It is, of course, the ball and the inordinate lengths top players can now launch it off the tee that has led to such tactics from the R&A, no matter how often the blue-blazered officials shrug and blame the weather. They know only too well that long grass, added to a bit of wind, a drying course and a host of new bunkers "strategically" placed on either side of the fairways at -- what a shock -- driving distance, will effectively take the driver out of the hands of most players. Thus, the R&A (combined with the USGA) will continue to disguise their initial inattention to advances in ball technology, a look away that has since forced so many clubs to spend millions of unnecessary dollars on course "improvements." Watch out for an almost endless stream of hybrids and long irons off too many of Turnberry's tees.
Sadly, all of the above will -- yet again -- reduce the field to playing a bastardized version of links golf, one where hack-out rough replaces the couple of inches of semi that is enough to promote both temptation and doubt in the minds of even the best players. If that is so, we are going to be treated to the depressing sight of a missed fairway being inevitably followed by a big heave-ho back into play then a wedge to the green from 90 yards or so. In other words, the U.S. Open all over again.
Come to think of it, maybe everyone should just have stayed in America after all.
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