Early indications on the ground at Royal Troon suggest this edition of the Open Championship could be a true Major test, with penal rough and shot-sapping bunkers lurking around every corner.
While the goal will be to find the green with minimal damage to the scorecard, competitors won’t necessarily find solace on the putting surfaces. The green speed at the US Open was a hotly-debated topic, with certain players stating they felt the surfaces were rolling at around ’15 or 16′ on the stimpmeter.
The reality is Pinehurst No.2 was intended to be set-up at a speed of around 13, which is something we are unlikely to see this week. However, with plenty of undulations, the traditional links golf elements, and the pressure of pursuing the Claret Jug to contend with… just how fast are the greens at Royal Troon on the stimpmeter?
How Fast Were The Greens The Last Time Royal Troon Hosted The Open?
When Henrik Stenson famously vanquished Phil Mickelson in the 2016 epic at Royal Troon, the greens were set-up as you’d expect for a traditional Open Championship.
Henrik Stenson made 26 birdies or better on his way to winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2016
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Speeds of under 10 on the stimpmeter were recorded, which to put into context is far slower than the average PGA Tour event (12). This is partly out of necessity, due to the weather that often challenges players at the oldest Major Championship, allowing play to continue in the trademark high-winds that are synonymous with links golf.
The pace did fluctuate from round-to-round the last time Royal Troon hosted the Open, with reported speeds of 9.5 on one of the competition days, but the greens remained playable while still posing questions to even the finest with the flat stick.
How Fast Are Royal Troon’s Greens On The Stimpmeter for the Open Championship 2024?
While the official speeds are yet to be released, the Open Championship website has stated that greens “tend to run at around a 10 on the stimpmeter”. That will require plenty of pondering for players arriving from the United States, who will be used to quicker and slicker surfaces.
Those who teed it up at the Genesis Scottish Open last week may have a slight advantage in that respect, due to having an opportunity to putt on greens at a…
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