NEWPORT BEACH – The day began with British Open weather at Newport Beach Country Club, with light rain arriving a few minutes before the first tee time, turning into heavy rains an hour later accompanied by gusting winds that sent many of the spectators racing toward the clubhouse or to the exits.
This is, after all, Southern California, where many golfers don’t even think about playing—or watching, for that matter—unless it’s sunny and warm, because they know the next day is likely to be nicer.
That, however, is not an option for professional golfers, who get paid handsomely to play in all conditions, including weather such as Saturday’s morning rainstorm. Whether it’s true that nasty weather favors players from the British Isles, as some believe, it was Irishman Padraig Harrington who birdied the 18th hole Saturday to take a one-shot lead over first-round leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand heading into Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Hoag Classic.
Harrington made an eagle and two birdies over the final four holes on the way to a 4-under 67 to post a 36-hole total of 12-under-par. Jaidee, who had at least a share of the lead for the first 35 holes, followed his first-round 62 with a 2-under 69 to finish at 11-under, with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (68 Saturday) and Englishman Paul Broadhurst (70 Saturday) both at 9-under.
“Same kind of weather for everyone . . . but the Irishman, he’s used to playing in this type of conditions,” Jimenez said, laughing about Harrington’s reputed bad-weather abilities.
When that comment was relayed to Harrington, he smiled, too.
“Yeah, but I’m 28 years as a pro; I’ve gone soft,” said the World Golf Hall of Famer from Dublin, laughing. “I like sunny weather. I don’t mind the wind; I like the challenge of the wind. I’m here to enjoy myself—that’s what the Champions Tour is about . . . I don’t mind testing conditions, but nobody likes playing in the rain. It just makes it hard.
“While I’m OK playing in the rain, I have my processes; I definitely prefer when I’m out on the Champions Tour playing in nice weather.”
The weather was the antithesis of nice for the first two hours Saturday, as defending Schwab Cup champion Steve Stricker reflected on the increasingly heavy rain. He was 1-over-par over the first eight holes, but then got hot after the rain subsided, including five birdies in a seven-hole stretch to post his second consecutive 67 to get to 8-under—four strokes behind the leader.
“It was nasty for the first six holes or so; we had a lot of wet stuff, and it was blowing,” Stricker said. “It was tough. Then I righted the ship in the middle of the round there, and played really well coming in.”
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Paul Goydos of Coto de Caza, who birdied three of his final four holes on the way to his second consecutive 3-under 68, said it was “no fun” playing in the rain, and then the swirling winds – “the equalizer”—made it even more difficult. Ask Fred Couples of Corona del Mar. He dropped from a tie for eighth place to 55th after making a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3 8th hole, then withdrew from the tournament at the turn, citing an injury (believed to be his troublesome back) according to a tour spokesman.
Jaidee also noted the “conditions were tough” on Saturday, so he wasn’t disappointed with his 69 despite posting a career-low 62 on Friday.
“Yesterday was so easy; no wind,” Jaidee said. “When you have wind and rain, it’s very difficult.”
With possible thunderstorms and 20-mph winds forecast for late afternoon in Sunday’s final round, Jaidee said a lot of players have a chance.
“I was pushing hard over the last four holes,” Harrington said, “because we don’t know what (weather) we’re going to get tomorrow.”
Sounds as if it could be more weather fit for an Irishman and a two-time British Open champion.