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Christy Simson

By Christy Simson

For 357 days of the year American professional golfers spend their entire existence hitting the ball high and watching it stop, stone dead, on the green.

For one week of the British summer (a loose term) they have to radically change every part of their game as they (reluctantly) make the trip over to the Open Championship.

This year's tournament at Royal St George's on the South Coast, is typical of a British Links course - the greens are hard and the ball scoots across them like a puck on an ice rink. Often the approach has to be a low punch shot with the ball pitching 20 or 30 yards before the green.

If you put wind into the equation then its a whole new ball game. A par 5 that, with the wind behind, would require a driver and six iron, can suddenly turn into a 'driver - three wood - three wood' monster. And that high ball flight so favoured by the Americans would be less than optimal.

In fact such is the necessity to hit 'under the wind' - Rory McIlroy, the US Open Champion, and the hottest player in the world right now, has rescued his two-iron from its long retirement in his garage

"If the wind keeps up, it will be tough but I have put a two iron in instead of a five wood to keep the ball lower," said McIlroy on Wednesday. "I went into the garage, found it and had it re-gripped. I've had it since 2005, which is a long time, so I got it tested yesterday to make sure it was legal. Hopefully it will be a big help to me this week. I last used a two iron at Carnoustie in 2007, although it wasn't the same one. I hit a couple of good shots there."

It's worth noting that McIlroy won the silver medal at Carnoustie as the lowest amateur. Their won't be many others in the field with a two iron, it's a famously difficult club to use. Even less so a one-iron. 40 years ago the golf champion and wit, Lee Trevino made a good point when he said "In case of a thunderstorm, stand in the middle of the fairway and hold up a one iron. Not even God can hit a one iron."

Day in and day out men like Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk will use a hybrid or a five wood for that 200-220 yard approach - If the wind does blow they will struggle to get the distance and accuracy. All that said, it was in fact an American, Ben Curtis who won the Open last time it was held at St George's, and two years ago at Turnberry Stewart Cink beat Tom Watson in a playoff.

The difference between then and now of course is that Europeans occupy the top 4 places in the World Rankings (Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer & McIlroy) and the Americans appear to be lacking in self-belief - 'This is a local course for local players' said one anonymous US player.

Royal St Georges is certainly not a place for 'beautiful golf' especially when the 30 mph 'sou-westers' come roaring in. It's about keeping your ball low, using the contours and plotting your way into the hole.

Tiger Woods is gone for the moment and America is waiting for its next golfing superstar who can take on the might of Europe.