It all started perfectly still. Then some sun. Then heavy rain resulting in a waterlogged course and a delay on Friday. Then high winds. Then golf in darkness past 9.30 pm at night. Now Saturday will see hurricane-like winds at St. Andrews. Play resumed at 7am on Saturday morning, only to be suspended within half an hour because the course was deemed unplayable. 45 mph winds blew in this morning from the Scottish coastline.

These are the conditions that the world’s best golfers have been forced to deal with on golf’s oldest running challenge. This is what the Open was designed for, a challenge where the elements are uncontrollable where the only thing that you can control is yourself. This year’s Open will certainly test the patience and fortitude of all players as they battle the uglier side of British weather.

As the time of writing, Dustin Johnson and Danny Willett are tied for the lead at the suspension of play at -9. Johnson took advantage of the benign conditions on Thursday, reducing the course almost to pitch and putt with imperious driving and good touch on the greens en route to a 65. St. Andrews, as one of the easier tracks on the Open rota, relies on the weather to protect itself. In relatively easy conditions to begin the tournament, fancied stars performed well. Jason Day shot 66, Jordan Spieth and Louis Oosthuizen one shot less. The course played a shot harder on Thursday evening as Willett and Zach Johnson impressed with 66s.

They were all set for round two when torrential rain flooded the course on Friday morning before they could begin. Play resumed at 10am but an almost four hour delay put the schedule completely off-kilter. Morning players played in the afternoon, afternoon players played in the evening. The last group tied off at 7.30 pm, certain not to complete their rounds on Friday. Willett was the star of the show for much of the day with a fine 69. In a steady wind, the Englishman was in fine form with the putter and hit many great iron shots. The pick of the earlier rounds however was Adam Scott. The 2013 Masters Champion shot 67 to put himself right into contention for the weekend.

Play just went on and on in one of the longest days in Open Championship history. Just after 9 pm, it appeared that darkness had fallen yet play continued, mainly because five-time champion Tom Watson had planned a farewell to golf on Swilcan Bridge for Friday evening. The change in schedule meant that it was very tight on time for old Tom to get finished in time. Obliging a great of the game one final goodbye, those who stayed at the course paid their tribute to Watson in an emotional finish at 18. On other parts of the course, many players were playing in surreal darkness, happy to continue in it given the forecast for gale force winds in the morning.

At the close of play on Friday, Johnson led the Open at -10 but dropped a shot in the ‘unplayable’ conditions of Saturday morning. The decision to get the players to play the course, yet declare it unplayable within thirty minutes has already been criticised. It makes for an uncertain but intriguing finish to the event. If poor weather continues, a Monday finish is not impossible. It seems as though Saturday, should the course be considered playable, will be by far the toughest test of the week with balls barely staying on greens and flagsticks almost blowing out of their holes. With a much calmer Sunday predicted, Saturday will be a day of survival and jostling for position. For the leaders, maintaining ground may suffice before advancement on Sunday. One thing is for sure, Jordan Spieth, chasing the calendar grand slam, will have earned this victory this week on the harsh links of Scotland.