Wind is what you expect when you come to Scotland but it’s not something all players are looking forward to, Georgia Hall is an exception to that rule.
The English star woke up on Thursday morning ready to tee it up in the first round of the AIG Women’s Open and was thrilled when she saw how strong the wind was.
It is the third time the Old Course at St Andrews has hosted the major championship and Hall is enjoying every second of her time here.
“I love it,” she said. “I want to try and have a place one day here for sure. I’m actually sad every day goes by because it’s a day less I get to be here and play here. I’m not sure when the next time we’ll be here for me, and I’m not sure if I’ll be playing or not. I’m just really enjoying it.
“This was my first Women’s Open back in 2013. This is my favourite place, like ever. I prefer here than home. I just really enjoy being here and trying to make the most of the opportunity.
“I looked out my hotel room and I can see the flags on the range and that’s a good indicator for me. It was 5.00am, and they were blowing a gale, and I was like, that’s great. I hope it stays like that.
“Not sure many players would agree with me. I hardly get to play like this. I play in America a lot, and to me it’s more of a wooden form of golf. This is natural, raw golf.”
Hall who won this tournament back in 2018 when it was played at Royal Lytham has always been a fan of the wind.
The two-time LET winner opened with a round of 71 (-1) in Scotland, she started with a birdie on the 10th before dropping a shot on 13.
A double bogey on 17 set Hall back but she battled back with a birdie on the first, bogey on the third, birdie on the fifth before finishing in style with an eagle at the ninth to sit in T12.
She continued: “[On the eagle] I had 327 yards to the pin. The wind was helping a bit and I thought I could maybe get there. I did pull out a 5-iron and was going to lay up short of the bunkers, but I thought I might not be able to reach this green. Again, another day. I hit a perfect drive to 20-foot and holed it.
“It was definitely some of the toughest conditions I’ve ever played in for sure. Just thankful it wasn’t raining because you couldn’t even read the greens because you had to think about where the wind was actually going. Probably up there with the windiest I’ve ever played in. It was a struggle for sure, like mentally such a battle.
“I love those conditions, whether I play bad or not, I much prefer this is a true AIG Women’s Open and I believe that’s how it should be every day; and that’s part of the battle with the weather, and I just tried to make the most out of that out there.”
Hall will begin her second round at 1.10 pm (local time) from the first tee alongside Japan’s Ayaka Furue and American Rose Zhang.
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