British Open Tee Off In Strong Wind

`Roughs into which an iron can sink, deep bunkers as long as a flagpole, strong wind that can push back a tee-shot ball.`

In such a bad condition, who will smile at the end? The 130th British Open Golf Tournament, the third major golf tournament in this season, has started its four day schedule yesterday at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Course (par 71) in Lancaster, England.

English meteorologists forecasted that intractably strong ocean wind will blow for the scheduled four days. As people asked, ``Will there be a winner with under-par score?``, the Royal Lytham began to show its `sharp teeth`.

In this worst condition, Tiger Woods, who challenges to become a consecutive winner of the tournament first time since Tom Watson in 1983, teed-off his ambitious first tee-shot with a group consisted of the `Long-Hitter` Angel Cabrera (Argentina) and Thomas Levet (France).

While America’s Phil Mickelson, who is vulnerable with the links-courses (seaside courses), and David Duval (U.S.A.) teed off in the morning, the `Woods Killer` Sergio Garcia began his first round in the afternoon when the direction and intensity of the wind changed.

ysahn@donga.com