Swinging in the Rain
01/11/08
Whilst golf is a game played under most climatic conditions, the rainfall at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama has caused problems for organisers, players and especially caddies.
62mm of rain in 24 hours; that’s what fell on the Valderrama golf course during the second round and although the Saturday conditions were much improved, the effects of the rain were being felt by everyone.
Players accustomed to playing one round each day were suddenly required to play two, something last year’s Volvo Masters runner-up Simon Dyson tries to take in his stride.
“Normally we are in a playing rhythm where everything is geared up to playing one round each day, so you build your entire preparation around that, meals, warm-up, practice, playing and warm-down, but with two rounds, you are having to get yourself physically and mentally up for another 18 holes when you would be accustomed to the recovery phase.”
Adds the man who won the 2000 Volvo China Open, “We play 26 holes a day a couple of times each year, in the qualifying events for the ‘majors,’ so it’s not too much or an issues for the guys, who are certainly fit enough for it.”
Arguably the people with the biggest problems in the rain are the caddies, as John Bickerton’s bag-man Mark Steers explains.
“You have your normal work, yardages, wind, club selection, replacing divots and keeping your man focussed, but on top of all that you have the issues of keeping the grips and the club-heads dry, new gloves and it makes for a pretty stressful day in the rain,” he adds.”
And Tournament Director David Garland is certainly earning his spurs at the 21st and final Volvo Masters.
“Losing much of the second day set us back, but there are no problems, only solutions and we have two-tee starts and the players in three-balls, so we can catch-up,” says Garland, explaining, “But we have little margin for error.”
Surprisingly, those who might be expected to be suffering most – the spectators, are taking to the final Volvo Masters like ducks to water.
“It’s really no problem as we came prepared,” said Juan Santos from Cádiz, his girlfriend Antonia Sanchez adding, “Wearing the correct footwear is important and modern rainwear keeps you dry outside and in.”
With the weather forecast for the final day’s play of the final Volvo Masters set to include intermittent showers, spectators should be in for a rare treat as the end of a European Tour era draws to a close.
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