Wind holds key at Open

SANDWICH, England:

With strong winds set to cause havoc at the British Open, organisers warned yesterday that some tees may have to be brought forward at Royal St George's to make the course playable.

Gusts of up to 48 kph (30 mph) are forecast for the first two rounds today and tomorrow, which - depending on wind direction - will make some fairways unreachable off the tee for many players.

Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson picked out the par-5 No. 7 and the short No. 11, which is 243 yards from tee to green, as two of several holes that could be modified.

"We do have some wind issues out there,'' Dawson said. "We made the players aware at the start of the week that some tees may be moved up and they were invited to practise off forward tees if they wished.

"I think players should be able to reach the fairway and reach the par 3s, frankly.''

Otherwise, the course was described by R&A championship committee chairman Jim McArthur as "in terrific condition'' and by Dawson as "right up there with the best".

"We believe that Royal St George's is a true Open Championship test,'' McArthur said. "It's very much based on strategic play rather than muscle power.''

Conditions should be easier than in the 2003 tournament at Sandwich, when players were critical that the rough, which gobbled up errant drives, was too thick.

Calmed their fears

As a result of the dry spring in southeast England, Dawson said organisers had been concerned there would be virtually no rough at all. Recent rainfall has calmed their fears.

"We've always said we take what nature gives us but fortunately we've had some rain ... which has been sufficient to rejuvenate the golf course and the amount of rough we have out there is pretty close to what we would like,'' Dawson said. "We don't like rough to hack out of, which all the players say is enough to give them issues with flier lies and so on. It's not as thick as it might have been but it's good playing conditions. We're happy with it.''

American underdog Ben Curtis was the only player to finish under par in 2003 and Dawson said he doesn't expect particularly great scoring this time.