British Open 2016: Rainy spells and gusty winds to challenge golfers

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

July 11,2016; 8:59AM,EDT

 

The British Open 2016 will take place from Thursday through Sunday at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.
While the course offers its own challenges to golfers, the weather will bring added adversity.
Rain has fallen in the area every day so far this month, and additional rainfall is expected in the days leading up the start of the tournament.

Rainfall will be possible each day of the event with the best chance to escape any showers occurring on Thursday with only an odd shower in the forecast.
The greatest threat for a prolonged period of rain will be on Friday as a storm system arrives from the Atlantic Ocean.
Rain will increase during the day with the heaviest falls expected during the afternoon. Rainfall could be heavy enough to cause delays or postponement of play. Rainfall totals of 12-25 mm (0.50-1.00 inch) are possible.
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Rainfall can cause significant changes to how the course plays from one day to the next and also throughout the duration of play in the single day.
"The drier the ground conditions, the longer the ball runs out and the more the players will have to judge their landing spot to get the ball to stop where they want it," Bradley Klein, architecture editor of Golfweek Magazine and author of numerous books on golf course design, told AccuWeather.
"The wetter the ground, the less the roll and the easier it is to pick and keep to a targeted landing zone," he said.
Blustery showers are expected over the weekend with numerous showers each day. While showers will dampen the course both Saturday and Sunday, the biggest challenge to play will likely be strong southwest winds.
In this July 18, 2004, file photo, Todd Hamilton of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the British Open golf championship at Royal Troon golf course in Troon, Scotland. The Open returns to Royal Troon this month. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Royal Troon is situated along the southwest coast of Scotland where unpredictable coastal winds can play havoc on the trajectory of a golf ball.
"Wind is the great X-factor in golf," Klein said.
Sustained winds of 10-20 mph (16-32 km/h) with gusts to 30 mph (48 km/h) are expected both Saturday and Sunday.