St. Andrews, Scotland -- Each day at the 144th Open, we'll talk to a caddie after their round to see what they learned on the course. The caddies will remain anonymous to protect their strategy and get the truth about what's really happening inside the ropes.
Friday's caddie was fortunate enough to finish the round with his player and won't have to come back Saturday morning. He described what the weather and conditions were like in Round 2 of The Open.
Collins: What was the biggest challenge today?
Caddie: You know the unfortunate part was [I] woke up so early today because [I] thought [I was] going to be able to go and see where the pins are today ... And you know, waking up at 5 a.m., thinking you would be able to do your job, then nature took its course, so you know that was the big disappointment.
Collins: As the weather got worse during the round, was it difficult to go from aggressive to defensive on the course?
Caddie: Basically on the front nine, from Holes 1 through 7, [the wind] played down and across from the left, so the first couple holes you could attack ... Even if you missed the tee shot, there were places on the front where you could attack. But once you got to [the back] nine, you couldn't attack because it was into the wind. [No.] 10 was a bit difficult because [the hole] was on the slope. You could attack it, but you had to be sensible with that shot.
Yesterday on the 11th, we were hitting gap wedges over the green. Today, guys were hitting 6- or 7-irons, so it's a different ballgame. Then from 12 coming in, you couldn't attack because it was into the wind coming from across, so it was difficult for everyone.
Collins: Why is caddying in windy conditions so difficult?
Caddie: Because when it blows, the way it's blowing out there, your player knows what he has to do, but he's not sure, you know? Because of the wind, that makes it harder for the caddie because you need to try and get him in that sense that he can be able to pull the shot off. And it becomes difficult sometimes because if he doesn't pull the shot off, you are in trouble as a caddie. So we [caddies] try and be positive even though you know sometimes it's difficult and you know you just have to hang in there and be as positive as you can.
Collins: Which would you have preferred: playing late Friday and having to come back in the morning, or finishing when you did today?
Caddie: I think in golf sometimes they say you have the good side of the draw and the bad side of the draw. Unfortunately I think we were on the bad side of the draw, but we finished our second round and that's the most important thing. I don't have to wake up tomorrow especially after waking up today at 5 a.m. this morning. And if we didn't play today, it would have been a disaster for all of us ... but we finished our round and happy days for us.