A fearsome wind

Jezz and I arrived at the course this morning, stepped out of the car and were met by exceptionally high winds. As I write this, the walls of the media tent are whipping against the stanchions causing such a racket I m finding it quite difficult to hear myself think.

We walked in from the car park beside ex Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman. Incredibly, the 1996 Open Champion was carrying his own bag up the hill towards the R&A s player compound. For a man with a persistent bad back it seemed a foolish move just where was his caddy?

We ve just been debating how players scheduled to go out and practice will react to the blustery conditions. Will they keep their times viewing it as an opportunity to test their game against the fiercest gusts? Or, will they dip out worried their swing will be buffeted to within an inch of its life the day before the most significant tournament of the year? Well, according to the screen in the media tent, the players have been heading out since 7am when Sergio Garcia teed off with Camillo Villegas. Either they steered clear of Southport s many nightspots yesterday evening, or they hit the town large and came straight from The Lounge to the 1st tee. We ll bravely forge out into the gales and find out if they re actually on the course.

Greg Norman is scheduled to tee off at 9.30 with Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Andres Romero - should be a well-followed fourball.