Mother Nature in charge at AIG Women's' Open...live scoreboard

 R&A : AIG Women's Open Pairings

In the 1960 Open at the Old Course it, Arnold Palmer's first, it rained so hard before the final round on Friday it flooded part of the course forcing a cancellation, the first in 50 years, until Saturday when Kel Nagle at 39, beat Arnie by a shot.

The 1961 Open in Southport at Royal Birkdale had gale force winds and torrential rain that wiped out both rounds on Friday and blew part of the tented village into the Irish Sea. Arnie prevailed in the rain over two rounds on Saturday to win his first Open..

Heavy rains and predicted winds of 40 and 60 mph have the R&A adjusting course conditions and players tweaking their practice routines ahead of Thursday's opening round at the Old Course.

Mother Nature is back again this time for this AIG Women's Open on the Old Course with light rain but a lot of wind mainly from the SSW, "strong and gusty winds for day 1 of the Championship" says the R&A forecast. 

The clubhouse leader from China, Ruoning Yin got the best of the weather and made 7 birdies in her opening -4 68. However she is currently one of only three players under par. 

The record purse of $9.5 an increase of $500,000 will see the winner take home $1,245,000. AIG (American Insurance Group) was founded in China in 1919 and now employs 25,000 people with offices around the world. 

Brooke Henderson took 36 putts on the "slowed down" greens, presented at 9.7 on the stimpmeter to give the players a chance.

She began on the 10th par, double, par, bogey, birdie, bogey and that's the way her round of +5 77 went 38, 39, six bogey's one double and 3 birdies, in the clubhouse at T65.

Karrie Webb the Hall of Fame Aussie shot +10 82. Stacy Lewis +8 80. Scottish legend, Catriona Matthew in her final appearance +5 77. 

The late wave is just heading out. The wind will be around all week..

"Nae wind, nae golf" is the old Scottish saying...Mother Nature is smiling..

I'd rather see these great women challenged like this, rather than the bomb and gouge, that would leave the old course defenseless.

Bryan Angus