in weather that the leading 14 players going into the weekend, including Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson, came from one side of the draw.
“I’ve never in my life grinded so hard to finish 50th,” Thomas said. “I shot 77 and made the cut by one. The worst part was Saturday and Sunday. The morning was the worst and you couldn’t gain any ground.”
Summer daylight hours in the U.K. enable players to start off one tee for the entire day. Justin Leonard will hit the opening tee shot on Thursday at 6:30 a.m. local time (Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. PT). Sam Horsfield is the last to play. He will tee off about 4:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. PT).
That allows the weather to play a massive role. That happens elsewhere, but it is more pronounced in links golf. Sometimes the worst of it is in the morning, as in 2008 when Rich Beem and Sandy Lyle walked off Royal Birkdale after nine and 10 holes, respectively.
The forecast for the start of the 152nd Open is for off-and-on rain during the day with gusts in the 20 mph range early in the afternoon – about the time Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are finishing their rounds – and then easing late. And then more gusts Friday afternoon.
It’s worth noting the forecast seems to change by the day. No one will really know until they’re in the clear, or…
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