The Slow Grind of The Open: Golfers Face Frustrating Delays at Royal Portrush
A Test of Patience
For golfers, whether seasoned club players or elite professionals, few things are more frustrating than a slow round. At The Open held at Royal Portrush, this sentiment was palpable as players faced lengthy delays, with some finishing their rounds nearly six hours after teeing off.
Australian golfer Marc Leishman, who plays on the LIV Golf tour known for its faster pace, expressed his disbelief, saying, “It felt like we were on the golf course for about 12 hours.” He noted that after three hours, they had only completed eight holes, a stark contrast to the under four-and-a-half-hour rounds he typically experiences.
Factors Behind the Delays
The slow pace of play can be attributed to several factors, as analyzed by BBC Sport. With a field of 156 players, The Open shares the same number of competitors as the US Open and US PGA Championship. However, unlike the American majors, players at Portrush do not start simultaneously from both the first and tenth tees.
The first group teed off at 06:35 BST, with groups of three going out every 11 minutes. Notably, Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, began his round at 15:10 BST and finished at 21:04, with the final group completing their rounds in near darkness.
Player Reactions
While Leishman and others voiced their frustrations, some players acknowledged that little could be done to speed up play. Robert MacIntyre from Scotland remarked, “We couldn't have gone any faster. I guess golf courses are too long.” England's Aaron Rai added, “It was a little on the slow side. But naturally with the challenging course, pace of play is going to be a little bit slower than normal.”
However, the issue of slow play was highlighted when JJ Spaun, the recently crowned US Open champion, received a warning for exceeding the time limit during his round. Playing alongside major winners Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, Spaun's group took over five-and-a-half hours to reach the 18th hole.
Challenging Conditions
As the day progressed, the conditions worsened, particularly for the afternoon groups. McIlroy, playing with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas, took four hours to complete just the first 11 holes. Former European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson noted, “The golf course just holds people up.”
Justin Rose pointed to the wet and windy conditions as a significant factor in the slow pace. He explained, “It got blustery as the day went on, so it was tricky—there were not many tap-in pars.” The challenging conditions led to numerous five-foot putts, requiring players to take their time reading the greens.
Lost Balls and Log-Jams
The windy conditions also contributed to wayward tee shots, with many players landing in thick rough and spending extra time searching for their balls. Only 31 players managed to shoot under par on day one, illustrating the difficulty of the course. Keegan Bradley, the US Ryder Cup captain, commented, “Major championships are long, and when you get out here on these blind tee shots with the wind, you're going to have guys hitting it in the junk.”
A notable bottleneck occurred around the fifth, sixth, and seventh holes, where the par-four fifth is driveable, followed by a par-three sixth and a par-five seventh. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who shares the overnight lead after a four-under 67, described the frustration of waiting, saying, “Because 90% of the field can reach the par-five in two, everyone has to wait.”
Conclusion
As players navigate the challenges of The Open, the combination of a large field, difficult conditions, and the inherent nature of the game contribute to the slow pace of play. While frustrations are inevitable, the camaraderie and shared experiences on the course remind golfers that patience is as much a part of the game as skill.
