Was the R&A wrong to change pot bunkers mid-Open Championship?

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Pesky pot bunkers gave gamers matches throughout Spherical 1 of the Open Championship, inflicting many gamers to pitch out sideways and resulting in several ugly numbers. However on Friday the R&A announced it had modified the way in which by which the bunkers have been raked for the second spherical, citing dry circumstances that led to extra balls resting towards the faces than regular. Now, with edges barely curved as a substitute of flat, balls will come to relaxation extra in the midst of the bunkers. What do you consider the change?

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): I help it. This looks like a kind of small modifications that issues loads to the gamers and little or no to the general form of the match. If Matthew Jordan, who grew up at Royal Liverpool, is stunned by how tough they have been, maybe they have been an overstep of the true issue of the golf course.

Sean Zak, senior author (@Sean_Zak): They’ve been engaged on establishing this setup within the sand for months. For the R&A to react this manner after 18 holes is simply too unhealthy. Give it two days to see if the modifications are actually wanted for the weekend.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): This obtained a ton extra consideration — and extra importantly, air time — when three stars got here by means of late within the day and struggled. Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas each needed to pitch out sideways on 18. Rory McIlroy couldn’t escape on his first strive however hit a miraculous second and made a clutch par. Does this occur if these three don’t discover the bunkers on 18?

Colgan: Perhaps it doesn’t, Josh! But when it’s one thing three-quarters of the sphere was eager about on the finish of Thursday, perhaps these three bunker photographs salvaged the difficulty earlier than it obtained actually uncontrolled on Friday, or Saturday … or Sunday.

Berhow: I received’t lose sleep over the change, however I’ll say I’m a bit of confused by it. Pot bunkers are notoriously brutal. They’re supposed to be a penalty. Don’t go in them! They’re part of the identification of The Open and if they’re tough, so be it. It’s not like Open setups are deliberate every week forward of the match. This was what they wished to do for a very long time, and to retreat after 18 holes is a head-scratcher. I agree with Sean that, if something, give it a 36-hole pattern measurement. It jogs my memory of what Jon Rahm mentioned in regards to the controversial par-3 17th hole earlier this week: even when it’s unfair, which means it’s truthful for everybody.

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): Pot bunkers are hilarious and merciless — that’s form of the purpose! I wrote on Thursday in regards to the sadistic pleasure of watching execs battle by means of ridiculous conditions, which incorporates Tony Finau placing backwards from the sting of 1 pot bunker. And I believe Josh’s query of whether or not that is mainly a response to that Rory-Rahm sequence on No. 18 is a good one. So the place do I stand? I’m very cautiously in favor of the change, I suppose. However the repair must be delicate. The bunkers ought to nonetheless be correctly penal. Brooks Koepka identified on Tuesday that one of many essential strategic parts of hyperlinks golf is simply avoiding bunkers. They’re one among Hoylake’s fundamental defenses!