Rory McIlroy recently blamed the weather for his indifferent performance at the British Open earlier in the month. I commented at the time that this seemed a little sour as the conditions were the same for all golfers, and that’s simply one of the challenges you face, particularly on a links course.
However for the golfers taking part in the Nordea Scandinavian Masters last Sunday, I have some sympathy!
Held at Bro Hof Slott, near Stockholm (a course considered for the 2018 Ryder Cup), the wind caused mayhem, leading to some unprecedented high scores.
“I’ve never seen wind like this in Sweden,” said Alex Noren, who won with a closing 77 after shooting a course record 63 in the third round.
“The only thing I thought of all day was the 17th. I said it doesn’t matter how I play up to that, I just have to survive 17 – and I did.”
The 17th is a 164 yard island green – tricky at the best of times!
Noren somehow parred the hole and three of the 65 players – Scott Hend, Pablo Martin and Jeev Milkha Singh even managed birdies.
There were five triple-bogey sixes, including one from runner-up Richard Finch in an otherwise incredible 69, the lowest round of the day by three shots.
There were also four sevens, one eight, two nines , an 11 from Steve Webster and a 12 from last year’s Italian Open winner Fredrik Andersson Hed.
That gave Hed an inward half of 49 and a round of 90, but there was worse to come from one particular golfer.
Scot Alastair Forsyth, one of those who took seven, also scored a 10 on the 13th, while Webster carded a 91, with 22 of those on the three short holes on the back nine – seven at the 175-yard 11th, four at the 212-yard 16th and then his 11.
Sounds like a nightmare – would be interesting to see the Ryder Cup played in those conditions!
