British Open presents tough test with no clear answers

Tiger Woods of the US plays out of the rough on the 14th hole during a practice round ahead of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, Wednesday July 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Jon Super) Carnoustie, Scotland • The eve of the British Open felt like cramming for a final exam, a multiple choice one with no obvious answers.

The wind that blows off the North Sea across the exposed links of Carnoustie has not been the primary concern during practice rounds. Players have a reasonable idea how far the ball travels in the air. They just don’t know how far it goes on the ground.

“If you get it downwind and you hit that little flat draw and it gets running, it will go pretty much until it…