The Ricoh Women’s British Open visits the very best courses on these islands and, therefore, this major had to come to Carnoustie but there are many in the outstanding field playing the Championship Course this morning somewhat surprised and disappointed by what they’re getting.
This being the first time the women professionals have played at the fearsome Angus links, no one can say with any certainty what’s going to happen. However, the rather tame 6490-yard setup for this championship nearly 1000 yards shorter than it plays for the men has more than a few a little underwhelmed.
The wind, if it comes, will make a huge difference to playing conditions and make the shortened setup sufficiently challenging. But this is Carnoustie, the links that doesn’t need wind to be brutal, and one would have thought the whole point of coming here would be to get the full, uncensored experience.
The 18th, scene of so many dramas down the years, has produced the most disquiet with many disappointed the tee there is so far forward a mere 386 yards when it could be as long as 520 although the LGU’s Susan Simpson said there is scope to pull it back should the wind demand.
If the windspeed remains as modest as it has been for practice, one of the most feared and dramatic holes in all of golf might be reduced to a drive and a flick with a wedge, which is exactly how Yani Tseng, the world number one, has played it so far.
“I had 80 yards for my second shot,” said the 22-year-old Taiwanese phenomenon of her visits in practice. I looked back to the river that’s where Harrington was (in 2007) and we’re all the way out here; it’s totally different. They put all the bunkers out of play, the burn is out of play. If it’s windy then it’s different, but it would be a good advantage for me if they put it back.”
Melissa Reid, the promising young English player, admitted to being “quite shocked” by what she saw at 18.
“I thought the burn would definitely be in play, but it’s just driver-wedge,” she said. “I was hitting mid-irons into the par fives when I was expecting to need a good three-wood. It’s very different to what we saw the men play on TV, and if the wind blows then it will be tougher, but I’ve heard that it’s going to be quite calm all week and you’re probably going to have to shoot double digits (under par) to finish top seven.”
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American Paula Creamer played the course last week in a different wind getting the lowdown on the course from Carnoustie Caledonia club champion Danny Elder and links professional Colin Sinclair but said she still thought the tee should be moved back.
“It’s the first time we’ve been here, so who knows what could happen, and I’m sure they’ll tuck the pins if it’s calm. But I’d have liked to see the setup a bit tougher with the tee back at 18 and also at the sixth make it a proper three-shot hole,” she said.
Neither Tseng, Reid or Creamer have the vast experience of Laura Davies or Karrie Webb, however, and both veterans know how conditions can change.
“I was here practising two weeks ago and hit a three-wood to the 18th,” said the Australian, champion at Turnberry in 2002. “It’s links golf, where the wind is a huge factor, and it switches around so much here depending on the time of day.”
Webb also differed from the view that Carnoustie is the ultimate ball-strikers’ course.
“It’s a test of the all-round game. There’s a premium of keeping the ball in play off the tee, but you need a wide variety of shots and imagination to succeed here.”
If it is a ball-strikers’ course, and the winners of the last two men’s Opens here would suggest that it is, there’s a definite advantage for the longer hitters like Tseng.
The acknowledged links specialist in the field and the only player to have previously won an event at Carnoustie also has the preferred draw. The 2009 champion Catriona Matthew has a 6.52am start with world number two Cristie Kerr and Japan’s Momoko Ueda.
“An early start but in links golf that’s often the best time to play,” said the Scot. “You never know for sure, this being Scotland and links golf, but it’s usual for the wind to get up as the days goes on.”
Matthew’s previous Carnoustie win was 20 years ago when she won the first of her three Scottish ladies amateur victories here.
“It’s just one of the best links there is, with the bunkering off the tee and the greens are fairly tricky to get to if you get even a little bit out of position.”