The Open picture is looking brighter

At last, things are finally starting to happen at St Andrews…

The 144^th Open, with a touch of luck and provided the weather Gods play ball, will soon – fingers and everything else firmly crossed – be getting into full swing again.

However, nobody is taking anything for granted and to be honest judging by the winds hitting the top of the Media Centre, it doesn’t seem, or sound anyway, exactly calm out there.

Not so long ago things were eerily quiet – the golf course, of course, was empty and the driving range was deserted too. But at least the latter has started to fill up as players prepare to be given the green light to resume playing, hopefully around 4pm time.

Actually the intended start time has just been put back another hour till 5pm, depending on course whether the dreaded wind drops.

Jimmy Greaves once famously said that football is “a funny old game” and you can probably say the same about golf as regards its playability being dictated to by the elements. Ironically, apart from the scary winds, it’s a lovely fine dry day at St Andrews and some fans have even been spotted sunbathing on the links.

The huge crowds have had nothing to see or do but to bide their time and wait…and eat…and drink. The opportunities for both are endless.

Many spectators have taken the opportunity to check out the newly refurbished British Golf Museum which for a few hours anyway proved the main attraction with big queues forming to get in.

At least some folk are making hay while the sun shines and the wind blows….