Davis Thompson (left) and Kurt Kitayama (proper) are each within the combine after enduring windy situations on the 2024 Shriners Kids’s Open.
Getty Pictures
PGA Tour gamers don’t typically play in excessive situations — particularly through the Fall Sequence — however this week’s Shriners Kids’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas is a uncommon exception.
On Friday, tee occasions had been postponed by 4 hours due to excessive winds, which often gusted at 50 mph. And as soon as play finally obtained underway, the situations continued to be extraordinarily difficult.
Nonetheless, many gamers managed to put up rounds underneath par, regardless of the stiff breeze. So what’s the key to discovering success within the wind? For a lot of prime contenders, it comes down to 1 attribute that has nothing to do with the swing: perspective.
“It was powerful,” mentioned Davis Thompson, who fired rounds of 66-68 (-8). “I imply, I knew it was going to be powerful. I simply tried to have a great psychological perspective about it. And, yeah, simply tried to go hit loads good golf photographs and provides myself loads of seems to be.”
As a resident of Sea Island, Ga., Thompson mentioned he’s accustomed to taking part in within the wind. However there’s a technique, too, he mentioned.
“I imply, the objective when it’s windy is hit as many greens as doable and provides your self as many seems to be and simply know that par goes to be a terrific rating,” he mentioned. “Simply attempt to not press and chase flagsticks. Whenever you try this it could actually simply journey the wind right into a short-sided space or a hazard. Yeah, simply staying affected person and making an attempt to hit loads greens.”
J.J. Spaun fired rounds of 65-69 (-8) to launch himself into rivalry.
“I believe that’s sort of a key to taking part in in these sort of blustery situations, is hitting the ball stable,” he mentioned on Friday. “That’s the one means you’ll be able to actually management your ball, and I did a very good job of that at this time.”
10 changes for extra success throughout a windy spherical of golf
Like Thompson, Spaun emphasised the should be accepting of the tough situations.
“You undoubtedly should be sort of straightforward on your self or like I suppose compassionate,” he mentioned. “You don’t wish to get too pissed off as a result of the ball simply obtained gusted from a 30, 40 mile an hour gust lifeless proper right into a bunker and now you’re lifeless making an attempt stand up and down.
“It’s occurring to everybody, so I believe you simply obtained to do your finest making an attempt to play sensible,” he continued. “It’s virtually such as you’re considering extra of your misses on days like this, particularly with the wind being so excessive. So, yeah, I simply tried to roll with that mentality. Simply tried to plug alongside all through a protracted day. Ended up fairly good.”
Greyson Sigg, who posted rounds of 67-69 (-6) concurred.
“You simply obtained to take it one shot at a time. I do know that sounds fairly cliche, however there’s actually nothing you are able to do,” he mentioned. “I believe the lead 10-under and we had been dealt a reasonably powerful hand on this wave. I imply, you simply hit the very best shot you’ll be able to and hit the very best putt you’ll be able to and simply add them up on the finish of the day.”
Fortuitously, the forecast is much-improved for Saturday, when the remaining gamers will end the second spherical and the third spherical will start after the minimize is made. Temperatures will rise into the 70s, and wind speeds are anticipated to max out at 15 mph.
