"We have got fairways that are defined by the width of the bunkers on this golf course. They're not narrow."

Not the most scintillating R&A press conference Wednesday (though we are getting HD next year!), but at least questions were asked...unlike the U.S. Open session this year.

Peter Dawson on the setup:

On the point about the rough, the rough is very heavy here, as it is in all the links courses I've visited recently in Scotland and England; it's been that sort of growing season. We have got fairways that are defined by the width of the bunkers on this golf course. They're not narrow. They haven't been narrowed or widened. We have cut a little bit more semirough and second cut of rough totaling ten metres all together between the two sides of heavy rough. So we do think that the target area from the tee is adequate.

Obviously if we do get very strong winds, which at this time are not forecast, but if we do get very strong winds, that narrows the target. Hitting the fairways is going to be a premium this week. All the players have commented on how good they think the setup is, all the players I've spoken to, anyway. And I think we're very happy with it.

I'm looking forward to the telecast because the aerial flyovers ESPN posted on their preview show sure didn't look wide to me. Maybe the camera subtracts 10 yards of fairway.

Q. A decision about inclusion of golf in the Olympics is due to be made in the autumn, I understand. Is it likely that the scandal which happened yesterday will impact all that?

Are you kidding? Oh sorry, answer please Peter:

PETER DAWSON: Well, we're going to hear about golf in the Olympics and the decision on it, first of all, midAugust, when we'll know if golf is one of the recommended short lists, and then finally in October when it's voted on.

I don't think what Sandy Lyle has said this week will have any bearing on it whatsoever. The IOC are a pretty professional operation.

Alright let's not get carried away.