Return to windy Scotland after the Open – Lindell's plane was unable to land on Monday due to high winds
Oliver Lindell returns to action this week after a well-deserved summer break following The Open.
The DP World Tour will play its first "regular tournament" in over a month, with only the season's final major and another major competition, the Scottish Open, in between.
Scotland will once again host the tournament, with the magnificent Trump International on the east coast of the country hosting a major tour-level competition for the first time.
The modern links course itself is not only beautiful but also challenging, with the course's 18th hole being particularly difficult.
as the magnificent Trump International on the east coast of the country hosts
a main tour level competition for the first time.
The modern links course itself is not only beautiful but also extremely
challenging, and the storm in Scotland that made the headlines
will cause further headaches. Lindell has already had enough of that
on his way to the tournament, when his plane was unable to land
in Scotland due to strong winds.
"The journey here didn't go smoothly at all.
The rear wheel touched the ground at Aberdeen Airport, until the captain made
a U-turn and flew back to Heathrow Airport. From there, we took
rented a car with my caddie Eetu, and drove four hours on Monday and
the remaining six hours on Tuesday to get there. However, we were able to play
the back nine on Tuesday and on Wednesday afternoon we will be able to play the front nine and practise
in strong winds," the Finn commented on his adventure.
Due to this coincidence, the preparation time is quite
short, but Lindell's form and playing style may be surprisingly well suited
to the challenging links conditions. The Open did not yet see
the extreme winds and challenges that this week's links course will offer.
The Porvoo native has adopted a low fade shot as his signature shot,
which will certainly cause him fewer problems than players who favour a high draw
.
"This is a really important week for hitting the fairways, as
the rough is so challenging off the fairway. The course is really nice, but
the rounds will take a long time here. Here, you just have to try to keep
the ball low everywhere. Strong winds are forecast for the tournament days, and at least
based on the back nine, the course is very challenging, and you'll need good luck to
find the ball in the rough if you miss the fairway."
Lindell is eager for success in a slightly more relaxed situation,
with his card for next season already secured. Hopefully, this will further open up
the Finnish player's game.
"I'm coming here full of enthusiasm, even though the travel episode
was a bit depressing. The break went well and the first week was even completely
golf-free, and in the second week we continued working together under the guidance of coach Juha
Juvonen. We have a tough week ahead of us here in Scotland," says
Lindell.
Lindell will play the opening days in illustrious company, with England's
Dan Bradbury and Scotland's Richie Ramsay having a combined total of six
tour victories. The trio will tee off on Thursday at 2:40 p.m. Finnish time.