Those who love links golf with a dollop of weather punishment are enjoying the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open. The anticipated 20 to 30 mile-per-hour winds have been present at the Renaissance Club on Sunday, with gusts into the 40s.
“It’s the kind of day where you have to throw out your yardages,” CBS analyst Trevor Immelman noted as he signed on the broadcast.
Indeed, it’s a big of chaos for players. But for fans, there’s something enchanting about watching a tour pro hit a 7-iron just 100 yards while facing a stiff wind. And similarly, there’s something enthrawing about watching on blister a shot when playing downwind and registering scary long numbers.
Exhibit A: Rory McIlroy with this drive on the seventh hole.
Prior to this shot, McIlroy’s longest drive of the season was 388 yards on the third hole at Riviera Country Club in the second round of the Genesis Invitational. And it wasn’t like he went at this one with a mighty rip or anything. It was a very controlled swing that set up an eventual birdie. It was the seventh longest measured drive of the PGA Tour season and the longest of McIlroy’s career on tour.
Unfortunately for McIlroy, the winds have also produced a few shots that aren’t quite as memorable, as the overnight leader is two over through nine holes and now trailing Tyrrell Hatton by two shots (If Hatton, five-under round through 12 holes on his round, can keep this up, his might deserve special awards for his impressive play on Sunday.)
In any event, we hope you enjoy the remainder of the final round. We’re pretty sure the players themselves won’t be.