16 July 2011 14:44
GMT
America’s Bo Van Pelt explained how to play well in the wind and the rain after carding a fine three over par 73 during the third round of the 140th Open Championship at Royal St George’s.
“The golf course is playing brutal on every shot,” said the 35 year-old from Indiana, whose sole win on the PGA Tour came at the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
“If you’ve got any quit in you it’s going to be a long day. You’ve just got to kind of laugh it off and just bang it out. It’s non-stop, and if you let up, you can make a big number in a hurry out there.”
The American finished the round on five over par 215.
Ryder Cup player, Edoardo Molinari, also seemed to enjoy himself, despite returning a 76 that saw him drop back to nine over par 219.
“To be honest, I had some fun today,” said the 30 year-old from Turin, who won both the Barclays Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship in 2010 to earn a wildcard into the European Ryder Cup team.
“I enjoy it when the weather is like this,” he said. “I think it’s great fun when par is a miracle sometimes. I think it was playing stupidly difficult today. You just have to make the most of it.”
American, Ryan Moore, was much less sanguine after also carding a 76 to finish on 219. When asked if there had been anything remotely fun playing in the wind and rain he replied:“ No, nothing remotely. This is the best part of the day right now. I’m not in (the weather) right now. I don’t have to be.”
Moore added: “A bogey is not going to kill you. A round of 75 isn’t going to kill you today. If you can somehow get round in one or two over, you can really move up. I think a score of even par today will be miraculous.”