Scorched course presents new problems

Fittingly it was Padraig Harrington, the winner the last time Carnoustie hosted the Open in 2007, who best summed up the challenge in trying to identify who will hold the Claret Jug aloft on Sunday.

“I’m not sure if this is going to be the toughest Open ever or the easiest Open,” said Harrington, who defeated Sergio Garcia in a play-off 11 years ago and then defended the title at Royal Birkdale the following year.

The reason for Harrington’s dilemma is the unusual state of the course, which is playing so hard and fast that the three-time major winner drove into the Barry Burn in front of the 18th green in practice – and he was far from alone in reporting prestigious feats of distance.

That brings bunkers which may not usually be in play into the equation and as world No 2 Justin Thomas admitted, the bunkers at Carnoustie are “truly a water hazard. You can never hit it on the green from them.” However, the greens themselves have been watered and are receptive, leading to the possibility – as at Gullane for last week’s Scottish Open – of a host of low scores, highlighted by Brandon Stone’s closing round of 60 which gave the talented South African a place in the Carnoustie field.

It all seemingly adds up to a choice between a conservative strategy and a more attacking approach, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm taking their chances off the tee in the knowledge that the heatwave has also burned off some of the usually thick rough.

“I guess the risk of hitting driver on a few holes is not having full control of your golf ball if it does run into the rough,” McIlroy, the 2014 winner, said.

“But the amount of gorse bushes that they’ve taken away from this course since 2007 [means] you’ve still got another five to 10 yards either side of the fairway where it’s OK.

“With links golf, you have to adapt. The course is playing so firm and fast there’s some guys that will see it completely different than the way I see it. It’s going to be really interesting to see how it all plays out.”

McIlroy is approaching a fourth year without a major title, his last win coming in the 2014 US PGA, a month after he won the Open at Royal Liverpool.