Jordan Spieth and The British Open Delayed by Rain

17 Jul, 2015

Battalions of workers took to the Old Course early Friday morning to tackle streams, small lakes and large puddles of standing water after play was suspended in the 144th British Open.

Play halted 14 minutes after the first group teed off at 6:32 a.m. local time. The skies opened up and it was as if Mother Nature turned on the shower and the Old Course quickly flooded. There also were waves only a surfer could love rolling in off the North Sea.

Play resumed at 10 a.m. (5 a.m. ET). Workers were still on the course preparing the back nine when the first group returned to the first green and putted out.

Most of the 112 bunkers filled up with water quickly. A large lake formed at the end of the first fairway. Two large areas near the 18th green – including the Valley of Sin – were home to standing water.

There were similar circumstances throughout the golf course.

Lines of workers with squeegees pushed water into the nearest burn. Pumps were used in the worst areas of accumulated water.

The suspension meant reigning Masters and U.S. Open champ Jordan Spieth, who opened with a 5-under-par 67, and pace-setter Dustin Johnson, who fired 65 in the first round, won’t tee off until 5:48 p.m. They will not finish their second rounds today.

Tiger Woods, who shot his worst round (76) on the Old Course as a professional in the first round, is in danger of missing the cut. He will now tee off at 6:10 p.m. Tom Watson, playing the Open on the Old Course for the final time, will tee off at 4:48 p.m.

USAToday

Image IrishTimes

Mentioned In This Post: