PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele is eager to test his links-golf experience against the rough weather often seen at the British Open. The tournament forecast predicts unsettled weather for Royal Troon’s opening round on Thursday, followed by rain and stronger winds through the weekend.

‘If the weather gets really bad, you just have to take the bunkers out of play and really try and plot your way around the property,’ the world number three and Olympic champion Schauffele told reporters. ‘It doesn’t have to be super pretty.’ Schauffele, paired with fellow American and three-times Open champion Tiger Woods for the first two rounds, does not feel like a veteran links golfer despite it being his seventh attempt at lifting the Claret Jug.

Schauffele credited his low expectations and four days of beer and pretzels in Germany for his relaxed approach, which helped him to a runner-up finish in the 2018 Open at Carnoustie. Royal Troon, with its feared ‘Postage Stamp’ green on the 123-yard eighth hole, is set to test the world’s top golfers even in good weather.

‘Overall, I think it’s a really fair test of golf. If it’s really windy, it will be really fun,’ Schauffele said. ‘I expect bad weather for it to play tough and for people to complain and whine. If you have a good attitude, you get that edge.’

(With inputs from agencies.)