Gone with the wind

RORY McILROY’S worst fears were realised in the cruellest fashion at St Andrews last night when his prospects of a first major title at the tender age of 21 were almost certainly blown away by the gale force winds that swept over the Old Course and turned the British Open into nothing short of a lottery.

Gusts of up to 41 mph caused the suspension of play for 65 minutes from 2.40pm and there were mixed opinions about the decision to restart. The hapless McIlroy, so magnificent in his record-equalling first round of 63 on Thursday, afterwards staggered from one body blow to another until he eventually signed for an eight over par 80.

It was the first time in ten rounds that he hadn’t scored 69 or better at St Andrews although as one media centre wag cracked, “at least he still hasn’t shot in the 70s here!”