Birkdale wind separates men from the boys

Watching Greg Norman roll back the years yesterday afternoon was the highlight of the opening day at Royal Birkdale.

Having set off from home at 5am, and then got drenched following Simon Dyson for four hours, getting the chance to witness a legend like Norman complete his round and then entertain the media, made it all worthwhile.

The two-time Open champion spoke of his appreciation of the course, giving the under-fire R&A a perfect ally in the battle against those who doubted the set-up of some of the par fours. Men like Sandy Lyle, a legend in his own right, who gave up halfway round.

Admittedly, Norman got the better of the conditions, with Lyle, Dyson and the rest of the morning starters playing in weather akin to the storms and gales of the third day at Muirfield six years ago.

My over-riding memory of that Saturday in 2002 was Ernie Els.

While everyone was cowering for cover and being blown off course – Tiger Woods shot a major-worst 81 – the big South African gritted his teeth and marched into the eye of the storm, producing a solid effort that effectively sealed his first Claret Jug the following day.

Typical links weather really does separate the men from the boys. The wind whips in off the course, buffets off the sand dunes and swirls around the tee boxes.

Common occurrences at an Open Championship is a player hitting a drive, watching it sail off into the deep rough, and then turning to his caddy with a shrug of the shoulders before ripping up a clump of grass and throwing it in the air.

More often than not, that wind has changed direction in a matter of seconds.

With the weather on this Friday morning in West Lancashire being similar to yesterday, if not as
severe, it is going to be another day when the men rise above the boys.

The wind is already howling, bringing with it a damp sea mist off the North Sea.

Scores will be high again today. Anything around 72/73 will be a good effort.

An Open Champion does not only have to prove he can master a championship course, but that he has the measure of the weather as well.

Yorkshire rich with golfing success

Yorkshire golf is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance at present with some illustrious tournaments being won by professionals and amateurs.

We’ve had Hull professional Richard Finch winning the prestigious Irish Open, Rebecca Hudson of Doncaster prevailing in a play-off to win the Ladies Tenerife Open and Steve Uzzell clinching the second biggest prize in amateur golf, the Brabazon Trophy.

Danny Willett has turned from highly successful amateur into European Tour rookie but has shown no signs of slowing down with three top 20 finishes in four starts.

Rachel Bell has made a similarly impressive start to her new life on the Ladies European Tour whilst Georgina Simpson continues knocking at the door of a maiden win.

Iain Pyman teed off in the European Open at the London Golf Club in Kent today, the Challenge Tour stalwart - one of four Yorkshiremen in the tournament - making a fifth successive appearance on the main tour thanks to a third-place finish in the Austrian Open.

Simon Dyson is also returning to form after his two sterling rounds at Sunningdale clinched a spot in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale later this month.

Uzzell’s win in the Brabazon Trophy has elevated his amateur status, earning him a pair of England caps. He is currently in Italy representing his country in the World Team Championships.

A new star emerged at the Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Alwoodley Golf Club last week in the shape of 18-year-old Low Laithes golfer Richard Law.

The teenager showed great maturity to prevail against 165 players, over two rounds of strokeplay and four rounds of matchplay before eventually crushing Nigel Sweet of Moortown 10&8.

On the ladies amateur scene, Naomi Edwards, Emma Brown and Jodi Ewart continue to set records and defeat all before them both in individual competitions and whilst representing Yorkshire.

It is a wonderful tonic for Yorkshire golf to have all these shining lights raising the profile of the sport in the county through their achievements.

And long may it continue.

Finch, following breakthrough victories in the New Zealand and Irish opens, stands on the verge of a first appearance in a Ryder Cup. Another win over the next two months will guarantee him a seat on the plane to Kentucky, USA.

He makes his Open Championship debut later this month as a multiple winner on the European Tour.

Hudson finally ended her quest for a second title in Tenerife two weeks ago, rocketing up the Money List to seventh.

While the men tee off at the London Golf Club for the European Open today, Hudson begins her challenge for the English Ladies Open at the Oxfordshire Golf Club tomorrow as one of the favourites for the title.

She said: “The British love their sport and playing on home soil is always a highlight. I think there are a lot of new and established players who have a chance this week.”

Yorkshire golf fans also love their sport, and there are plenty of new and established players doing their bit to raise the standard.