Peter Cowen diary: Avoid the bunkers at all costs at St Andrews
The fresh wind catches all the golfers by surprise ahead of British Open
Tee times here
Today (Tuesday), the wind became fresh, especially on the range. The wind is very strong left to right at my home for this week.
The impact of this is that players are not practising as much as usual. This wind on the range mirrors the front nine outward half this week.
A right to left wind, or one into the players is always their desire but in golf as in life, you do not always get what you want or deserve.
The spoilt ones today are the left-handers in the field; Garrick Higgo, Phil Mickelson and Scotland’s own, Robert MacIntyre. Have I missed anyone?
Maybe, the R&A should consider larger ranges with more hitting options in different directions for future Opens?
On the golf course, everyone seems somewhat surprised with the wind, which with the hard and fast fairways, means that fairways are tougher to hit and stay on.
We are told that there are 112 bunkers around the Old Course at St Andrews. I have not counted them myself.
With most having steep revetted bunker faces, many recovery shots from the traps can result in a chip out sideways or backwards or even an unplayable?
Hell bunker on the 14th hole here on the Old Course is one of the deepest at about 12 foot deep.
When Tiger Woods won at St Andrews in 2000, he did not go into a bunker all week and when Sir Nick Faldo won here in 1990, he just found one bunker. Around St Andrews that is a mix of skill and a bit of luck!
The 17th hole, has, perhaps the most famous bunker in the world of golf, the Road Hole Bunker protecting the green. The hole and the bunker has ruined many a scorecard and to contend or win, you should avoid it at all costs.
I played in eight Opens in my golfing career, including two at St Andrews. It was not what it is now, it is now an all-ticket affair with 290,000 spectators expected to pass through the gates this week.
Tomorrow, I will give you my Cowen tips for the week and my score predictions.
Who maybe up there come Sunday night and in contention for the Claret Jug?
Speak to you all tomorrow.
- Peter Cowen, now 71, is one of the leading golf coaches in the world with siganture academies with Dubai Golf, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates.