LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Hello Lytham, we missed you.
After three days of very un-links-like golf, a cool breeze off the Irish Sea arrived just in time to make things interesting for Sunday’s final turn at Royal Lytham & St. Annes; and Adam Scott, who squandered a four-stroke lead with four holes to play, was not the only player who struggled on a vastly different golf course.
Thanks to freshening winds that gusted to 30 mph Sunday’s scoring average was almost three strokes over par (72.855) compared to 71.583 in Round 1, 72.013 in Round 2 and 71.807 in Round 3. Similarly, there were 315 bogeys, 50 double bogeys and five “others” on Day 4 compared to 288, 34 and five on Saturday.
“Such a huge change in conditions today. You go from playing flat pan golf a few days to playing in a strong cross wind and there are adaptations you have to make,” said Graeme McDowell, who finished tied for fifth after a closing 75. “It was a tough day at the office, no doubt about it.”